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DORVAL, Quebec - A broken rail is the likely cause of a Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway train near Nicman Station, Quebec, in December 2025, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in an investigation report released today (July 22, 2026).
The derailment involved a southbound ore train and occurred on Dec. 28, 2025, about 7:20 p.m. The temperature was approximately minus-9 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit). The train had three locomotives - two at the head end and one in the 163rd position - and 240 cars, weighing 27,584 tons and measuring 8,600 feet. Twenty-nine cars and the mid-train DPU derailed; the fuel tank of that locomotive was punctured and spilled approximately 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of fuel, most of which was recovered.
About 500 feet of track was destroyed; service was restored seven days after the derailment. The derailment also halted service of Tshiuestin Rail Transportation's remote passenger service between Sept-Îles and Schefferville, Que.; during the outage, Tshiuestin chartered planes to move passengers [see "Quebec North Shore & Labrador reopens …," Trains.com, Jan 5, 2026].
The TSB said that it was unable to determine the cause with certainty, given the extent of damage and difficulty in accessing the location. But the agency said it is likely the rail broke as the train passed; the area had been subjected to significant temperature fluctuations in the days prior to the incident, and the QNS&L's Wacouna Subdivision, where the derailment occurred, saw 47 instances of broken rails during 2025. Twenty-five occurred in January or December. Also, another loaded ore train with a flat spot had passed approximately 20 minutes earlier.
As a result of the incident, the QNS&L emphasized the importance for crews to inspect passing trains to report potential defects such as flat spots on wheels. The TSB also recommended increased ultrasonic rail testing during winter months.
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