Old Montreal | A train that makes people shiver

Noise is not just an issue for the Réseau express metropolitain (REM). Rail lines criss-crossing Old Montreal are also increasingly competitive, as the neighborhood’s population has tripled in the past 15 years. A month after a freight train derailed, residents and traders have called for better track maintenance or a review of crossing times to curb nuisance.

“On a day-to-day basis, it makes a lot of noise, especially at night, as it circulates,” says Lula Mans, who has lived in Old Montreal for two years. In his view, the industry “needs to see if there is a way to pass trains that have less impact on society”. “It’s always good to question yourself,” he says bluntly.

This question is especially important as this former industry is increasingly populated. Fewer than 5,000 people lived near the tracks in 2006, according to Statistics Canada data: now there are about 15,000.

At the Association of Residents of Old Montreal (ARVM), president Christine Caron confirmed receiving several complaints about passing trains. His team recently held a meeting with Canadian National (CN) and the Port of Montreal on the matter. Residents are specifically asking whether additional steps can be taken to reduce noise, to further lubricate the wheels or rails, or to reduce the number of trains or revise timetables.

“There are two problems: the first is in the arch in front of Silo n^oh 5 It’s very loud. And towards the second Faubourg Québec sector, train movements actually resemble a marshalling yard. It’s day and night, so the implications are significant,” explains M^me Because we are. She regrets that some action has not been taken. “For schedules, for example, we say it’s impossible to change them because the network is tied to Chicago. »

Guillaume Corat, owner of craft brewery Brewsky, knows something about that. “You can hear the sound of the train and there is a lot of noise, so it’s not very pleasant to the ear. If they can put it somewhere else, I think it will suit everyone here,” says the businessman, whose company is located in the Ponceurs market.

Not far from there, at the Ça Roule Montreal bicycle rental workshop, manager Guillaume Fournier seconds. “We have school groups and when we go to the islands and go under Bonaventure Highway, sometimes we can get stuck for up to 30 minutes because of a passing train. Otherwise, it’s noise. We close the doors because we can’t talk to each other,” he says.

“The locomotives, if they’re on a straight track, it’s definitely better. There, it’s screeching because it forces you to curve,” insists Jack Rivard, who lives across the street from the railway tracks.

“I call it the train from hell,” says Valerie, a longtime resident of Old Montreal. “Every time, it automatically wakes me and my neighbors up. The sound of the wheels is really loud. We really need concrete solutions,” he says.

There is no magic solution

However, the Port of Montreal says it is unlikely to reduce the number of logistics chain trains or revise their schedules. The Old Montreal Railway “is of prime importance to the population and must be maintained because it is a gateway for consumer goods and a gateway for exports,” explains its director of communications, Renee LaRouche.

Lasting at least 150 years, the railway network is more than 100 kilometers long and allows continental railways “access to almost all berths”, says M.^me LaRouche.

Every week, 60 to 80 trains arrive at the Port of Montreal. Of these, approximately 14 trains and 12 local convoys pass through Old Montreal, representing approximately 2 trains and 2 convoys per day. M attests that their numbers have not increased or decreased in recent years^me LaRouche.

At present, about 45% of cargo passing through the port is transported by rail. Also, “work on the Rail Capacity Improvement Project will be completed by November,” the spokesperson says, noting that the project “allowed the total addition of two rail lines to increase the existing network by nearly 5 km.”

“We are concerned about the cooperation of users in Old Montreal,” assures Renée LaRouche. “Various steps and initiatives have been taken over the years,” including a complaint management system, he says. A representative of the Port of Montreal is also on various citizen advisory boards.

At Canadian National (CN), which uses Old Montreal’s rail lines, spokesman Mathieu Gaudreult shows a certain openness. “While relocating rail sections is a complex and expensive process, CN is always open and willing to discuss its operations with the various partners involved to evaluate available options,” he explains.

CN is not the only one using the old port line, but on a daily basis, “one train coming into the port and one train going out of the port runs this area five days a week,” Mr. Gaudreult notes. “The number of columns is subject to change depending on our partner’s needs,” he adds.

Noisy, but safe

In addition to the noise, safety continues to be an issue for many stakeholders in Old Montreal, especially since last August, when an investigation was opened after a freight train derailed a car and two engines at the Old Port. The matter created a stir in the neighborhood. It was a “barrier” on the tracks that forced the train to move for several hours.

At ARVM, Christine Caron says today she “can’t wait to see the outcome of this investigation.” “We have some concerns about the goods being transported in trains. Until now, we have relied heavily on reduced speed, telling ourselves that the risks are minimal. But that’s all [soulève] Questions,” she concludes, reiterating that there is zero risk.

In 2016, passengers in a tourist coach “Amphibus” feared for their lives when a train collided with a train very close to the tracks near Silla n.^oh 5. The incident forced a discussion on strengthening identification measures and adding safety equipment.

Videos posted online showed passengers panicking, with many screaming from the force of the impact.

Ten years ago, in June 2013, Priti Patel, a 30-year-old young woman, had her legs amputated by a train when she tried to cross between wagons blocking her vehicle’s access at the Old Port. The train took off without warning and dragged for several meters.