LAC-MEGANTIC --For the first time since a disaster wiped out much of the town's core and killed 47 people, freight trains are running through Lac-Megantic.
Reail service resumed Wednesday through the Quebec town, as locals continue to cope with the disaster.
For the time being freight trains will come with a host of restrictions: no fluids, dry goods only, and the trains that head down the tracks will initially be limited to six cars each. The trains will also be limited to travelling at 16 kilometres per hour through Lac-Megantic, and can only run during daylight hours.
Lac-Megantic Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche said she is pleased with the return of train service, even if is from the MM&A company, because the area depends on shipping.
"We had a catastrophe, a veritable catastrophe, a huge catastrophe, which devastated our local and regional economy," said the mayor. "The return of train service, as I mentioned, is an important element to ensure that our economic crisis is not aggravated by an extended absence of shipping services."
The first trains to run will only run between Lac-Megantic and Montreal and will include two employees aboard. It will be closely scrutinized by Transport Canada to ensure everything is transported safely.
Phase two would involve resuming service to the United States. It would come with a new agreement negotiated with any new owner of MM&A railway, which is now under creditor's protection.
The Lac-Megantic disaster was one of the worst rail accidents in Canadian history.
On July 6, 2013, a runaway train carrying crude oil crashed in the heart of the small town, killing 47 people and destroying most of the town's core in a massive conflagration.
Mayor Roy-Laroche said she expected some residents would be nervous about seeing trains running again, and said that was normal anxiety, but said people would have to accept that the survival of the town requires a working railway.
Among the beneficiaries of the train service is Tafisa, one of the largest particle-board manufacturers worldwide. The company has been forced to rely on truck transport since the disaster.
"It's good news. We're very pleased with it. We were expecting it for some time. It's not only Tefisa, but some 10 businesses in the industrial park are relying on train service, so we're happy with the news," said Louis Brassard of Tafisa.
"It's a slow start. We have to test the system. We're going to ship six rail cars this week. The first of the year we're going to ship 50 cars. It's gradual," he said. "Our customers were very affected by this event in July, so we want to establish a smooth transition, quality of service and make sure we can deliver week after week."
