Question Period Note: Formal Notice sent to Central Maine and Quebec Railway by the City of Sherbrooke Regarding the Condition of a Culvert

Article in the media describing correspondence sent by the City of Sherbrooke to Central Maine and Quebec Railway (CMQR) raising concerns about the safety of a culvert within the city limits.

• Transport Canada (TC) is aware of the correspondence sent by the City of Sherbrooke to CMQR regarding a culvert on the railway’s Sherbrooke Subdivision.
• TC has followed-up on the City’s concern with the railway.
• TC is aware that CMQR appointed an engineer to examine the culvert and assess its capacity for both drainage and load capacity. No immediate threat to safety was observed.
• However, TC has received confirmation from CMQR that the culvert is scheduled for complete rehabilitation in 2020.
• Overall, TC continues to monitor CMQR operations on the Sherbrooke Subdivision and will not hesitate to take measures to ensure rail safety.

• On January 17, 2020, Radio-Canada published an article entitled « Sécurité ferroviaire : la Ville de Sherbrooke met en demeure la CMQR » regarding the condition of a culvert on the Sherbrooke Subdivision.
• TC was copied on the Formal Notice (mise en demeure) that the City of Sherbrooke sent to CMQR on November 22, 2019. The notice was regarding the condition of a culvert at milepost 72.19 of CMQR’s Sherbrooke subdivision. The culvert serves to ensure effective drainage of water at that location on the rail line and to support loads that pass over it.
• TC is aware that CMQR visited the site in late November 2019 with the City of Sherbrooke.
• On December 18, 2019, CMQR informed TC that its engineer determined through inspection and assessment that the culvert is adequate for both drainage and load capacity. In addition, TC received confirmation from CMQR that the culvert is scheduled for complete rehabilitation in 2020. It is TC’s understanding that CMQR relayed this information to the City of Sherbrooke.
• TC is planning to conduct an inspection of the milepost in question before January 28, 2020. The exact scheduling is dependent on weather conditions.
• Further, it should be noted that since the Ministerial Order was issued on September 6, 2019, TC has conducted numerous inspections on the entirety of the Sherbrooke Subdivision and verified that the repairs done by CMQR are in compliance with the Railway Safety Act. This work will continue over the coming weeks.
• TC has been updating the officials of municipalities along the Sherbrooke Division of its follow-up on the Ministerial Order. It plans to provide another update in the coming weeks.

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