| Comments | St-Hilaire QC, December 30, 1999. Two trains collided when the eleventh wagon of the Ultra-train derailed and hit an oncoming train. The Ultra-Train is a convoy of 68 wagons in four sections of 17 wagons linked by hoses. It is about one kilometre long, and acts as a “pipeline on rail” between St-Romuald and Montreal. Due to the petroleum products it was carrying, a series of explosions were set off and black smoke was left in the air. Two train operators were killed, while 1400 people were evacuated from the towns of Mont-St-Hilaire, Beloeil and Ste-Madeleine. The evacuees were allowed to return home the next day. |