Train cars derail in city; no threat to public safety, CN says

Emergency officials worked Sunday to clean up a train derailment in south-central Winnipeg after nine rail cars came off the tracks early that morning.

CN Rail said there are “no reported dangerous goods, fires, injuries or leaks, nor is there any threat to public safety,” spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski said in a statement.

The derailment happened around 3 a.m. Sunday next to the Jubilee rapid transit station.

As of early afternoon, CN crews and first responders were still on scene. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

Preliminary reports to CN indicated nine train cars derailed, leaving eight on their side and one upright, Michnowski said.

“CN would like to apologize for the inconveniences caused by this incident. More information will be provided as it becomes available,” she said.

CN didn’t say what type of cargo was being transported at the time of the derailment.

David Neufeld, who lives in a nearby condominium in the Lord Roberts neighbourhood, said the sound of the derailment woke him up. He’s used to occasionally hearing trains go by, but this sound was different, he said.

“I just thought, no, something has crashed,” the 64-year-old said. “And it shook our building, too.”

Manitoba is considering relocating Winnipeg’s urban railways to make way for other transportation corridors. A rail relocation feasibility study, led by former Liberal federal transportation minister Lloyd Axworthy, was launched in October 2024.