Current status: Closed
At the request of Transport Canada, the railway company submitted an application to the Canadian Transportation Agency (the Agency) for approval to construct a railway line between mile post 113.27 of the Moosehead Subdivision and mile post 3.49 of the Sherbrooke Subdivision located in Lac-Mégantic, Frontenac, and Nantes, Quebec. The proposed railway line would cover a total distance of 12.5 kilometers.
The Agency is inviting the public to comment on the application. You can email your comments to megantic@otc-cta.gc.ca from November 12 to December 23, 2025.
Where to find the application and related information
The application and related documents can be found on the Agency’s website at otc-cta.gc.ca/megantic as of November 12, 2025.
You can also find the complete application on Transport Canada’s website at the following address: https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/lac-megantic-rail-bypass/canadian-transportation-agency-consultation-approval-railway-line-construction-lac-megantic-rail-bypass
Reason for the application
The application is seeking approval to construct a railway line to relocate railway operations outside of downtown Lac-Mégantic. This project is proposed as part of the Government of Canada’s response to the tragedy that occurred in Lac-Mégantic in July 2013.
Reason for the public comment period
The Agency may, on application by the railway company, grant approval if it considers that the location of the railway line is reasonable, taking into consideration requirements for railway operations and services and the interests of the localities that will be affected by the line. To help it decide whether the location is reasonable, the Agency considers the views of the communities, individuals, or groups that would be affected by the railway line. One way the Agency does this is by giving the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed line.
The Agency will hold two in-person sessions on December 2, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Centre sportif Mégantic in the Bestar multipurpose room. All details, as well as information on how to register for the sessions, will be available on the Agency’s website at otc-cta.gc.ca/megantic as of November 12, 2025.
The Agency is required by law to consider the interests of the localities that would be affected by the railway line. This and the other factors the Agency must consider are set out in section 98 of the Canada Transportation Act.
Publication of the comments
All comments sent to the Agency, including the submitter's name, will be posted on the Agency's website unless the submitter has a valid reason to request confidentiality. For more information about this or about the Public Comment process, contact the Agency by email at megantic@otc-cta.gc.ca.