Some Lac−Megantic residents marked the third anniversary of the train derailment that killed 47 people three years ago by renewing their calls for increased rail safety.
A few dozen people gathered in nearby Nantes, near where the train began its downward descent into Lac−Megantic on July 6, 2013, before it derailed and exploded.
A spokesman for a rail−safety coalition said the group wants the federal government to commit to building track that would bypass Lac−Megantic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement Wednesday to say rail safety remains a priority for his government but there was no reference to the citizens’ request for a track bypass.
"Today, we pause in solemn remembrance of those whose lives were lost, and in support of those whose lives were irreparably changed by the tragic events that took place in Lac−Megantic on July 6, 2013," Trudeau said.
"In the face of unimaginable pain and loss, the people of Lac−Megantic have shown incredible resilience and courage."
The train was carrying crude oil and the tragedy led to tougher government regulations with regard to the transport of oil by rail.
Three men, including the train’s conductor, are each facing 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death.
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