The ninth anniversary of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, during which a train loaded with oil derailed and exploded in the city center, killing 47 people, was marked on Wednesday in the municipality.

As is the case every July 6, a tribute was paid to the victims, while the flags were lowered to half mast.

On Wednesday morning, a mass in memory of the 47 victims of the rail tragedy was celebrated. The bells of the church of Saint-Agnès then rang 47 times, preceding a moment of meditation in which dozens of Méganticois participated.

"I no longer live in the region, but every year I come to meditate here, it's a must," said Jean Clusiault, who lost his daughter in the tragedy.

Citizens also got into the habit, on July 6, of decorating with flowers the railway line that still crosses the city center, nine years after the disaster.

“It is a lack of respect for the families of the victims and the community of Lac-Mégantic,” lamented the spokesperson for the Coalition of citizens and organizations committed to rail safety in Lac-Mégantic, Robert Bellefleur.

"It's completely insane," added Mayor Julie Morin, who once again urges the federal government to build the bypass as quickly as possible. When we are told that construction will last until 2026... The Samuel-De Champlain Bridge was built in four years. It shows that when you want, you can!”

“It is not normal that the train still passes downtown, commented the CAQ MP François Jacques. The Government of Quebec, we recently sent our share, that is to say $66 million. I hope it will materialize quickly.”

Except that the route of the new railway is not unanimous. Moreover, a demonstration against the route will take place on Sunday in Frontenac.