How we prepare our trains for the Quebec winter
Updated on November 22, 2025
There’s nothing more annoying than your train arriving late after you’ve rushed to catch it early in the morning. And yet, delays are common during the winter season.
Measures across the entire network, 24/7
To ensure reliable service during the winter months, we’ve implemented a rigorous six-point maintenance and monitoring plan to ensure the safety and punctuality of our network.
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Thorough inspection of trains on first departure, end of service, and between peak periods.
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Preventive maintenance of trains by night crews provided by our supplier, Bombardier.
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Preventive maintenance of tracks by our suppliers, CP and CN.
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Electrical connection of trains at night in our garages.
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Locomotives warmed up early according to weather conditions.
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Additional staff and equipment sent to strategic areas on the network.
Since cold, humidity, freezing, snow and wind can damage our infrastructure and trains, we thoroughly prepare for the extreme weather conditions typical of Quebec winters.
Understanding the causes of train delays
Wondering why your train has stopped? Keep in mind that the driver’s priority is to resolve the situation so the train can resume service as quickly as possible. They must first identify the cause of the problem before they can pass along the information to you.
Video in French only
Special weather conditions: we double our efforts
While we do everything necessary to ensure the safety of our sites and the punctuality of our trains, certain weather conditions make operations more difficult, such as freezing rain and heavy snowfall that require constant monitoring. That’s why we double our efforts by devoting more resources to maintaining and monitoring our sites. Here are some examples:
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Special attention is paid to air intakes on the locomotives to prevent snow and ice from accumulating
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Increased cleaning and de-icing frequency for side doors
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Alternative transportation measures deployed in the event of emergency
Understanding issues related to switches
Is your delay caused by a switching problem? Watch this video for an explanation about what that means.
Video in French only
Want to know more about the impacts of cold weather and precipitation on our service? See our winter plan for buses.
Download Chrono to see, in real time, your bus or train’s estimated time of arrival and any information you need to travel by public transit.
