A CPKC intermodal train derailed under the Pacific Avenue overpass in Thunder Bay’s east end on Tuesday afternoon, shaking nearby homes but causing no injuries, according to emergency officials. The incident happened around 3:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026, amid extreme heat and smoke from wildfires burning across the region.
Multiple rail cars carrying general freight in shipping containers left the tracks, and one refrigerated container leaked a small amount of diesel fuel from its generator, said CPKC. A third-party environmental contractor was called to handle the cleanup. One witness saw bottles of cranberry juice spilled on the ground from one of the cars.
“I always hear bangs because the trains come together right in my backyard, but this time it totally shook my house,” said Shannon Walker, who has lived in the area for about 35 years. She and a neighbour who has lived there 40 years said they had never seen a derailment on those tracks before.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue sent two pumpers and a command vehicle. Crews quickly set up a safety perimeter and laid hose lines as a precaution, but no fire broke out. Police and railway personnel also responded to the scene. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks was notified about the fuel spill.
The derailment happened while an Orange Heat Warning and a Yellow Air Quality Warning were in effect for Thunder Bay. Daytime highs reached 34°C with a humidex of 38, and smoke from more than 100 active wildfires in the region cut visibility. Environment Canada had warned of poor air quality throughout July 14.
The Pacific Avenue overpass has been closed to all vehicle traffic since June 29, 2026, for a major rehabilitation project that will last through the 2027 construction season. The tracks run beneath the closed bridge. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation by CPKC.
