A 26-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a train Tuesday morning in Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood, an incident that has once again raised urgent questions about pedestrian safety along a stretch of railway that residents say has long been a concern.
Montreal police confirmed the collision happened at around 9 a.m. on March 31 on tracks running under the Van Horne overpass, near St-Dominique Street. Emergency crews, including firefighters, responded quickly and attempted CPR, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have said that initial reports point to the death being accidental, though the investigation remains ongoing.
A security perimeter was set up shortly after the incident, with the area fenced off as investigators examined the scene. For much of the morning, access to the tracks was restricted while officials worked to determine exactly what led to the fatal collision. Police have not yet clarified why the woman was on the tracks at the time.
What makes this tragedy particularly striking is the location itself. The section of track where the incident occurred has been known for years as a place where people frequently cross, despite there being no official pedestrian level crossing. Residents in Mile End have often pointed out that the layout of the neighbourhood makes it tempting for pedestrians to take shortcuts across the railway, especially when the nearest safe crossing requires a detour.
This is not the first time a life has been lost in the same area. In 2022, a 31-year-old woman was killed after crossing the railway near the intersection of Van Horne Avenue and Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Reports at the time noted that she had passed through one of several openings in the fence instead of using the designated pass-through on Saint-Denis Street, which required a longer route.
That earlier death sparked strong reactions from the community, with many residents calling for the installation of a proper pedestrian crossing to reduce the risk of similar incidents. The argument was simple: people were already crossing the tracks, and without a safe and designated option, the risk of accidents would remain high.
Tuesday’s fatal collision is now bringing those concerns back into focus. For many locals, the issue is not just about individual decisions, but about how urban spaces are designed. When people consistently choose the same informal path, it often reflects a gap between infrastructure and real-life movement patterns.
While fences and warning signs are meant to discourage unsafe crossings, they have not fully prevented access to the tracks in this part of Mile End. Openings in barriers, whether intentional or worn over time, have made it possible for pedestrians to continue using the route. Over time, what begins as a shortcut can become a routine path for those familiar with the area.
Authorities have not indicated whether additional safety measures will be considered following this latest incident. However, the recurrence of fatal accidents in the same location is likely to intensify calls from residents and community groups who have been advocating for change since the 2022 tragedy.
There is also a broader conversation unfolding around how cities manage shared spaces between rail infrastructure and dense neighbourhoods. Mile End is known for its active streets and foot traffic, and the railway cuts through an area where pedestrians naturally move between residential blocks, shops and workplaces. Without a safe crossing, the gap between infrastructure and everyday use becomes more visible.
For now, police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. Officials have urged the public to avoid the tracks and to use designated crossings, emphasizing the dangers posed by trains, which can approach quickly and cannot stop in time to prevent collisions.
As more details emerge, the focus will likely remain on both the immediate cause of the incident and the longer-term safety concerns tied to this location. Readers can follow broader coverage and updates on rail safety and urban infrastructure through reports from Global News.
The latest tragedy in Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood is not just an isolated incident. It is part of an ongoing story about safety, infrastructure and the everyday decisions people make while navigating their city — a story that, for many residents, feels far from resolved.
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