Twenty-four rail cars went off the track in the Quebec town of Montmagny early Sunday morning, in the heart of a residential neighbourhood.

The CN train, with 122 cars, derailed at 1:30 a.m. ET as it headed eastbound from Toronto for Dartmouth, N.S.

Some of the derailed cars were carrying sulphuric acid, but CN Rail reported no environmental damage.
(CBC)

"The [derailed] cars were pretty well piled one on top of the other," CN Rail spokeswoman Julie Senécal told CBC News.

CN Rail said 72 of the cars were loaded with a range of products, including grain, cement, new vehicles and sulphuric acid.

"There were no leaks, no environmental impact and no injuries, so we're pretty fortunate," Senécal said.

Transportation Safety Board officials arrived at the scene to assess the damage and investigate the cause of the accident.

CN Rail said the track could be reopened by Monday morning, but the cleanup will take a few more days.

Heavy equipment was removing some of the twisted wreckage on Sunday. Video footage showed a badly damaged white van near a couple of the derailed cars.

Several other automobiles inside the tipped cars also appeared crushed. One tanker leaned against the side of a VIA Rail building.

It's the second time in just under two years that rail cars have gone off the track in the town of Montmagny, about 60 kilometres east of Quebec City.