Coroner Report Targets REM Security Gaps After Fatal Brossard Collision
Several factors caused the fatal train collision on the Réseau express métropolitain tracks in Brossard on the night of November 22, 2025, coroner Julie-Kim Godin determined in a report released on November 8, 2026, ici.radio-canada.ca reported.
Simon Brochu, 19, died instantly when a train struck him as he crossed the tracks with his brother and two friends. His brother, Samuel Brochu, 22, died of his injuries the following day in the hospital, according to ici.radio-canada.ca.
The tragedy began when the group found the footbridge at the Du Quartier station closed, ici.radio-canada.ca reported. They had celebrated Samuel Brochu’s birthday in the DIX30 district and wanted to reach a designated driver’s car parked across the highway in the Solar sector.
An employee performing maintenance told the friends the crossing was closed, according to ici.radio-canada.ca. The footbridge normally provides safe, weather-protected passage for pedestrians and REM users between the two areas.
Spotting an opening in a construction fence, the four friends crossed Highway 10 East and climbed the anti-intrusion fence surrounding the REM tracks in the highway median, ici.radio-canada.ca reported. Pulsar later reconstructed their trajectory for the investigation.
The REM does not carry passengers at night, but automated trains were running technical tests. No signs warned that tests were underway, the coroner’s report noted.
Coroner Godin asked REM representatives if trains should feature obstacle detection systems linked to automatic brakes, ici.radio-canada.ca reported. Representatives replied that such systems would trigger constant stops for harmless items like snow, small animals, or light objects.
These sudden stops would risk injuring passengers because the trains lack seat belts, representatives stated.
The coroner recommends reassessing intrusion prevention to avoid future accidents. Representatives for the REM stated they cannot increase fence heights because higher barriers could endanger motorists who run off Highway 10, according to ici.radio-canada.ca.
Operators have implemented several changes since the collision, including keeping the Du Quartier footbridge open 24 hours a day starting April 24, 2026. They also added pedestrian signs, built a 100-meter fence near Highway 10, updated intrusion reporting protocols for subcontractors, and planned awareness campaigns.
Pulsar, the firm operating and maintaining the REM, stressed that people must respect secure zones and never access the tracks. The coroner concluded that the effectiveness of these changes in stopping intrusions will be clear in the coming months, noting that officials should reconsider fence designs if unauthorized crossings persist.