'Out of respect,' no trains will carry crude oil through Lac-Mgantic in 2016

Trains passing through the town of Lac-Mgantic, Que., won't carrycrude oil until next year, Transport Minister Marc Garneau has confirmed.

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Garneauvisited the community over the weekend to inaugurate the town's Reconstruction Office, asLac-Mganticmoves ahead with rebuilding its downtown core.

Much of the downtown was destroyed when a train carrying crude oil careened into the centre of town, derailed and exploded on July 6, 2013.

The disaster left 47 people dead.

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Trains started to roll through the Lac-Mganticagain in the winter of 2013, but with stricter rules banning hazardous materials.

The Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ) was supposed to start transporting crude oil through the town this month, but it's agreed to a delay.

Garneau told a crowd at the inauguration ceremony that he had spoken with the head of the CMQ.

"He told me that he will continue, out of respect for the citizens of Lac-Mgantic, to suspend the transport of crude oil through your community until the end of 2016," Garneau said.