railway company press release
TRANSCRIPT
7/28/2019 Railway company press release
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For Immediate Release:Dated: Sunday, July 7, 2013: 1615 EST
Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA)July 6, 2013 Derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec (Update)
Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway wishes to provide updated information on yesterday’s tragic trainaccident at Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. We are advised the fires are largely extinguished, and itappears the fire brigade will finish that part of their task shortly. Provincial and Federal authoritieshave taken control of the derailment area, and MMA personnel have not been able to enter tocontinue their investigation concerning cause and to plan recovery operations.
There are a dozen MMA representatives on hand in Lac-Mégantic, with more arriving continuously.Many have been there since yesterday afternoon, in spite of statements that MMA people have not
been available. MMA has established a command center in the Municipal Building. On hand also isYves Bourdon, MMA board member, who will be the “voice of the MMA” in dealing with municipal,provincial and Federal officials, emergency personnel, relief organizations and affected individualsand property owners. Also on hand is Robert Grindrod, MMA’s President and CEO.
MMA staff are getting organized to deal with immediate needs of residents and to establish aprocess for the filing and handling of claims. MMA intends to do all it can to address the damagesincurred. MMA has been in touch with the Red Cross and local relief agencies to offer its assistancein providing accommodations, food and other necessities, and is willing to deal one-on-one withresidents to address their needs. We will advise telephone numbers as soon as we can.
While the governmental investigation of the accident’s cause has largely prevented MMA from
completing its own investigation, one fact that has emerged is the locomotive of the oil train parkedat Nantes station was shut down subsequent to the departure of the engineer who had handled thetrain from Farnham, which may have resulted in the release of air brakes on the locomotive that washolding the train in place. As mentioned above, we don’t have complete information concerning thisincident, but will cooperate with government authorities as they continue their investigation.To improve our communications, this press release and future messages will also be issued inFrench.
MMA people remain in a state of shock over this incident, and are committed to assisting our neighbors in Lac-Mégantic to make a complete recovery as quickly as possible. Our thoughts andpray with those who have suffered injury and lost family members.
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For information – contact:Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Corporation
Northern Maine Junction Park15 Iron RoadHermon, ME 04401-9602 USA
Ed Burkhardt, Chairman – 773 714 8669 ext 222Joe McGonigle, Vice President – 207 848 4222