Railway implicated in Lac-Megantic disaster allowed to operate until October
by The Canadian Press
Canadian Transportation Agency overturned decision, extended licence to Oct. 1
MONTREAL—The railway at the centre of last month’s Lac-Megantic train crash will be allowed to continue operations into the fall.
The Canadian Transportation Agency announced the decision late Aug. 16, reversing a move made earlier in the week.
That decision was overturned after the agency determined that the railway had sufficient coverage to operate in the short-term.
The railway’s licence is now valid until Oct. 1.
A statement issued by the agency explained the new decision is based on new information provided by the company.
It stressed the extension is for a short time period.
“Based on the new evidence provided today, the agency is satisfied that this provides adequate third party liability insurance coverage for operation from August 20 to October 1, 2013,” the statement said.
The extension is conditional on MMA providing confirmation by Aug. 23 that it has secured enough cash to pay for the self-insured portion of its coverage.
MMA is implicated in the devastating July 6 derailment that killed 47 people and wiped out part of downtown Lac-Megantic.
The cash-strapped American company still faces a number of financial hurdles and its future remains in doubt.
A criminal investigation is underway, several lawsuits have been filed, and the provincial government has demanded money from MMA for the massive cleanup efforts.
