Anna Coren reports that the train company is the target of anger following a Canadian train wreck and explosion. Edward Burkhardt, the CEO and Chairman of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, who resides in Illinois and whose office is in Chicago say “If I lived here, I would be very angry with the management of this company.”.
Montreal, Maine & Atlantic, the railway that operates the train has said its locomotive was somehow shut down after the engineer left the train. The shutdown released the air brakes on the locomotive that was holding the train in place, the company has said. Montreal, Maine & Atlantic said the driver had locked the brakes before leaving. Residents are furious that a train with such explosive potential would have been left unmanned. Residents are furious with the railroad company’s management, as well as political leaders who they believe are in office to protect them from such potential dangers.
Firefighters apparently shut down at least one of the train’s locomotives after they were called to the parked train by a passerby who noticed a fire in the locomotive. The shut down of the locomotive may have caused the release of the air brakes, which caused the train to start rolling and become a runaway train.
As of July 11, 2013 the death toll in Lac-Megantic, Quebec has risen to 24. There are still 50 people missing and presumed dead.
Interview with Montreal, Maine & Atlantic CEO and Chairman Edward Burkhardt.
BBC News: Edward Burkhardt, the CEO and Chairman of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railwaysays his company follows “industry standards” and its safety record has improved.
See also …
The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com Quebec Train Derailment and Crude Oil Fire Video: And Why Is Our 9-1-1 Center Adjacent Railroad Tracks?
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