J.D. Irving eyeing railway involved in Lac-Mgantic crash

The transportation subsidiary of East Coast conglomerate Irving has been in discussions with government authorities about a possible acquisition of the railway involved in last month's deadly train crash in Lac-Mgantic, Que.

J.D. Irving vice-president Mary Keith said its NB&M Railways unit is assessing its options, but has not made any offer for Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Canada Railway.

Keith said the company, which has track in Maine and New Brunswick, wants tosustain rail links that are vital to its manufacturing operations in New Brunswick.

MMA head Edward Burkhardt has welcomed news that the railway can continue to operate until Oct. 1, saying he will be able to raise more cash when he sells the railway's assets.

Burkhardt said themoney is neededto clean up the site of last month's disaster and meetits obligations to creditors, including Lac-Mgantic residents who have sued the railway.

• TIMELINE: Lac-Mgantic rail disaster

The Canadian Transportation Agency announced late Friday that it would extend MM&As certificate of operation until Oct. 1. A decision earlier in the week tosuspend its right to operatewas reversed because the federal regulator determined that the railway had sufficient liability insurance to operate in the short-term.

Burkhardt said the railway hopes to continue providing freight services in Quebec and the Maritimes.

"Ultimately the railway will be sold for the benefit of the creditors, and it is worth considerably more as a 'going concern' than if it were to be shut down," he said in an email statement.

"The major creditors are the Province of Quebec and residents of Lac-Mgantic, and achieving the best sale price will be beneficial to them. We will be working with the court appointed monitor and the U.S. Trustee in developing the sale process."

Last week MM&A was grantedcreditor protectionin Canada and bankruptcy protection in the United States.

The rail companyfaces a criminal investigation, as well as several lawsuits, in connection with the July 6 derailment of train cars carrying crude oil that wiped out part of the Quebec town of Lac-Mgantic and killed 47 people.

As it attempts to resolve its affairs, MM&A will be seeking a buyer for its Canadian operations, which are primarily in New Brunswick and Quebec.

Irving Oil Ltd., which had to reroute its rail shipments of western crude oil to its Saint John refinery following the Lac-Mgantic train derailment, is among thedefendants in a lawsuit by Lac-Mgantic residents.

NB&M Rail is one of MM&A Canada's largest unsecured creditors with a claim of$2.35 million against the company.