Angry Lac-Mégantic residents heckle railway boss as he surveys train disaster aftermath

[cali]

The head of the embattled rail company at the centre of Quebec’s tragedy has arrived with a police escort for a visit to the devastated town.

It’s been a chaotic scene in Lac-Megantic, Que., where residents are directing their anger at Ed Burkhardt of Chicago-based Rail World Inc.

<snip>

About 60 people are now considered missing in Lac-Megantic’s train derailment, a number that includes the official death toll of 15.

<snip>

Before making it to the site, the president of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic’s Chicago-based holding company — Rail World — joked in interviews about the angry response he might get from the locals.

Burkhardt quipped about having to wear a bullet-proof vest when he visited.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/07/10/angry-lac-megantic-residents-heckle-railway-boss-as-he-surveys-train-disaster-aftermath/



Quebec Premier Pauline Marois today hit out at the “completely deplorable attitude” of the rail company at the centre of the Lac-Mégantic disaster as she announced a $60-million fund to help victims.

Marois announced that Quebec flags will be lowered to half-mast for a week and say the province will take other actions that range from the symbolic to the concrete in the wake of a train disaster.

Speaking to the media today, the premier also heavily criticized the railway’s handling of the crisis.

<snip>

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/07/10/fears-grow-of-increased-lac-megantic-death-toll-as-police-now-say-60-people-are-missing/

[HooptieWagon]

1. The railways PR campaign didn't get off to a good start when their first response was to lie.

They blamed firefighters for releasing the brakes, when that would be next to impossible.

[exboyfil]

2. Joking about this?

The man is a sociopath. His company basically let off a large firebomb in the middle of a town possibly killing over 30 people.

NOT FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cali]

3. yes, except the death toll is well over 50 and many citizens of the town

think it may end up being more like 100. that's not mentioning the environmental damage, particularly what was the pristine Chaudiere' River, from which several towns got their water.

Burkhardt didn't even comment for over a day after the disaster and when he did it was the company issuing comments, first in English, in a town where many don't speak it at all, and then in poorly translated french. Then he went on to blame the Fire Dept.

I hope he's sued out of existence and put behind bars.

I posted a great read.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023218428

[exboyfil]

5. I had not kept up with the death toll

I am sure that he has his company structured to minimize his liability. By the time the parties go to collect, his company will be a hollow shell.

He won't serve a day in jail because he probably violated no laws. Maybe a few of his employees have some exposure, but it will not reach to him.

[cali]

6. It's Canada, not the U.S. They've launched a criminal investigation

but you're probably right on both counts.

[angstlessk]

4. The question I find NEVER asked is WHY have the side rail on a downhill slope?

I should be on level ground..and if the engineer has to trope up the hill so be it...but the TRAIN SIDE RAIL SHOULD BE ON LEVEL GROUND!
in EVERY case...no more run away trains without conductors...

[malaise]

7. He hasn't seen anything yet

I can't wait for the real anger

[cali]

8. Neither the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic web site or the Rail World website

has one word about the disaster on their web sites. I realize the company doesn't have a pr department, but jaysus, how hard is it to put up a message conveying that the company understands the magnitude of the disaster and expressing condolences.

http://www.mmarail.com/

http://railworld-inc.com/

[cali]

9. they've now found 20 bodies, but all missing have been deemed presumed dead

that brings the death toll to 50.