Lawyers for MM&A appeared in Quebec Superior Court in Sherbrooke on Wednesday to seek an extension of the railway's bankruptcy protection. 

Fire fighters keep watering railway cars the day after a train derailed causing explosions of railway cars carrying crude oil Sunday, July 7, 2013, in Lac Megantic, Que.

 

　　The bankrupt railroad whose runaway train derailed and caused an explosion that killed 47 people in Lac-Mégantic, Que., could be sold by year’s end, the company’s trustee said Thursday.

 

　　Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has made no secret that its sale will be necessary to repay creditors and victims following the July 6 disaster. And railroad trustee Robert Keach said he’s already been approached by “several” potential buyers.

 

　　“There is a sale process that has already begun. We’re talking to interested parties,” said Keach, a Portland attorney. He declined to name any of the potential buyers.

 

　　The company filed for bankruptcy protection a month after the disaster, and the sale of the railroad would have to be approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If a buyer purchases all 825 kilometres of rail in Maine and Canada, then the deal would have to be approved by officials in both countries.

 

　　Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway continues to operate but has laid off most of its workers because rails through Lac-Mégantic remain out of commission, disrupting the flow of goods.

 

　　Next week, Keach hopes to file with U.S. Bankruptcy Court a proposal for a loan that’ll help the company continue operations through the bankruptcy process.

 

　　Keach also plans to file a proposal for funding bankruptcy administration costs that he says would not drain funds that should go to creditors and victims. A judge previously said he was concerned that attorney fees could drain the company of funds before victims of the train crash could be compensated.

 

　　Company Chairman Ed Burkhardt discussed the idea of selling the company soon after the unattended train, with 72 tankers of crude oil, began rolling and derailed in downtown Lac-Mégantic, a town of 6,000. Several tankers exploded, destroying 40 buildings. It took nearly two days to douse the flames.

 

　　According to documents filed in bankruptcy court, the railway company is worth $50 million to $100 million, but Keach declined to discuss how much the company might sell for.

 

　　Any proceeds from the company’s sale would be used to repay creditors and victims, supplementing $25 million in insurance payouts available for wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, fire suppression and environmental impact. Critics say the cleanup alone will exceed $25 million.

 

　　Keach said he expects to formalize a process for selling the railroad in the coming weeks, and he remains optimistic that a deal can be struck by Jan. 1.

 

　　“It’s moving as I would expect. Everybody involved in the process thinks it should be and can be completed by year’s end,” Keach said.