Canadian Pacific Announces CTA Order to Interchange Traffic with Montreal Maine & Atlantic Railway

Canadian Pacific CP announced today that it has been ordered by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to interchange traffic with the Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway (MM&A) company effective immediately. On August 13, 2013, CP issued an embargo regulating the interchange of all traffic to and from the MM&A.  This was in response to the same-day decision by the CTA to withdraw MM&A's certificate of fitness.  The CTA's decision suspended MM&A's ability to operate a railway. The CTA modified its decision on August 16, 2013 to permit MM&A to continue to operate until October 1, 2013, conditional upon MM&A proving adequate insurance. CP expressed its concerns regarding the fitness of MM&A to safely handle hazardous substances, including the crude oil currently under investigation in the Lac Megantic derailment.  The CTA dismissed CP's arguments and ordered CP to lift the embargo.