 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hermon, Maine |
| Reporting mark | MMA |
| Locale | Maine, Vermont, and Quebec |
| Dates of operation | October 2002–March 2014 |
| Predecessor | Iron Road Railways |
| Successor | Central Maine & Quebec Railway |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 510 miles (820 km) |
The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (reporting mark MMA) was a Class II[1] freight railroad that operated in the U.S. states of Maine and Vermont and the Canadian province of Quebec between 2002 and 2014. It was headquartered in Hermon, Maine.
Its Canadian subsidiary was named the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Canada Company with offices in Farnham, Quebec. With the exception of an independently owned low-speed tourist train (the Orford Express) on one small segment between Magog and Sherbrooke, there was no passenger service on the MMA system.[2]
MMA and its Canadian subsidiary entered Chapter 11/CCAA bankruptcy protection in August 2013 as a direct result of the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, a runaway train incident in July 2013 which resulted in an estimated $200 million in damage and the deaths of 47 people.[3][4][5]
MMA's assets were sold at auction to Railroad Acquisition Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group, LLC on January 21, 2014.[6] Fifteen locomotives worth $1.6 million were excluded from the deal and will be sold separately.[7] The sale was approved by bankruptcy judges on January 23, with the transfer of assets expected to occur on or before March 31, 2014.[needs update][8] Railroad Acquisition Holdings, LLC has established a new railroad named Central Maine and Quebec Railway (reporting mark CMQ)[9] to operate the former MMA rail lines. The CM&Q was acquired by Canadian Pacific Railway in June 2020.
- ^ "America's regional railroads". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing: 38–39. October 2010.
- ^ Jean-François Gagnon (2013-07-24). "Une faillite de MMA n'aurait qu'un faible impact sur l'Orford express". La Tribune (Sherbrooke). Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- ^ "Lac-Mégantic railway MM&A could be sold by December". CBC Montréal. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
- ^ "Fortress Affiliate Believed to Bid on MM&A Railway". The Wall Street Journal. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
- ^ Richardson, Whit (2013-12-13). "Wall Street investment firm emerges as potential buyer of Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- ^ "Lac-Mégantic disaster's MM&A sold to Florida Great Lakes Partners". CBC Montréal. 2014-01-21. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
- ^ "La vente de la MMA approuvée par les tribunaux". Radio-Canada Sherbrooke. 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
- ^ "Judges approve sale of bankrupt Maine railroad". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
- ^ "FindUs.Rail | Search MARKs". Railinc. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2014.