Railway safety regulations called into question at Lac-Mgantic trial

The former Montreal, Maine and Atlantic (MMA) employee in charge of training and safety said in the months before the 2013 Lac-Mgantic train disaster,

MMA nearly doubled the number of convoys carrying crude oil through the community each week.

It also increased the weight of those trains without putting in place any extra security measures, MichaelHorantestified, although he said it did impose lower speed limits in some places as a way to compensate for damaged train tracks.

• Lac-Mgantic trial hears 9 handbrakes should have been used to secure tanker train

Horan, MMA's former assistant director of transportation, was in the witness box for a fourth day at the Sherbrooke courthouse Monday, describing a safety environment at the company where few checks were put in place.

Forty-seven people died in the derailment and ensuing explosions and fires on July 6, 2013.

Charged with criminal negligence causing 47 deaths are train conductor Thomas Harding, 56, railway controller Richard Labrie, 59, and operations manager Jean Dematre, 53.

Chance of fire never considered

Earlier in his testimony, Horan told the court the practice of trains operated by just one person had come into effect shortly before the rail disaster, despite pushback from some employees.

Under cross-examination by Thomas Walsh, Harding's lawyer, Horan told the court Monday that before switching to one-man crews, MMA took special measures to meet municipal and emergency response officialsalong the route between Farnham in the Montergie region and Lac-Mgantic to talk about foreseeable problems.

Horan said the goal of those meetings was to ensure there were procedures in place in the event of an unforeseen incident, such as a derailment.

"There were more qualified people along the way to separate the trains and to check the crosswalks and emergency routes to go across," he testified.

However, asked about the chance of a fire, Horan said that eventuality was never addressed.

"Did you discuss a fire that resulted because of speed or a derailment?" asked Walsh.

"No," Horan responded.

Under cross-examination by Gatan Bourrassa, Dematre's lawyer, Horan told the court he sometimes replaced Dematre, who was also his boss, in his duties.

He said both he and Dematre operated with no budget. He said they both had a company credit card but needed authorization to use it.

Michael Horan is expected back on the stand for further cross-examination Tuesday.

• MMA Railway execs had to be forced to meet police, chief investigator tells Lac-Mgantic trial
• Men on trial for Lac-Mgantic disaster 'co-operated entirely with police,' jury hears