MORTERM, LTD. SUPPORTS HEROES PARK IN MONTREAL’S WEST ISLAND

MORTERM, LTD. SUPPORTS HEROES PARK IN MONTREAL’S WEST ISLAND

Windsor, ON, October 16, 2014 – Morterm, Ltd. is proud to support a new park in Montreal’s West Island honouring members of the Armed Forces, police officers, firefighters and first responders inaugurated Wednesday, October 15^th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The park marks the 100^th anniversary of the commencement of the First World War and pays tribute to those who serve Canada during war and peace. Major Richard Gratton of the Canadian Armed Forces, the source of inspiration in the creation of the park, worked with students from the nearby Beaconsfield High School and community volunteers to see the project completed. 

When approached by Dennis Pfeffer of FEDNAV, Canada’s largest ocean-going dry-bulk ship owning and chartering group to support this important project, it was an easy decision to make. “It is a great initiative, and we are honoured to support the cause,” said Teresa Boutet, Vice President for Morterm, Ltd. “Our company owns and operates both a marine cargo terminal and a short-line railroad, and we know our ‘heroes’ are absolutely key in keeping our facilities, our cargo, our team, our community and our country safe.”

For more information about Heroes Park, please visit http://heroespark.org/

About Us:

Morterm is the only general cargo marine terminal in the Port of Windsor boasting 160,000 square feet of indoor storage and over 90 acres of well compacted, outdoor, fenced and gated storage yards with 24-hour security.  The strategic location of our facility, at the busiest border crossing between the US and Canada and in excellent proximity to the new billion dollar Parkway project leading to the planned new international crossing, provides easy access to highways, rail and vessels.  Sister company, the Essex Terminal Railway (ETR) is a short-line (or switching) railway strategically located at the Windsor-Detroit gateway providing service from the east side of Windsor to Amherstburg, ON and offering direct connections with CN, CP and CSX with reach all across North America. For more information, visit www.morterm.com or www.etr.ca

If you walk along a railroad track you may soon feel run down.

It's Public Rail Safety Week #PRSW2014 - something, that if I am really honest, I never paid much attention to in the past. I started my new job last week at Essex Terminal Railway (ETR) / Morterm as Director of Marketing and Business Development. So - suddenly, I'm paying attention!

I know - it seems like such a no-brainer. Everybody knows not to try to beat the train at a crossing, or walk on the tracks, right? Then why are there still 300 collisions and trespassing accidents across Canada every year resulting in the death or serious injury of nearly 130 people. Virtually all of these "accidents" were preventable.

A 110 tonne locomotive (compared to your car, weighing less than 2 tonnes) with sometimes, a hundred or more cars moving freight on the rails can't stop quickly.

 

An average freight train travelling at 100km/h requires about 2 km (2000 metres) to stop. An automobile traveling at 90 km/h needs about 60 meters to stop. And the majority of highway/railway collisions happen when the train is travelling less than 50 km/h!

I mean, who hasn't been tempted to beat the train? Go around the "wig wags" because you're already late for an appointment, and who has time to sit here? Because even if it's a tie - you lose. And a motorist is 40 times more likely to die in a collision with a train than another vehicle.

There are some spectacular crashes in the Operation Lifesaver Video if you want to see what happens when you try to race a train.

Why not just take the tracks home on your bike, or walking? It's a lot easier and faster. Kids aren't crossing the street...no vehicles to worry about...Just a train. A big train. An approaching train activates flashing light signals and gates approximately 20 seconds before the train reaches the crossing.

You think - But the train is loud, and you can hear it coming even with your headphones in and blaring the latest Eminem track. Think so? Take the test and see how you do...Network Rail Track Test

Even in our yard, I see many people walking past the 4 foot square sign that says "NO TRESPASSING". They just want to cut through - it's faster to get where they are going. And really, they think, what's the harm. By the same thought, why wouldn't you just cut through your neighbour's house - go in through the back door and out through the front because it stands between you and the corner store? It's faster. Probably safer...unless your neighbour is a light sleeper and has a gun.

Railway tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. And sometimes, trespassing gets the death penalty.

Please - join us at ETR in preventing accidents by practicing rail safety. If you see tracks, think train!