PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Canadian railroad's withdrawal of opposition to a $338 million fund for victims of an oil train derailment that killed 47 people in Quebec has set the stage for final approval and compensation for victims.

A U.S. bankruptcy trustee and Canadian Pacific agreed to modify the settlement fund to give the railroad some legal protection, prompting the railroad's decision to end its objections. A Canadian judge gave conditional approval on Thursday, and a U.S. bankruptcy judge is to consider the plan Friday.

Victims and the province of Quebec have until Tuesday to confirm their support of the changes in Canada.

Barring any surprises, the timeline would allow payments to be made to victims of the disaster by year's end, said Robert Keach, the bankruptcy trustee. About $83 million is being set aside to settle wrongful death claims.

"We're very happy for the victims that we were able to get to this point. They're the primary focus here," Keach said.

A runaway train with 72 oil tankers derailed on July 6, 2013, in Lac Megantic, Quebec, setting off powerful explosions and causing fires that wiped out much of the downtown.

The disaster led to greater regulatory scrutiny of the use of trains to transport crude oil amid a production surge thanks to new technologies including hydraulic fracturing.

After the disaster, the train's operator, the Maine-based Montreal, Maine & Atlantic, filed for bankruptcy and the settlement fund is tied to proceedings in both the U.S. and Canada. The fund, worth $446 million in Canadian dollars, was the product of negotiations with about two dozen companies with potential liability.

Canadian Pacific owned track where the crude oil shipment originated and was the only company with potential liability that declined to contribute to the settlement.

Canadian Pacific contended it bore no responsibility since the train that derailed had a Montreal, Maine & Atlantic locomotive and crew and was operating on MMA rail. But Keach argued Canadian Pacific bore some responsibility for failing to properly classify the Bakken region crude oil, which was as volatile as gasoline.

Canadian Pacific still isn't contributing to the settlement fund, and the railroad had contended the plan would have hampered its ability to defend itself from lawsuits, because the agreement provided legal immunity to companies that do contribute.

But the altered amendment calls for a "judgment reduction provision" that would take into account the full settlement paid by others if CP is ordered to pay damages in the future.

"Although CP was not at fault in the derailment, we have been working with the trustee for a solution that protects CP interests and allows payments to be made to victims as soon as possible," said spokesman Martin Cej.

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