The Government of Canada is continuing to move ahead with concrete actions which improve railway track safety to better protect those living and working near Canada's rail corridors.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced that Transport Canada has approved a series of changes that will strengthen the Rules Respecting Track Safety. These rules are critically important to rail safety and rail companies must follow them when inspecting and maintaining their track.
Today's changes - the final phase in a series of three - stem from a 2020 Ministerial Order that focused on major risks that could cause derailments due to the condition of railway infrastructure.
The changes require railway companies to:
- develop key performance indicators to help Transport Canada analyze track conditions and inform the department's oversight activities;
- strengthen requirements for railways to inspect and maintain crossties; and
- provide Transport Canada inspectors with access to additional information on company track standards so they can ensure that oversight is effective and consistent across Canada.
This latest series of changes to the rules builds on two previously announced revisions in May 2021 and December 2021 that focused on training and qualification of railway personnel who inspect tracks, track inspection frequency, and automated track inspection technology.
Transport Canada continues to work with the railway industry to make the railway system even safer for Canadians.
