Image description: Rail Transportation Network
The map of Canada shows the layout and extent of the Canadian rail system. This system currently has over 44,917 route-kilometres of track broken down into Canadian National track (48.8 per cent of the system, represented by blue lines), Canadian Pacific track (29.1 per cent, represented by red lines) and other railways track (22.2 per cent, represented by green lines).
Key traffic and volume statistics
Rail transportation serves nearly every part of the Canadian economy. Canada has an extended railway system that is used to transport mainly freight to and from the U.S. and international markets via coastal ports. There are also many passenger lines across Canada.
Freight sector
The freight rail sector focuses on moving heavy, bulk commodities and container traffic over long distances.
Canada has 2 major Class I freight railways, CN (Canadian National) and CP (Canadian Pacific), which are responsible for most freight rail traffic. Large U.S.-based carriers also operate in Canada, including the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company and CSX Transportation Inc.
Together, CN, CP and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company link trade between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s service to Canada’s Pacific Gateway gives the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority the unique advantage of being the only port on the West Coast served by 3 Class I railroads.
In terms of equipment, in 2021 Class I railway carriers had:
- 2180 locomotives
- 51,453 freight cars (mainly hopper cars, boxcars, flatcars and gondolas), and
- 403 passenger cars
There are 79 companies that currently hold a Railway Operating Certificate (26 federal railway companies and 53 local railway companies).
There are also many federally or provincially regulated shortline railways that connect shippers with Class I railways or to other shortlines and ports in order to move products across longer distances. Shortline railways move an average of $34.4 billion worth of freight to and from continental rail networks, and to ports and terminals.
Passenger sector
The passenger rail sector provides commuter, intercity and tourist transportation services. National rail passenger services are mostly provided by VIA Rail on behalf of the Government of Canada. VIA Rail is an independent Crown Corporation created in 1977 that operates Canada’s national passenger rail service from coast to coast. It mainly uses tracks owned by freight rail companies.
Most of its services are in central Canada along the Québec-Windsor Corridor. VIA Rail also operates long-haul passenger routes between Toronto-Vancouver and Montréal-Halifax, as well as regional services to destinations such as Jasper, Prince Rupert, Winnipeg, and Churchill. In 2022, VIA Rail ran an average of 328 weekly train departures on a 12,500 km network.
In addition to shortlines that move freight, some provide passenger rail services or tourism services, like the Rocky Mountaineer Railway.