The Passenger Rail Transportation Security Regulations were registered on October 6, 2020. These regulations help make passenger rail more secure in Canada.
If you’re a host company, passenger company or small passenger company and operate on a federally-regulated track, then these regulations apply to you. This page explains the requirements you must follow.
On this page
- Who needs to follow the regulations?
- Requirements
- Coming into force dates
- Administrative monetary penalties
- Contact us
Who needs to follow the regulations?
The regulations apply to three kinds of companies:
- A host company is a railway company that allows a passenger company to transport passengers on its railway
- Learn more about the requirements for host company, by reviewing our Host Company Fact Sheet
- A passenger company is a railway company whose operations include transporting passengers by rail
- Learn more about the requirements for passenger company, by reviewing our Passenger Company Fact Sheet
- A small passenger company is a passenger company that has transported less than 60,000 passengers in one of the last two calendar years.
- Learn more about the requirements for small passenger company, by reviewing our Small Passenger Company Fact Sheet
Requirements
The regulations require passenger companies and host companies to manage security risks by creating specific security practices.
All companies (passenger and host companies) must:
- designate a rail security coordinator to be responsible for security matters
- To help meet this requirement, you can use the Rail Security Coordinator Form
- If this information changes, please send the updated contact information to Rail Security by e-mail at TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca so that we can update the information
- report threats and other security concerns to the Transport Canada Situation Centre by emailing TC.SitcenHQ-CentredinterventionAC.TC@tc.gc.ca, or by calling 1-613-995-9737 or toll-free at 1-888-857-4003
- To learn more, read our Rail Security Reporting Guidance document. For a copy of the guidance document, please contact Rail Security by e-mail at TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca
- Use our Rail Security Reporting Template to report security incidents
- provide security awareness training
- To learn more, read our guidance document on Security Awareness Training under the Passenger Rail Transportation Security Regulations. For a copy of the guidance document, please contact Rail Security by e-mail at TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca
All passenger companies must also:
- conduct security inspections on the outside of each passenger train and inside each car
- To learn more, read our guidance document on Conducting Security Inspections. For a copy of the guidance document, please contact Rail Security by e-mail at TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca
Passenger companies, other than small passenger companies, must also:
- conduct a security risk assessment
- develop and put in place a security plan
- provide security plan training, and
- conduct security exercises
- To learn more, read our guidance documents on Security Risk Assessments, Security Plans, Security Plan Training, and Security Exercises under the Passenger Rail Transportation Security Regulations. For a copy of the guidance documents and associated templates, please contact Rail Security by e-mail at TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca
Coming into force dates
Passenger company, other than a small passenger company
| Requirement | Comes into force on |
|---|---|
| Rail Security Coordinator | October 6, 2020 |
| Rail Security Reporting | October 6, 2020 |
| Security Awareness Training | January 6, 2021 |
| Security Inspections | January 6, 2021 |
| Security Risk Assessment | July 6, 2021 |
| Security Plan | July 6, 2021 |
| Security Plan Training | January 6, 2022 |
| Security Exercises | January 6, 2022 |
Small passenger company
| Requirement | Comes into force on |
|---|---|
| Rail Security Coordinator | October 6, 2020 |
| Rail Security Reporting | October 6, 2020 |
| Security Awareness Training | January 6, 2021 |
| Security Inspections | January 6, 2021 |
Host company
| Requirement | Comes into force on |
|---|---|
| Rail Security Coordinator | October 6, 2020 |
| Rail Security Reporting | October 6, 2020 |
| Security Awareness Training | January 6, 2021 |
Administrative Monetary Penalties
The Regulations Amending the Railway Safety Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations (the Regulations) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on July 3, 2024.
The amended regulations introduce administrative monetary penalties for non-compliance with the Passenger Rail Transportation Security Regulations, as well as certain prohibitions under the Railway Safety Act.
Transport Canada will continue to engage industry and other stakeholders as we move forward with implementation. For questions, please contact us at TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca.
Learn more about administrative monetary penalties
Contact us
For more information, please contact Rail Security by e-mail: TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca.