Enhancing the security of the transportation of dangerous goods by rail

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Rail Security Regulations (the Regulations), made pursuant to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, were registered on May 6, 2019. These regulations aim to mitigate the security risks of transporting dangerous goods by rail.

If you are a railway carrier or railway loader, the regulations apply to you. Learn the requirements you must follow here.

Transport Canada is providing the following guidance for the development of:

For more information, you may contact TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca

On this page

Who must follow the regulations

Railway carriers

“Railway carrier” means a person who has possession of dangerous goods for the purposes of either:

  • transportation by railway vehicle on a main railway line, or
  • storing them in the course of such transportation

For example:

  • If a company is transporting a railway vehicle of Nitroglycerin solution in alcohol (UN1204) on a main railway line, or storing them in the course of transportation, they are considered a railway carrier under the Regulations.

Learn more about the requirements for railway carriers

Rail Carrier fact sheet [PDF, 162KB]

Railway loaders

“Railway loader” means:

  • any person that operates a handling site, or
  • any manufacturer or producer of dangerous goods that has possession of dangerous goods at a handling site for the purposes of loading them prior to, or unloading them after, transportation by rail

For example:

  • If a company operates a facility that provides the services to load or unload dangerous goods to or from a railway vehicle, they are considered a railway loader under the Regulations.
  • If a company is a manufacturer or producer of dangerous goods and loads those dangerous goods into rail tank cars to be transported by rail directly from the facility, they are considered a railway loader under the Regulations.

In this context, “handling site” means a facility connected to a railway line, where a railway vehicle is placed for the loading or unloading of dangerous goods.

Learn more about the requirements for railway loaders

Rail Loader fact sheet [PDF, 168KB]

Requirements under the regulations

These regulations require railway carriers and railway loaders to manage security risks by implementing specific security practices.

For railway carriers

Railway carriers are required to:

Railway carriers who transport any of the security-sensitive dangerous goods listed in Schedule 1 must also:

  • conduct a security risk assessment
  • develop and implement a security plan
  • provide security plan training

For railway loaders

Railway loaders are required to provide security awareness training.

Railway loaders who offer for transport, handle or transport any of the security-sensitive dangerous goods listed in Schedule 1 must also:

  • conduct a security risk assessment
  • develop and implement a security plan
  • provide security plan training

When the requirements come into force

Requirement Who it applies to Type of dangerous goods Coming-into-force date

Reporting potential threats and other security concerns

Railway carriers All June 6, 2019

Rail security coordinator

Railway carriers All August 6, 2019

Security inspection

Railway carriers Only dangerous goods requiring a placard August 6, 2019
Security plan Railway carriers and railway loaders Only Schedule 1 security-sensitive dangerous goods

Carriers:

February 6, 2020

Loaders:

May 6, 2020

Security plan training

Railway carriers and railway loaders Only Schedule 1 security-sensitive dangerous goods

Carriers:

February 6, 2020

Loaders:

May 6, 2020

Security awareness training

Railway carriers and railway loaders All

Carriers:

February 6, 2020

Loaders:

May 6, 2020

The Transport Canada Situation Centre phone number is 1-888-857-4003 or 1-613-995-9737

Provide your company profile

We are gathering information about railway carriers and railway loaders to support oversight activities, and to help us do outreach and education. Please fill out the form that applies to you, and submit it to us at your earliest convenience:

Contact us

For more information, you can contact Rail Security at:

Email: TC.Railsecurity-sureteferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca

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