Rail publications

Rail safety

Train Control Working Group Final Report

This report presents the findings of the train control working group's review of rail safety technologies that could mitigate the risk of certain rail related incidents where there is a human factor– related cause.

Report

Rail safety

Canadian Rail Research Laboratory Report on Enhanced Train Control

This report summarizes the Canadian Rail Research Laboratory's (CaRRL) findings after performing an in-depth investigation into the potential safety benefits gained from the introduction of enhanced train control (ETC) technology to the Canadian railway environment.

Report

Grade crossings

Determining Minimum Sightlines at Grade Crossings: A Guide for Road Authorities and Railway Companies

This Guide contains advice and technical guidance that stakeholders (road authorities, private authorities and railway companies) need to determine the minimum sightlines required at grade crossings.

Guideline

Grade crossings

Grade Crossings Regulations: what you need to know

Under the Grade Crossings Regulations, railway companies, road authorities and private authorities share responsibility for managing the safety at federally-regulated grade crossings.

Rail safety

The Role of Transport Canada's Railway Safety Inspector [PDF: 190 MB]

Railway Safety Inspector (RSI) monitors and promotes
regulatory compliance in railway operations, equipment,
infrastructure, and railway-roadway grade crossings.

Rail safety

Amendments to the Railway Safety Act [PDF: 190 MB]

Transport Canada proposed a Bill to amend the Railway
Safety Act (RSA) based on recommendations from the 2008
RSA review. Most of these amendments came into force on
May 1, 2013.

Other publications

Rail safety

Advisory Council on Rail Safety Working Group on Locomotive Voice and Video Recorders

This report presents the findings of the working group on locomotive voice and video recorders.

Report

Rail safety

Railway Ground Hazard Research Program

The Railway Ground Hazard Research Program (RGHRP) is a collaborative effort among industry, academic institutions and the federal government. The Program was created in 2003 to develop and evaluate scientific and technical solutions to help railways manage the risks associated with ground hazards.

Grade crossings

Memorandum of Understanding on coordination of efforts related to Noise and Vibration Complaints and Road, Utility or Private Crossings

Memorandum of understanding (MOU) is to set out the responsibilities and understandings between the Participants with respect to:

• railway noise and vibration complaints;
• the opening and closing of road, utility and private crossings;
• the determination of whether a railway is a railway within the legislative authority of Parliament; and
• certificates (COFs and ROCs) and railway line construction.

Grade crossings

Grade crossings - Handbook

This document is developed to provide guidance on the engineering best practices and requirements for safety at or around grade crossings, and is to be used as a complement to the requirements found in the Grade Crossings Regulations, and therefore, the incorporated by reference Grade Crossings Standards made pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Grade crossing

Train Whistling at Public Grade Crossings

Train whistling is an important way to keep drivers, cyclists and pedestrians safe. The Canadian Rail Operating Rules require all trains to whistle whenever they approach a public grade crossing.
In some cases, train whistles bother people who live nearby. Municipalities may wish to stop the whistling to provide local residents with relief from the noise.

Guideline

Rail safety

Safety Management Systems Industry Guide

This guide describes regulatory objectives and provides explanations, guidance and examples to help railway companies and local railway companies develop and implement their railway safety management systems (SMS) to meet the requirements of the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, 2015 (Regulations).

Guideline

Rail safety

Guideline for Remote Control Locomotive Operation

This guideline promotes industry best practices and provides federally regulated railways, and those providing services to railways, with guidance on the continued safe use of remote controllocomotives (RCLs).

Guideline

Railway lines

Compendium of Survey Data Record Layouts

This document contains record layouts for various surveys which must be completed by transportation undertakings in accordance to the Transportation Information Regulations.

Guideline

Grade crossing

Minimum Railway/Road Crossing Sightline Requirements For All Grade Crossings Without Automatic Warning Devices G4-A

Guideline for minimum railway/road crossing sightline requirements for all Grade Crossings without automatic warning devices G4-A

Guideline

Rail Safety

Guideline on Applying for an Exemption or Filing of a Notice of Exemption

The purpose of this guideline is:

• To promote the spirit of collaboration and to confirm the willingness of the parties to work in an open cooperative fashion with the intent to improve the exemption process
• To outline the process to be followed when a railway company applies for an exemption or files a notice of exemption; and,
• To clarify the information and documentation a railway company should provide to substantiate its application or notice and help the Minister to determine whether an exemption is in the public interest and not likely to threaten safe railway operations.

Guideline

Rail Safety

Guideline on Requesting Approval to Undertake Certain Railway Works

The purpose of this guideline is to clarify:

• the process to be followed when a proponent files a request with the Minister to undertake a railway work, as set out in subsection 10(1), for which Ministerial approval is required before beginning the undertaking; and,
• what information and documentation a proponent should provide to substantiate their proposal and help the Minister to determine whether the proposal is consistent with safe railway operations.

Guideline

Rail Safety

Guideline for Culvert Safety Management

The objective of this Guideline is to provide railway companies with a guide for the development of their Culvert Safety Management Program (CSMP) in accordance with the Railway Safety Management Systems Regulation (SMS), the Railway Safety Act (RSA), and the Track Safety Rules (TSR).

Guideline

Rail safety

Guideline on Submitting Proposed Engineering Standards or Revisions to Engineering Standards

The purpose of this Guideline is to clarify:

• the process to be followed when a railway company files engineering standards with the Minister, whether of its own initiative or in response to an Order from the Minister, for the Minister's consideration and possible approval; and,

what information and documentation a railway company should provide to substantiate their proposal and help the Minister determine whether the proposal would be conducive to safe railway operations by the railway company.

Guideline

Rail Safety

Guideline on Submitting a Proposed Rule or a Revision to a Rule

The purpose of this Guideline is:

• To promote the spirit of collaboration and to confirm the willingness of the parties to work in an open cooperative fashion with the intent to improve the rule-making process.
• To outline the processes that the various parties have agreed to follow when requesting or formulating rules.
• To clarify the process to be followed when a railway company formulates and files proposed rules with the Minister, whether in response to an Order from the Minister or on its own initiative, for the Minister's consideration and possible approval; and,
• To clarify the information and documentation that a railway company should provide to substantiate their proposal and assist the Minister in determining whether the proposal would be conducive to safe railway operations by the railway company.

Guideline

Rail safety

Guideline: Engineering Work Relating To Railway Works

The intent of this Guide is to provide clarification on the requirements of section 11 of the Railway Safety Act (RSA). The Guide clarifies what types of work could relate to railway works and what could be considered as engineering work in the context of the RSA.

Guideline

Rail safety

Guideline for Bridge Safety Management

The objective of this Guideline is to provide railway companies with a guide for the development of their Bridge Safety Management Program (BSMP) and to promote industry best practices with regards to bridge management.

Guideline

Rail safety

Fatigue Management Plans - Requirements and Assessment Guidelines

These guidelines, which reflect the recommendations of contemporary fatigue professionals for the mitigation of fatigue in the workplace, present practices you may find useful in developing your Fatigue Management Plans (FMP).

Guideline

Rail safety

Railway Freight and Passenger Train Brake Inspection and Safety Rules

These rules prescribe the minimum safety standards for the safe operation of train brakes on all freight and passenger trains operated by a railway company subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail Safety

Rules Respecting Key Trains and Key Routes

These rules prescribe requirements for railway companies to identify trains involved in the carriage of dangerous goods (Key Trains) and the routes along which they travel (Key Routes), in addition to imposing additional inspection requirements with the need to conduct risk assessments and consult with municipalities and other local governments.

Rules

Rail Safety

Canadian Rail Operating Rules

These rules prescribe operating requirements for employees involved in the movement of trains in Canada.

Rules

Rail Safety

Pull-By Inspection Rules

These rules govern the minimum safety inspection of run through freight trains.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Equipment Reflectorization Rules

These rules prescribe the minimum standards governing the specifications and the application of retroreflective material on railway equipment. The scope of these Rules applies to all railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Freight Car Inspection & Safety Rules

These Rules prescribe the minimum safety standards for freight cars operated by railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Locomotive Inspection & Safety Rules

These rules prescribe the minimum safety standards for locomotives operated by railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Medical Rules for Positions Critical to Safe Railway Operations

These rules define the Medical Fitness for Duty requirements for Safety Critical Positions within railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Passenger Car Inspection & Safety Rules

These rules prescribe the minimum safety standards for passenger cars operated by railway companies in trains at speeds not exceeding 125 mph (200 km/h) subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Passenger Handling Safety Rules

These rules prescribe the minimum requirements for the safe handling of passengers by railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Rules

Rail safety

Railway Rules Governing Safety Critical Positions

These rules prescribe records to be kept by companies in regard to safety critical positions.

Rules

Rules for the Installation, Inspection & Testing of Air Reservoirs (Other than on Locomotives)

These rules prescribe the standards for installation, inspection, testing and reporting of air reservoirs used by railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of Transport Canada. These rules apply to stationary and portable reservoirs except those on locomotives.

Rules

Rail safety

Rules Respecting Track Safety

These rules prescribe minimum safety requirements for federally regulated standard gauge railway track.

Rules

Rail Safety

Work/Rest Rules for Rail Operating Employees

These rules define the requirements for hours of work and rest for such persons pursuant to section 20 (1) of the Railway Safety Act. These rules apply to operating railway companies and operating employees of railway companies.

Grade crossings

Engineering Standards for "Walk Light" Grade Crossing Warning Systems

These engineering standards provide the design requirements for Walk Light grade crossing warning systems to be used at restricted grade crossings.

Standards

Grade crossings

Engineering Standards for Grade Crossing Warning Systems Used at Restricted Grade Crossings

These engineering standards provide the design requirements for grade crossing warning systems to be used at certain restricted crossings where there is not full control over crossing users.

Standards

Rail safety

Railway Signal & Traffic Control Systems Standards

These standards are intended to ensure that railway signal and traffic control systems are installed, modified and maintained in a safe manner. These standards apply to railway companies subject to the jurisdiction of the Minister of Transport pursuant to the Railway Safety Act (RSA).

Standards

Rail safety

Standard Respecting Railway Clearance

This Standard is intended to ensure the respect of railway clearance and shall apply on all tracks owned or operated on by a railway company.

Standards

Grade crossing

Standards Respecting Pipeline Crossings Under Railways

These standards are intended to ensure that pipeline crossings under Railways are installed, renewed and maintained in a safe manner. These standards apply to Railway Companies subject to the jurisdiction of the Minister of Transport pursuant to the Railway Safety Act.

Standards

Grade crossing

Transport Canada Standard For LED Signal Modules at Highway/Railway Grade Crossings

The purpose of this standard is to provide the minimum performance requirements for 200 mm and 300 mm Light Emitting Diode (LED) signal modules for use in highway/railway grade crossing signal assemblies in Canada.

Standards

Technical Bulletin to Railway Companies:
Captive Service Operations

The purpose of this bulletin is to describe the federal requirements pertaining to freight cars operating in captive service under the Railway Freight Car Inspection and Safety Rules (Freight Car Rules) and clarify the filing requirements for captive service operations under the Rules.

Bulletin

Technical Bulletin to Railway Companies:
Locomotives Equipped with Roll-Away Protection

The purpose of this bulletin is to describe federal requirements pertaining to locomotives equipped with a safety control system with roll-away protection, under theRailway Locomotive Inspection and Safety Rules(Locomotive Rules).

Bulletin

Potential brake valve failures on cars in long term storage

This bulletin is being released following the issuance of a Transportation Safety Board Rail Safety Advisory Letter on July 19, 2018. The letter relates to an incident on January 10, 2018, where the crew of a Canadian National (CN) unit coal train lost control of its speed on the Luscar Industrial Spur near Cadomin, Alberta, while proceeding southward down the steep mountain grade.

Bulletin

Rail Safety Bulletins 2013

Bridges and Culverts – Mitigating Risk During and After Severe Weather

Bulletin

Rail Safety Bulletins 2012

Second Train Event Warning Sign

Bulletin