Commemorating the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885
OTTAWA, Nov. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, marked National Railway Day by highlighting the significance of railway safety and the role transportation by rail has played in building and enriching the country's economy.
Over the years, the railway industry has significantly contributed to Canada's economic growth by moving people and goods across the country, and continues to do so to this day. The Canadian Government understands the continued importance of the country's railway system and is working hard to maintain it amongst the safest in the world.
Following the tragic events in Lac-Mégantic, the Government of Canada has renewed its commitment to taking concrete actions to strengthen railway safety. Specifically, we are doing so by:
- establishing a two-person minimum for locomotive crews on trains carrying dangerous goods, and imposing stricter requirements for securing unattended trains;
- ordering the removal of the least crash-resistant DOT-111 tank cars from dangerous goods service and requiring those that do not meet new safety standards to be phased out by May 1, 2017;
- instituting new Railway Safety Management System Regulations that will strengthen requirements and help railways better identify and manage safety risks;
- introducing cash penalties through the Railway Safety Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations, which further enhance Transport Canada's ability to quickly enforce safety requirements;
- requiring railway companies to meet standardized requirements for hand brake application;
- increasing oversight by recruiting additional staff to carry out more frequent audits and creating processes for increased information sharing with municipalities;
- conducting further research on crude oil properties, behaviour and hazards and launching a targeted inspection campaign to verify the classification of rail shipments; and
- requiring certain railways, including short lines, to submit training plans to Transport Canada for review, and conducting an audit blitz of short lines to determine specific training gaps.
Transport Canada has taken meaningful, concrete measures to improve railway safety and the safe transportation of dangerous goods by rail, and continues to do so, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that the Canadian transportation system remains safe.
The Government of Canada continues to work closely with railways, shippers, municipalities, first responders, Aboriginal communities, provincial and territorial governments, and U.S. officials to protect the safety of Canadians and assess additional steps that can be taken to enhance safety and maintain the country's railway system as one of the safest in the world.
The Government of Canada also acknowledges and encourages the important role railways play in domestic and international trade by funding important programs like the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridors Initiative.
- In 2011, the Government of Canada officially declared November 7 as National Railway Day.
- The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885, when the last spike was driven into the ground at Craigellachie, British Columbia.
- Canada's rail transportation system moves approximately 70 per cent of freight on a tonne-per-kilometre basis and around 70 million passengers a year.
"Our Government recognizes the role the railway industry has played in developing our country's economy, since before Confederation, and its continuing contributions to this day. We remain committed to working diligently with our partners to strengthen the safety of our railway system for all Canadians."
The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport
- Transport Canada takes action in response to TSB's initial Lac-Mégantic recommendations
- Minister Raitt announces new rail and dangerous goods requirements
- Minister Raitt responds to Transportation Safety Board report on the Lac-Mégantic derailment
- Minister Raitt announces steps to further strengthen railway
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SOURCE: Transport Canada
For further information: Ashley Kelahear, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, 613-991-0700; Media RelationsTransport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055