Ottawa – Transport Canada

The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, today announced new regulations to enhance railway safety oversight in Canada.

The new regulations under the Railway Safety Act stipulate that federally regulated companies will be required to hold a valid Railway Operating Certificate (ROC) to operate in Canada. The Railway Operating Certificate Regulations establish baseline safety requirements that must be met before a company begins operations, providing another tool to ensure railway companies operate safely in Canada.

The regulations apply to both new and existing railway companies. Existing companies will have a two-year grace period to obtain a Railway Operating Certificate, whereas new companies will be required to obtain a certificate prior to operating in Canada.

These new regulations empower Transport Canada to put an immediate stop to a company’s operations by suspending or revoking a company’s certificate if a serious violation is identified. These new regulations will come into force on January 1, 2015.

Quick Facts

• Transport Canada has a robust railway safety program in place and continuously looks for ways to make the railway system safer.All federally regulated railway companies and provincially regulated railway companies operating on federally regulated track will be required to hold a valid Railway Operating Certificate.

Quotes

“These new regulations are an added tool for this government to ensure that railway operations are being conducted in the safest manner possible. Railway Operating Certificates represent an additional layer to Transport Canada’s oversight program and further strengthen its enforcement regime.”
The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport