Application of the Railway Safety Act to Local Railway Companies

As of May 1, 2013, local railway companies will fall directly under the authority of the Railway Safety Act when operating on federally-regulated railway lines. This means that local railway companies will be directly responsible for complying with the federal railway safety regime when on federally-regulated track. This will involve submitting railway safety rules that apply to their operations to Transport Canada for approval. Transport Canada will be responsible for monitoring their compliance to these rules by going directly to their company instead of their host railway company.

Local railway companies may start preparing to submit their rules simply by following the Easy Steps to Submit Rules. Templates of letters are also available. To help local railway companies transition to this new regime, they will have until November 1, 2013 to submit rules for approval. In the meantime, to continue ensuring safe operations, and until rules are submitted, Transport Canada recommends that local railway companies continue to follow their host railway company’s rules found in their contract with them. In most cases, rules that apply to local railway companies will be rules such as operating rules, equipment-related rules if they are responsible for equipment, and rules related to passengers if they carry passengers.

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