CTA releases What We Heard Report summarizing its rail transportation consultations

Gatineau, Quebec – March 04, 2019 – The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) today released its What We Heard Report summarizing the input received from key rail industry stakeholders about how best to update and clarify existing rail-related regulations, as well as related CTA guidelines and tools.

Based on the Discussion paper on Regulatory Modernization for Rail Transportation, the four-month public consultation process focused on the following key issues:

• Amendments to the Railway Interswitching Regulations
• Administrative monetary penalties
• Insurance filing for freight rail operations
• Insurance requirements for passenger rail operations and railway construction
• Guidance materials on shipper remedies and recovery of costs related to a railway fire

The consultation process included 20 formal bilateral meetings with representatives from Canadian and U.S. passenger and freight railway companies, rail tourism operators, industry associations, grain shipper associations, associations representing logistics and freight management, private companies who are users of rail, and other industry experts. In addition, the CTA received 26 written submissions from stakeholders.

The CTA is now considering all the input received in developing updated rail regulations.

Quote

"One of the CTA's responsibilities is to help ensure an efficient, smoothly-running national rail system. Thank you to the many rail stakeholders who participated in the CTA's consultations on rail transportation. All the information and suggestions received are being carefully considered as we update our regulations and guidance material."

Scott Streiner, Chair and CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency

Next steps

The proposed changes will be published in the Canada Gazette.

For more information

Visit the CTA's Rail Transportation Consultation web page.

About the CTA

The Canadian Transportation Agency is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator that has, with respect to all matters necessary for the exercise of its jurisdiction, all the powers of a superior court. The CTA has three core mandates: helping to keep the national transportation system running efficiently and smoothly, protecting the fundamental right of persons with disabilities to accessible transportation services, and providing consumer protection for air passengers. To help advance these mandates, the CTA makes and enforces ground rules that establish the rights and responsibilities of transportation service providers and users and level the playing field among competitors, resolves disputes using a range of tools from facilitation and mediation to arbitration and adjudication, and ensures that transportation providers and users are aware of their rights and responsibilities and how the CTA can help them.

Contact

Media Relations
Canadian Transportation Agency
media@otc-cta.gc.ca
819-934-3448
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