# Rail regulations in Canada

Rail regulations in Canada are set by Transport Canada and the Canadian Transportation Agency. The 2007 "Railway Safety Act Review" was commissioned by the Minister of Transport and its report provides much-needed background to this article, especially section 4.3. The governance of railways in Canada is complex and has many tiers: Acts of Parliament, Regulations, Rules, and Directives are only some of the instruments that impact this industry.

## Scope

Federal regulations apply only to certain railways which meet one or more of the following conditions:
* They operate in more than one province.
* They operate from the United States and cross the Canada–United States border.
* They are owned, controlled, leased or operated by a person who operates a railway that is within the jurisdiction of parliament.
* They are declared by the Canadian Parliament to be a work for the general advantage of Canada or of two or more provinces.
A railway that is regulated under either of the two last qualifications is considered to be "a work for the general advantage of Canada."

### List of 32 Federal Railway Companies

The following is a list of all federal railway companies
* 6970184 Canada (Great Sandhills Railway)
* Arnaud Railway Company
* BNSF Railway
* Canadian National Railway
* Canadian Pacific Railway
* City of Ottawa (O-Train Trillium Line)
* CSX Transportation
* Eastern Maine Railway
* Essex Terminal Railway
* Ferroequus Railway (suspended)
* Goderich-Exeter Railway
* Great Canadian Railtour (Rocky Mountaineer)
* Hudson Bay Railway
* International Bridge and Terminal Company
* Kelowna Pacific Railway
* Maine Central Railroad
* Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway
* Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (suspended)
* National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
* Nipissing Central Railway (a portion of the Ontario Northland Railway)
* Okanagan Valley Railway
* Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway
* RaiLink Canada (Ottawa Valley Railway)
* St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad
* Springfield Terminal Railway
* Sydney Coal Railway
* Toronto Terminals Railway
* Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
* Union Pacific Railroad
* Via Rail Canada
* Wabush Lake Railway
* White Pass & Yukon Route

### Provincial Charters

Railways can also be licensed by the provinces, under applicable provincial railway safety legislation. The only provinces without railways under their jurisdiction as of 2007 are in Newfoundland and Labrador, and in Prince Edward Island. In Ontario, railways licensed under the Shortline Railways Act, 1995 can operate within that province, but not cross provincial or international boundaries.
In New Brunswick. shortline railways are governed by the Shortline Railways Act, 2011. The prior Act was in force since 1994, with amendments also made in 2013.
Alternatively, "several railways are operating that do not have certificates of fitness from the CTA [Transport Canada], and are not regulated under corresponding provincial railway safety legislation". These are mainly commuter railways.

## Tracks

Transport Canada's Rules Respecting Track Safety apply to all federally regulated railway companies operating on standard gauge track. As a consequence, the narrow gauge White Pass & Yukon Route railway is excluded from these regulations.

### Speed

Though Canada uses kilometres per hour on roadways, rail speed limits are set in miles per hour (mph). Tracks are classified and the speed limit is determined by the type. The track class speed limits are nearly identical to the speed limits set by the Federal Railway Administration in the United States.
| Track type | Freight | Passenger |
| Excepted track | 10 mph (16 km/h) | Forbidden |
| Class 1 | 10 mph (16 km/h) | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
| Class 2 | 25 mph (40 km/h) | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
| Class 3 | 40 mph (64 km/h) | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Class 4 | 60 mph (97 km/h) | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Class 5 | 80 mph (129 km/h) | 95 mph (153 km/h) |
| Class 6 | 110 mph (177 km/h) | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
* ↑ "Excepted track" does not meet standards for bridge approach, passengers or dangerous goods; its use requires annual risk assessment.
* ↑ Trains pulling LRC cars may travel at 100 mph (161 km/h)

#### Special rules

* Trains pulling service equipment cars, rolling stock used to transport or house Maintenance of Way equipment or employees may not exceed 35 mph (56 km/h).
* Vehicles being used for a visual inspection of tracks may not exceed 5 mph (8.0 km/h) when crossing other tracks, highways or switches.

## Interswitching

Interswitching by a terminal railway is regulated by the Canadian Transportation Agency. Regulations do not apply where 90% the railway's gross revenue comes from interswitching.
In situations where the regulations apply, terminal railways are required to give equal treatment interswitching traffic and are prohibited from charging for delivery or return of an empty car. They are required to follow a rate schedule set by the CTA.

## Railway police

Any superior court judge may appoint a person as a police constable charged with enforcing federal and provincial laws as well as Part 3 of the Canadian Transportation Act in regards to railway property. Section 44 of the Railway Safety Act limits jurisdiction of Railway constables to property owned, used or managed by the railway and the area 500 m (1,600 ft) around it.

## Work and Rest Rules

Transport Canada limits the on duty time on a single shift for engineers, conductors and yard workers and all workers involved in switching or operating trains to 12 hours, including those working split shifts. The exception is work train crews, who may work 16 hours. The total maximum over multiple shifts is 18 hours.
To reset the clock, a worker must receive 8 hours off at their home terminal or 6 hours away from home.

### Emergencies

During emergencies, defined as unforeseen situations that may cause harm to employees, passengers, the public or the environment such as accidents, derailments, natural disasters and acts of God but not locomotive breakdowns or broken rails, employees may work until relieved subject to fatigue management policies.