Railway Association of Canada

Railway Association of Canada
Name	Railway Association of Canada
Formation	1917
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Region served	Canada
Leader title	President and CEO
Leader name	Steven Del Duca

Railway Association of Canada is a Canadian trade association representing freight and passenger rail transport carriers, shortline and regional operators, and rail suppliers. The association engages with federal institutions such as Parliament of Canada, regulatory agencies like the Canadian Transportation Agency and Transport Canada, and stakeholders including provinces such as Ontario and Quebec to influence rail policy, safety, and infrastructure investment. It works closely with railway companies including Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Via Rail, and shortline operators to coordinate industry standards, research programs, and emergency response planning.

History

Formed in 1917, the association emerged as an industry coalition during the era of First World War logistics demands, interacting with wartime ministries and postwar reconstruction bodies such as Department of Railways and Canals and later engaging with interwar institutions including the Board of Transport Commissioners. Through the Second World War, the organization liaised with military transportation planners and wartime manufacturing centres like Montreal Locomotive Works to maintain supply chains. In the postwar period it addressed national projects associated with Trans-Canada Highway debates and the expansion of transcontinental carriers such as Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, adapting to regulatory shifts brought by commissions like the Royal Commission on Transportation. During the late 20th century, it responded to privatization and restructuring trends exemplified by the privatization of Canadian National Railway and the creation of passenger entities like Via Rail Canada. In the 21st century, the association has engaged with environmental initiatives linked to Kyoto Protocol discussions, emergency responses to incidents like the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, and contemporary trade issues involving agreements such as the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement.

Structure and Membership

The association is governed by a board drawn from major carriers including Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and passenger operators such as Via Rail, alongside representatives from shortline operators and suppliers like Bombardier Transportation and GE Transportation. Membership spans freight owners, intermodal firms such as CN Intermodal, rolling stock manufacturers like Alstom, terminal operators, and rail labour stakeholders represented by unions including Teamsters Canada and Unifor. Regional liaison occurs with provincial ministries such as Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and agencies like Société de transport de Montréal, while advisory committees include members from regulatory bodies such as the Canadian Transportation Agency and research institutions such as National Research Council Canada.

Roles and Activities

The association provides coordinated industry positions on regulatory filings before entities such as the Canadian Transportation Agency and participates in consultations with Transport Canada and parliamentary committees in the House of Commons of Canada. It convenes conferences and workshops with partners like Association of American Railroads, standards bodies such as Canadian Standards Association, and universities such as University of Toronto and McGill University for capacity building. Services include emergency preparedness coordination with agencies like Public Safety Canada and operational guidance for operators such as CN Rail and CP Rail. The association also administers stakeholder forums involving ports like the Port of Vancouver and intermodal hubs linked to Port of Montreal.

Policy and Advocacy

Advocacy focuses on freight corridors, transcontinental capacity, and trade facilitation tied to agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement legacy and the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement. The association lobbies federal ministries including Transport Canada and engages with parliamentary committees such as the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities to influence regulatory reform on issues debated alongside groups like Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters and Canadian Chamber of Commerce. It advances positions on infrastructure funding with agencies such as Infrastructure Canada, environmental policy intersections with ministries like Environment and Climate Change Canada, and labour relations impacting unions such as Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Safety and Standards

The association develops and promotes standards in collaboration with bodies like the Canadian Standards Association, Transport Canada, and the Federal Railroad Administration for interoperability, tank car design, and derailment prevention. It supports implementation of regulations originating from incidents investigated by agencies such as the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and works with manufacturers like CSIRO-affiliated research groups and suppliers including Bombardier Transportation to advance technologies for positive train control, wheel and track standards, and tank car retrofits. Safety programs are coordinated with first responders such as local fire services and federal responders under frameworks similar to Emergency Management Act preparations.

Research and Publications

The association commissions and publishes technical studies, white papers, and policy briefs in partnership with research institutions such as National Research Council Canada, universities like University of Alberta and Queen's University, and international bodies including the International Union of Railways. Topics include intermodal optimization, greenhouse gas analyses tied to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change frameworks, grain supply chain reports referencing stakeholders like Canadian Grain Commission, and economic impact assessments comparable to those used by Statistics Canada. Publications inform regulators such as Transport Canada and industry partners including Port of Halifax and equipment suppliers like Wabtec Corporation.

International and Intermodal Relations

The association engages with counterparts such as the Association of American Railroads, the International Union of Railways, and trade partners in United States and Mexico to harmonize cross-border operations and customs processes with agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency. It coordinates with ports including Port of Vancouver and Port of Montreal, trucking associations like Canadian Trucking Alliance, and inland terminals tied to Winnipeg and Calgary to optimize intermodal corridors. International collaboration extends to standards alignment with the European Union Agency for Railways and technology exchange involving manufacturers like Bombardier Transportation and Alstom.

Category:Rail transport in Canada