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| 2006 Archives |
December 29, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Railways On a Roll | |
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OTTAWA, Dec. 29, 2006 -- The Canadian railway industry is rolling into 2007 with a lot of momentum behind it. Its traffic levels and profits rose during 2006 and the carriers plan to spend more than $2 billion in the year ahead to upgrade their network capacity and fluidity and to acquire new locomotives and rolling stock. Cliff Mackay, president and CEO of the 56-member Railway Association of Canada, says not only was it a good year financially, it was also rewarding because governments began dealing with transportation infrastructure issues and started to support the development of trade gateways and corridors. |
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December 14, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Railways Welcome Review | |
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Ottawa - Cliff Mackay, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada said the industry welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister of Transport to conduct a review of the Railway Safety Act and said the RAC’s 56 freight and passenger members will cooperate fully. In the 10 years since the last review, Canada’s railways have become the safest in North America, freight traffic has increased 25 per cent and passenger volume has grown to 63 million annually, said Mr. Mackay.
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December 12, 2006 |
Member News |
| Jess Nowicki Inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame | |
 Former CPR employee Jess Nowicki of Medicine Hat was inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame Monday night during a visit by the CPR Holiday Train to his home community. Making the presentation on behalf of the Hall of Fame was CPR Yard Manager Matthew Crowley.
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December 8, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Bill C-257: An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code | |
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Ottawa - Submission by the Railway Association of Canada to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development nd the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) on Bill C-257: An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code.
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (25 KB) |
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December 7, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Bad Economics and Bad Labour Policy | |
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Ottawa - Proposed federal legislation to ban the use of replacement workers during strikes or lock-outs could have serious consequences for Canada’s trade and commerce, according to the President and CEO of Canada’s Railway Association of Canada, Cliff Mackay.
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Document(s): Click here to download the Press Release in PDF (4 KB) |
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December 4, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| Incident Command System. Course at Ontario Fire College | |
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CN sponsored an intensive two-day Incident Command System course for 60 fire department, rail industry, government and chemi-cal industry officials at the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst, Ont. on Nov. 13 and 14 - the second course of its type conducted by the railway at the site. Danny Simpson, CN system director, Dangerous Goods, said: “The course has significant benefits for emergency responders and other officials. Participants learn about the roles played by CN depart-ments and personnel at a rail accident, as well as CN’s internal inci-dent command structure and the protocol for functioning in a uni-fied incident command system if multiple stakeholders are involved. They also review CN’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and partici-pate in a tabletop exercise using the ERP and their newly acquired knowledge of incident command systems.” The 16-hour course was delivered by CN representatives as well as officers of the Transportation Technology Center (TTCI) in Pueblo, Colorado and of the Railway Association of Canada. The RAC also has dangerous good specialists based in Toronto, Montreal and Cal-gary and conducts training sessions for several hundred emergency responders in some 30 communities a year across the country. |
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November 30, 2006 |
Member News |
| CPR Holiday Train | |
 Each year, thousands of people gather along CPR's route to enjoy the arrival of our brightly decorated trains and watch entertainers perform a live holiday concert.This years' entertainers on the U.S. Holiday Train include Milwaukee folk-rocker Willy Porter, Nashville bluegrass/country singer-songwriter and former New Grass Revival guitarist Pat Flynn and Canadian Country Music Association Hall of Famer Tracey Brown. Entertainers on the Canadian Holiday Train include Canadian Blues rockers Wide Mouth Mason and Lisa Brokop, one of Canada's finest vocalists. At each stop, people donate money and nonperishable food and Canadian Pacific Railway presents a check for the local food bank -- cash donations are especially appreciated because every dollar collected can distribute $9 worth of food. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (46 KB) Click here to download the photograph in JPEG (53 KB) |
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November 27, 2006 |
Member News |
| Building Competitiveness: A New Transport Vision for Canada | |
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Toronto - An address by Fred Green, President and CEO, Canadian Pacific Railway, to the Empire Club of Canada in Toronto on November, 24, 2006.
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Document(s): Click here to download the speech in PDF (482 KB) |
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November 17, 2006 |
Miscellaneous |
| Canada's New Government Announces Call For Applications for Round Two Of Transit-Secure | |
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Ottawa − The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced a call for applications for the second round of funding under Transit-Secure, the Government of Canada's $80-million passenger rail and urban transit security contribution program. “Canada's New Government is taking concrete action to address the priority security needs of our passenger rail and urban transit systems,” said Minister Cannon. “This program is an important step in enhancing the security of this country's transportation system.” In this second round of funding, smaller operators in municipalities or communities outside of the six urban centres included in round one funding, along with inter-city train and bus companies, will be eligible for assistance to carry out risk assessments and to develop comprehensive security plans. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Press Release in PDF (80 KB) |
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November 15, 2006 |
Miscellaneous |
| Canada's New Government Invests $8 Million To Keep First Nations Railway Moving | |
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Sept-Îles - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide up to $8 million to Tshiuetin Rail Transportation, to continue passenger rail service between Sept-Îles and Schefferville, Quebec, through Emeril, Newfoundland and Labrador, until December 31, 2007. Minister Cannon congratulated Alexandre McKenzie, President of Tshiuetin Rail Transportation on the recent completion of Tshiuetin's new diesel locomotive repair shop and extensive improvements to the train station in Schefferville. These projects, worth $3.5 million, were funded by the Government of Canada. "Tshiuetin Rail Transportation was the first amongst First Nations companies to own and operate a railway in Canada," said Minister Cannon. "Our government is proud to continue its support for this essential service for people living and travelling to and from these remote communities. This funding will permit Tshiuetin Rail Transportation to continue to provide a safe, efficient and high standard of service to all clients." |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Press Release in PDF (73 KB) |
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November 14, 2006 |
Miscellaneous |
| Canada's New Government Invests $37 Million To Improve Transit Security In Six Urban Areas | |
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Montréal − The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced up to $37 million in funding for the six highest-volume urban transit systems – Montreal, the National Capital Region, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver – for high priority security projects including risk assessments; security plans; employee training programs; public awareness; and the upgrade of security equipment such as access control technology and lighting. This two-year contribution program, called Transit-Secure, was announced in June 2006 to assist passenger rail and urban transit operators to further enhance their security measures to address potential threats of terrorism. “Canada’s New Government is committed to investing in projects that improve security for all who use urban transit in Canada,” said Minister Cannon. “Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism. We must remain vigilant and continue to work with our partners in government and industry to address transit security issues.” |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Press Release in PDF (56 KB) |
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November 6, 2006 |
Member News |
| CN recognizes four short-line railways for superior performance | |
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Montreal - CN honoured four of its short-line railway part-ners at its 2006 Annual Shortline Conference in Montreal. Awards were presented to: •Société des chemins de fer du Québec inc. (Quebec Railway Corp.) of Montreal for best overall reporting performance; •St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad of Auburn, Me., and Richmond, Que., for top consistent reporting performance; •Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad Corp. of Sioux Falls, S.D., for top consistent reporting performance, and •Tomahawk Railway of Tomahawk, Wis., for most improved reporting performance. |
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October 31, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Ordinary Canadians with Extraordinary Stories Lead 2006 Inductees to Canadian Railway Hall of Fame | |
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Ottawa - Ordinary Canadians whose everyday work contributed to the railway industry in Canada are leading the group of 2006 inductees into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame– a virtual exhibit that honours the heroes, technologies, leaders and communities of the Canadian railway industry. “This year’s inductions illustrate the important role that ordinary Canadians have played in helping the Canadian railway industry grow and prosper,” said Les Kozma, director and chairman of the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame. “Without these people, our industry would never have made it to where we are today.” |
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October 27, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Day on The Hill 2006 | |
 Ottawa - Click here to get the remarks of Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and of Fred Green, President and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway and Chairman of the Board of the RAC, to delegates attending the 2006 On Track for the Future event in Ottawa Oct. 24. Shown are Mr. Mackay, Sean Finn of CN, Minister Cannon and Mr. Green.
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October 26, 2006 |
Member News |
| VIA Rail toasts 150-year completion of the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor - Connecting major centers throughout Quebec and Ontario | |
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Montreal - Tomorrow marks a major milestone in the history of passenger rail in Canada - the 150th anniversary of what is now known as VIA Rail's "Quebec City-Windsor Corridor". On October 27, 1856, at 7:00 AM, the first passenger train left Toronto and travelled to Montreal in 14 hours. That same day, the first train left Montreal at 7:30 AM and travelled to Toronto in the same amount of time. This was the first stretch of track linking the two largest cities in Canada. The Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada was formed in 1852 as a consolidation of several railways, some under construction, others only projected. It became one large system stretching from Levis, Quebec (already connected to Montreal) all the way to Sarnia, Ontario (and extending to Windsor). Just three years after the amalgamation of the railway, the line from Montreal to Toronto was complete and open for service. The Kingston Advertiser, on October 28, 1856, wrote that "the Grand Trunk Railroad will henceforth be the great commercial artery of Canada". Grand Trunk Railroad was eventually fully merged into Canadian National, which later spun off passenger rail with the creation of VIA Rail Canada in 1978. |
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October 25, 2006 |
RAC News |
| RAC Medical Advisor Group Releases a February 2006 Revision to the Canadian Railway Medical Rules Handbook | |
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A revised version of this guide is now available. There have been some revisions to existing sections.
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (2.8MB) |
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October 24, 2006 |
RAC News |
| RAC Railway Trends 2006 | |
 Ottawa - Canadian railways set new records in 2005, carrying more freight and commuters than ever before, and carrying the most intercity passengers in a decade. This workload and productivity is one of the many aspects of the railway industry that is detailed in the Railway Association of Canada’s 2006 Railway Trends publication now available on the industry’s website.
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October 24, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Globe and Mail Special Supplement: Healthy Railways A Must For Canadian Economy | |
 A special information supplement on Canada’s Freight and Passenger Railways was published by the Globe and Mail for the Railway Association of Canada on October 23 to coincide with the railway industry’s Day on the Hill lobbying initiative October 24 in Ottawa.Since the last spike was driven in B.C. in 1885, Canada’s railways have connected our nation. Today, more than ever, our railways are increasingly vital to Canada’s transportation network and global economic competitiveness. Canada’s railways move 40 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product. Since 1996, rail freight traffic has risen by more than 25 per cent. Since 1995, intermodal rail traffic, consisting mostly of containers and trucks, has nearly doubled. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Supplement in PDF (2.1MB) |
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October 23, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Railway Industry and Government on the Right Track with “Day on the Hill” | |
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Ottawa - Representatives from railway companies, railway suppliers, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament and other government officials will meet in Ottawa on Tuesday for “Rail Day on the Hill” – an initiative bringing together over 100 participants to discuss common issues facing the nation and its increasingly important railway industry. The event is a great opportunity for railway representatives and government to liaise and express their joint interests,” said Cliff Mackay, president and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada. |
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October 23, 2006 |
Member News |
| Safe Crossing Week 2006 | |
 Toronto - Safe Kids Canada and CN today launched Safe Crossing Week 2006, from October 23 to 29, to encourage educators, parents and caregivers to teach children how to cross railway tracks safely.
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (27 KB) |
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October 23, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Fall Edition of Interchange | |
 This issue of Interchange tracks the progress of the industry and its partners coping with massive growth in import-export trade between North America and Asia. You will see the work going into new training programs to attract and prepare workers for the railways of the future.
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| more (this posting has attachments available) | |
October 11, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Federal Funds Welcome For Pacific Gateway | |
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Ottawa - Cliff Mackay, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, welcomed today’s announcement by the Government of Canada to help Canada capture a bigger share of growing trade between North America and Asia and to increase British Columbia’s container traffic from nine to 14 per cent by 2020. The Prime Minister announced $591 million in federal funds for more than a dozen Pacific Gateway projects in Vancouver today and committed $321 million immediately to a variety of infrastructure, transportation technology and border security projects in Western Canada. Those projects are scheduled for completion within four years. |
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September 22, 2006 |
Member News |
| Royal Canadian Pacific receives worldwide recognition | |
 Canadian Pacific Railway’s luxury rail service, Royal Canadian Pacific - based in Calgary, Alberta - has been chosen the world’s best luxury train service by over 167,000 registered travel agents and travel professionals.Royal Canadian Pacific (RCP) has won the “World’s Leading Luxury Train” award at the 2006 World Travel Awards ceremony at the Turks & Caicos this week. The RCP received the award in a challenging competition with five other luxury train services. They were the following: The Blue Train (South Africa), The Eastern & Oriental Express (Asia), Pride of Africa-Rovos Rail (Africa), Palace on Wheels (India) and the Venice – Simplon Orient Express (Europe). |
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (20 KB) |
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September 18, 2006 |
Member News |
| CN donates $500,000 to the University of Saskatchewan to help reduce agriculture-related injuries and deaths in Canada | |
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Saskatoon — CN announced today a $500,000 donation to the University of Saskatchewan to establish the Agricultural Injury Control Program aimed at reducing the number of agriculture-related injuries and deaths in Canada. During the past ten years, 1,200 adults and children have died on farm and in related accidents, and almost 15,000 have suffered disabling injuries. The Agricultural Injury Control Program will be managed by the Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) on the University of Saskatchewan campus. The objective of the program is to help reduce agricultural injuries and fatalities by bridging the gap between research and education. It will provide essential information to farm families and agricultural workers about air, food and water contamination, as well as adverse working conditions |
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (51 KB) |
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September 18, 2006 |
Member News |
| Sean Finn, CN Senior Vice President, appointed Chair of Canadian Chamber | |
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Saskatoon - Sean Finn, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, and Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of CN, was appointed volunteer Chair of the Board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for 2006-2007 at its Annual General Meeting in Saskatoon today. "It's an honour to serve the leading business group in the country, because the Canadian Chamber speaks for businesses of all sizes and sectors and from every region of Canada," said Mr. Finn. "We intend to promote policies that will create the business climate that enables Canadian businesses to compete around the world, promotes economic growth, and increases prosperity for all Canadians.” |
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September 18, 2006 |
Member News |
| Canadian Pacific Railway Executive Appointments | |
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Fred Green, president and chief executive officer, Canadian Pacific Railway announces the following executive appointments, effective immediately. Neal Foot has been appointed executive vice-president, operations. Brock Winter has been appointed as senior vice-president, operations. Judy Harrower has been appointed vice-president, bulk. |
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| more (this posting has attachments available) | |
September 15, 2006 |
Member News |
| Travel by train and experience the magic of fall aboard the Dream Catcher Express! | |
 The Dream Catcher Express, an exciting train excursion traveling between North Bay and Temagami, will be returning this year for a limited 6-day engagement in 2006: September 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and October 1st.
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (52 KB) |
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September 14, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Technical Tour | |
 Delegates to an international conference on crossing safety and trespass prevention in Montreal visit technical sites as part of the effort to share experiences and best practices in community safety from around the world.
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Document(s): Click here to download the photograph in JPEG (174 KB) |
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September 12, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Several National Railway Safety Programs Highlighted at International Symposium | |
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Montreal - Wednesday is the final day of presentations at the 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium at Montreal’s Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Speakers will address the future visions of several national programs to address highway/railway crossing safety and trespass prevention. Sessions will include presentations from South Africa, Italy, Japan, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada all discussing the programs of their respective countries. |
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September 11, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Participants in today's opening ceremonies for an international symposium on crossing safety and trespass prevention in Montreal | |
 Participants in today's opening ceremonies for an international symposium on crossing safety and trespass prevention in Montreal include Cliff Mackay, RAC President, Louis Ranger, Canada's deputy minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, Hon. Julie Boulet, Quebec's Minister for Transport and Gary Drouin, conference chair.
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Document(s): Click here to download the photograph in JPEG (59 KB) |
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September 11, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium to Address Human Factors | |
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Montreal - The 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium continues Tuesday with some 40 speakers addressing human performance in relation to highway/railway crossing safety and trespass prevention. The speakers are from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Iran, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland and Australia. They will address human behaviour and intervention, law enforcement education in caring communities and advanced technologies for risk mitigation. |
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September 10, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Being on the right track | |
 Oscar Corzo, Director General of Railway and Multimodal Transport, Secretariat of Communications and Transports for Mexico, is at the podium addressing delegates to the 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium in Montreal Sunday. Other speakers include, from the left, Mervyn Panzera, Railway Safety Regulator, Department of Transport for South Africa: Paulo Soares, General Manager of Communications, Vale do Rio Doze Company in Brazil, and Luc Bourdon, Transport Canada. More than 230 are attending the sessions. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the photograph in JPEG (47 KB) |
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September 10, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Several Key Speakers to Welcome Delegates to 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium | |
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Montreal - Monday morning’s opening ceremonies for the 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium will feature several key speakers to welcome the more than 230 international delegates to Montreal. Julie Boulet, Quebec Minister for Transport, and Deputy Minister Louis Ranger, representing Hon. Lawrence Cannon, the Federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, will speak at this morning’s opening ceremonies in Salons Marquette, Jolliet and Duluth of the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal. They will be joined by Railway Association of Canada’s President and CEO Cliff Mackay, as well as the symposium chair Gary Drouin and technical program chair Sesto Vespa. |
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September 9, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Railway Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention In Developing Countries Early Focus of International Symposium | |
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Montreal - Developing nations looking to address highway/railway crossing safety and trespass prevention will receive a special preview to the issues and challenges involved in advance of the 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium beginning on Sunday at Montreal’s The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. The conference runs from Sept. 10 to 14. Invited workshop attendees will focus on capacity building for railway systems, with particular emphasis on the more than 22 nations participating. |
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September 8, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Highway - Railway Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Focus of International Symposium | |
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Montreal - Over 230 delegates from more than 20 countries will represent all elements of the railway industry at the 9th International Level Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Symposium in Montreal’s Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth next week from September 10-14. Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, said “the conference theme, Partners in Safety, reflects both Canada’s leadership role in the field and the opportunity for delegates to share their knowledge and learn from others’ experiences around the world.” |
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August 29, 2006 |
Member News |
| VIA Rail Canada revives last year's highly popular Remembrance Day train as the 2006 | |
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Halifax - Following the great success and popularity of this event in 2005, VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that the November 9, 2006, departure of its Ocean train from Halifax will be designated as the "Troop Train." VIA Rail Canada encourages war veterans and their families to travel by train from Halifax to Ottawa in time to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies in our nation's capital. |
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August 29, 2006 |
Member News |
| VIA Rail Canada brings War Brides back to Halifax's Pier 21, where their lives in Canada began | |
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Halifax - VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that the November 6, 2006, departure of its Ocean train leaving Montréal will be designated as the "War Bride Train." VIA Rail Canada encourages war brides and their families to travel by train from Montréal to Halifax for a unique celebration of their arrival in this country. Between 1942 and 1948, more than 40,000 war brides and 20,000 children came to Canada from Britain and Europe. The overwhelming majority arrived sixty years ago this year, in 1946, and first touched Canadian soil at Pier 21 in Halifax. Many travelled by train to their new homes across the country. |
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August 28, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| New General Manager for the ERTC | |
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The Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado has announced that the Emergency Response Training Center has hired a new General Manager to take the place of the departed Danny Simpson. Effective September 26, 2006 Manny Ehrlich will assume the position of General Manager for the ERTC. Many first responders from Canada attend this training center annually to receive world class training in responding to railway dangerous goods incidents. |
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August 24, 2006 |
RAC News |
| The Mountain Lake Journal Business Edition | |
 Mountain Lake Journal Business Edition, a weekly public affairs program on Mountain Lake PBS, will focus this week on cross-border trade between Canada and the United States, and will address the role rail plays in that segment of the economy. Featuring an interview with the Railway Association of Canada, the program will be airing Friday, August 25 at 8:30 pm, and will re-air on Saturday, August 26 at 7:00 pm. More information about Mountain Lake Journal can be found on their website, at www.mountainlake.org |
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August 24, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Hamilton Tiger Cats - Highway-Railway Crossing Safety PSA | |
 Director Brent Harlton goes over the script with Hamilton Tiger Cats quarterback Jason Maas at Hamilton's Ivor Wynne stadium Thursday 24 August 2006, prior to the filming of a highway-railway crossing safety public service announcement for television. In the background, kids are participating in a four-day summer football camp sponsored by the Ti-Cats.
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Document(s): Click here to download the photograph in JPEG (503 KB) |
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August 23, 2006 |
RAC News |
| 3D Animation of Ottawa’s Light-Rail System | |
 Expanding on a very successful light-rail pilot project commonly known as the O-Train, the City of Ottawa is now embarking on an extensive expansion project that will see light-rail vehicles traveling from the south of the city into the downtown core.The north-south light-rail system, to be designed, built, and maintained by a Siemens-PCL/Dufferin consortium, will feature almost 30 kilometres of track, with 22 new vehicles and 23 stations. The north-south system is expected be fully operational by 2010. To see the City of Ottawa’s 3D animation of how the light-rail system will interact on Ottawa’s downtown streets, please click here: ottawa.ca/residents/lrt/experience |
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August 22, 2006 |
Member News |
| See…and hear…about Greater Vancouver as never before! | |
 Revolutionary technology gives locals and visitors a unique view of our regionVancouver – “Next stop… Granville Station.” That’s a familiar refrain for tens of thousands of people in Greater Vancouver on SkyTrain. But now, some are hearing the story and history of this region brought to life with SkyTour. SkyTour combines Greater Vancouver’s unique and innovative transit system with cutting-edge modern technology and high-quality audio production. The result? The world’s first automated, wireless, hands-free multilingual “audio theatre” tour experience. Developed by SkyTrain in partnership with International Tour Entertainment Corporation (ITEC), SkyTour’s state-of-the-art technology takes travellers on an audio tour of this diverse, dynamic region, using hands-free receivers and headphones. “Identifiers” along the SkyTrain route automatically switch the audio tracks from one story to the next. Narration and dramatizations combine to give an entertaining and educational experience, which will entice people to want to explore the region more. |
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August 22, 2006 |
Member News |
| CHTR - CNoS Open House at Big Valley | |
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The Canadian Heartland Training Railway (CHTR) hosted over 250 guests at its open house held Saturday August 12 at Big Valley, maintaining an annual tradition of ensuring that a railway themed event is held each summer in the district. Visitors to the open house were provided with an opportunity to learn about the CHTR's railway educational programs, including an upcoming "conductor training program" that is being offered in conjunction with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, using rail facilities at Big Valley, Warden, and Stettler. Dave Armitage, General Manager of the CHTR remarked, "we were extremely pleased with the turn out and the genuine interest in the CHTR." |
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August 18, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Nomination Process Closes After Excellent Suggestions from the Public | |
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Ottawa - The Canadian Railway Hall of Fame would like to thank the public for its nominations of the leaders, heroes, communities and technologies of the Canadian railway industry, said Les Kozma, president and chairman of the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame. “Once again we had a great response from the public after our call for nominations,” said Kozma. “It is obvious how much the Canadian railway industry is appreciated in this country, and every year we can count on an excellent round of nominations.” The nominations will now be handed over to the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame selection committee to choose this year’s inductees. The announcement is expected in the fall, with induction ceremonies varying around other railway events. In previous years, inductees have been awarded at dinners in Montreal and Toronto, and community events in western Canada. |
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August 9, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| Goderich Exeter Railway incident exercise “Operation Impact” | |
 On August 3, the Goderich Exeter Railway and the South Huron Fire Department - Exeter Station conducted a level crossing accident scenario to test the response capabilities and communications of the fire department and the railway during an emergency.This exercise dubbed “Operation Impact” had a train strike a motor vehicle at a railway crossing in the town of Exeter. The vehicle contained four young casualties, thus giving a challenge to the fire department to extricate and treat the victims. An added problem was given to the responders by giving them a leaking railcar of dangerous goods that they also had to respond to; this was compounded by Mother Nature adding rain to the exercise. |
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August 3, 2006 |
RAC News |
| 2005 Annual Report | |
 Canada’s railways play a prominent role in the nation’s increasingly global economy. They use new technologies and operating practices to increase efficiency and environmental performances for both freight customers and passengers. Recruiting and training the next generation of men and women to keep traffic flowing-safely, securely and smoothly–is one of the challenges the industry is facing, successfully.
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July 28, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Summer Edition of Interchange | |
 The articles in the summer edition of Interchange reveal an increasingly versatile industry that is ready to play an even larger role in the transportation of goods and people in Canada.Featuring an article on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Operation Lifesaver in Canada, the cover story highlights a safety initiative that continues to make Canadian railways the safest in North America. |
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July 27, 2006 |
Member News |
| Big Valley Railway Day - CHTR Open House Aug. 12 2006 | |
 Take a ride on a diesel locomotive!Talk to experienced railroaders!Learn about practical railway training!Experience a bit of history!Big Valley Railway Station and Roundhouse Interpretive Centre Big Valley, Alberta. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2006. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (11 KB) |
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July 17, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Special Edition on Canada’s Freight and Passenger Railways | |
 The Railway Association of Canada and the Globe and Mail are working on publication of a special edition on Canada’s freight and passenger railways this fall. Publication will coincide with the railway industry’s Day on the Hill lobbying initiative October 24 in Ottawa.The supplement will promote rail to a national audience of opinion leaders as an increasingly progressive, high-tech industry that meets the needs of its freight customers and passengers. It will help the industry and its partners: • ensure that any amendments to the Canada Transportation Act are reasonable; • get at least one significant federal-provincial agreement on short line infrastructure financing in place this year, and • position railway interests in the hearts and minds of key stakeholders in communities across Canada before the next election. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (633 KB) |
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July 11, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Ontario Railways can play Important Role in Province’s Ethanol Industry | |
 Ottawa - With the Government of Ontario recently announcing funding and operating grants for new ethanol plants in the province, railways could play a big role in the sustainability of Ontario’s emerging ethanol industry.“I don’t know of an ethanol plant that isn’t going to be located on a railway line,” said Tom Cox, the chair of the Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative. “It is absolutely critical to have railway access.” The ethanol plant funding is all part of the Ontario Ethanol Growth Fund and a mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by blending ethanol in the rovince’s gasoline. What it means for the railway lines is more industrial business. |
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June 27, 2006 |
Member News |
| Washington Companies' Southern Railway named as Vancouver Island rail operator | |
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Victoria: An agreement has been reached between representatives of Southern Railway of British Columbia Limited (SRY) and the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) for SRY to operate freight and passenger service on the ICF-owned rail line between Victoria and Courtenay on Vancouver Island beginning July 1, 2006. SRY will operate under the name Southern Railway Vancouver Island Limited. Southern Railway of British Columbia is an affiliate of the privately held Washington Companies. SRY is a major transporter of freight in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, and Fraser Valley with a diverse customer base including over 150 shippers of forest, building, agricultural, chemical, consumer and steel products. |
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June 15, 2006 |
Member News |
| CN promotes Sales and Marketing executives | |
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Montréal - CN announced today the promotions of Stan Jablonski and Jean-Jacques Ruest to the newly-created positions of senior vice-president, Sales, and senior vice-president, Marketing, respectively. James M. Foote, executive vice-president, Sales and Marketing, for CN, said: “Both Stan and Jean-Jacques have advanced CN’s commercial objectives substantially in recent years. The promotions recognize these successes and their recent assumption, respectively, of the Sales and Marketing functions of CN’s Bulk Commodities business. We expect Stan and Jean-Jacques will keep CN at the forefront of rail industry sales and marketing gains in the years ahead.” |
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June 13, 2006 |
RAC News |
| “Mission Impossible” to Top the 7th World Congress on Railway Research | |
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It would be “mission impossible,” said the president of KORAIL Chul Lee, for Seoul, South Korea to hold a better World Congress on Railway Research than the seventh Congress held last week in Montréal. But as preparations are being made for the 2008 Congress in Seoul, he made sure to note that Koreans are quite good at “doing the impossible.” In the end, more than 750 railway representatives from over 40 countries took part in the very successful 7th World Congress on Railway Research, held in Montréal from June 4-8. |
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June 12, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Sounding the Horn for Canadian Railway Hall of Fame Nominations | |
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Ottawa - The Canadian Railway Hall of Fame is asking the public for this year’s nominations of the heroes, communities, technologies and leaders that have made significant contributions to the success and development of Canada’s freight and passenger rail industries. “The annual nomination process is important for the hall of fame,” says Les Kozma, the director of the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame. “It provides Canadians with an opportunity to highlight some of the people, communities and technologies they feel have played an important role in the development of Canadian railways.” Inductees are announced publicly and featured on the hall of fame’s website, where Canadians and people from around the world can view and learn more about the Canadian railway industry’s most important people, places and technologies. |
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June 9, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Railway Hall of Fame Website Re-Launch | |
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There has been a lot of work done to upgrade, simplify the access and improve the content of the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame. The results will be self-evident, according to Hall of Fame Chairman Les Kozma. The Hall of Fame seeks annual public nominations for leaders, heroes, communities and technologies that helped make freight and passenger railways the backbone of the Canadian economy. It was created in 2002 with the support of the RAC’s 60 freight and passenger railways, communities, museums, corporate sponsors. The site is now available at www.railcan.ca, as well as at www.railfame.ca. Nominations for the awards come from the public. |
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June 7, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| 7th World Congress on Railway Research Closes in Style | |
 Montréal - When the closing ceremonies took place Wednesday afternoon, over 750 delegates from more than 40 countries were hosted at the 7th World Congress on Railway Research in Montréal, Quebec.The Congress featured a number of technical speaking sessions and plenary sessions to address railway research and issues affecting the industry, as well as a number of social events, including Tuesday evening’s Congress banquet. André Navarri, the executive vice-president of Bombardier Inc. and president of Bombardier Transportation, addressed the banquet at the packed Windsor Station concourse in Montréal, and spoke about the importance of railway research, and the Congress. |
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June 6, 2006 |
Miscellaneous |
| World Congress on Railway Research Continues with Speaking Sessions and Congress Banquet | |
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Montréal - The second day of plenary and interactive oral speaking sessions took place on Tuesday, at the 7th World Congress on Railway Research in Montréal, Quebec. The day began with the Congress’ second plenary speaking session, addressing opportunities for optimizing capacity, efficiency and the service performance of railway systems. Following that, Congress attendees were able to join a number of interactive oral sessions, with subjects including service design and reliability, network capacity, security and safety, and environment as part of sustainability. Many attendees also visited the commercial exhibition with its more than 40 exhibitors, took the short walk to the on-track displays and safety display at the nearby Lucien L’Allier Station, and saw the number of technical posters submitted to the Congress. In the evening, attendees will be able to enjoy a Congress banquet, and awards will also be given to the best scientific paper submissions. |
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June 5, 2006 |
Miscellaneous |
| Brian Jean Helps Kick off Congress Opening Ceremonies | |
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The opening ceremonies for the 7th World Congress on Railway Research took place this morning in Montréal, with Brian Jean, the parliamentary secretary for federal minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, Lawrence Cannon, speaking to the more than 600 railway representatives. Jean took the opportunity to welcome international railway representatives and spoke about Canada’s extensive railway history. He also noted the story was far from complete. |
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June 5, 2006 |
Miscellaneous |
| Joël Gauthier of AMT Invites Attendees to 7th World Congress on Railway Research | |
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Helping to invite the attendees of the 7th World Congress on Railway Research taking place in Montréal from June 4-8, was the president and CEO of Montréal’s agence métropolitaine de transport, Joël Gauthier. On Sunday evening, Gauthier invited all attendees to see the significant steps AMT has made in improving transit ridership in Montréal, as he provided free transit passes for all Congress participants. |
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June 1, 2006 |
Member News |
| VIA Préférence members benefit from 10th anniversary of popular program with special offer | |
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Montréal - VIA Rail Canada today announced that its reward program for frequent travellers, VIA Préférence, will mark its 10th anniversary by offering exclusive benefits to its members.
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May 25, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| All Aboard for the 7th World Congress on Railway Research in Montréal | |
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Montréal - More than 600 international railway representatives and opinion leaders will descend on Montréal June 4-8 for the 7th World Congress on Railway Research. Collectively, they will share their wealth of experiences and knowledge of the freight and passenger rail systems that are vital to their economies. The theme of the Congress is “Progressing Together,” complementing the aim of the WCRR of promoting international sharing and cooperation with railway research, development and innovation. |
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May 12, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Census 2006 | |
 Tuesday, May 16, 2006 is Census Day. Count yourself in! Return your census questionnaire online at www.census2006.ca or by mail using the yellow envelope provided. For more information and answers to your questions about the 2006 Census, call 1 877 594-2006 or visit www.census2006.ca.
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May 8, 2006 |
Member News |
| CN Brockville Press Release | |
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Brockville - CN will halt train whistling at five grade crossings in the City of Brockville between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily, effective today, May 8, 2006. Trains will continue to sound whistles at the grade crossings between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. |
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May 5, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Canadian Railway Hall of Fame Pavilion to open in the Village of Big Valley, Alberta, Saturday May 27 | |
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Big Valley - The Canadian Northern Society will host the public as well as special guests when they celebrate the official opening of the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame Pavilion on Saturday, May 27 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Featuring the inductees of the virtual hall of fame, the pavilion will be an outdoor, interpretive centre, located in the Village of Big Valley, Alberta.
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May 4, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| Kootenay Boundary Regional TransCAER® Workshop | |
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Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue and Castlegar Fire Department, along with Northwest Tank Lines, are co-sponsoring a TransCAER® event in Trail, B.C. on Saturday, October 28. TransCAER , which stands for Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response, is a Responsible Care® initiative of the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association (CCPA).
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Document(s): Click here to download the document in PDF (44 KB) |
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May 4, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Spring Edition of Interchange | |
 The Spring edition of Interchange reflects the range of projects and developments going on in Canada’s freight and passenger railways, and puts them in context. Cliff Mackay joins the RAC as its new President and CEO. There’s a corporate profile of Genesee and Wyoming Canada’s operations in Quebec and Ontario. CN and CPR are working hard to maximize their assets. Safe rail operations in communities are a key objective not only in Canada but also around the world – the focus of an international conference in Montreal in September. |
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May 2, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| Firefighter Training at the Ottawa Central Railway | |
 On April 28th, as part of Rail Safety Week, the OCR conducted in-house training for members of the Ottawa Fire Service. Attendance was excellent for this one day event. The activities included presentations by the Ottawa Central Railway officials who spoke about the railway operations in the area and they shared their emergency plans. |
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May 2, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Railway Industry Welcomes Federal Investment in Future | |
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Ottawa - Cliff Mackay, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, said today Canada’s freight and passenger railways welcome the federal government’s budget commitment to invest more in infrastructure to increase the capacity of Canada’s west coast ports, commuter rail and short line railways.
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April 27, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Rail Safety: Statement by Member of Parliament | |
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Ottawa, House of Commons - Mr. Brian Pallister (Portage—Lisgar, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that this week is Operation Lifesaver Rail Safety Week. In the first three months of 2006, there were nine fatalities and nine serious injuries at crossings, down from 11 fatalities and 22 serious injuries last year. Incidents such as these remind us all of the need for greater awareness and safety around trains. Operation Lifesaver is a national public safety program. It is co-sponsored by Transport Canada, the Railway Association of Canada and partners in police, communities and other organizations. Over the past 25 years this program has helped to reduce crossing collisions and trespasser incidents by some 60%. I urge everyone to participate and visit the Operation Lifesaver website at www.operationlifesafer.ca for event details in their area. Preventing tragedy begins with learning about what can be done to stay safe. |
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April 24, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| 2006 Rail Safety Week In Canada | |
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Fatalities and serious injuries at highway/ rail crossings in Canada declined significantly during the first quarter this year compared with 2005 results. But the number of trespassers killed and injured is virtually unchanged. In the first three months of 2006, there were nine fatalities and nine serious injuries at crossings, down from 11 fatalities and 22 serious injuries during the same period in 2005. Those killed while trespassing on railway property increased by one to 16 over the last three months, and those who survived but were seriously injured was up one to three during the same period. “Part of the tragedy is that almost every one of them could have been prevented with due care and attention,” said Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “We encourage the public to make good choices at railway crossings and stay off railway rights-of-way.” |
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April 12, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| TransCAER® at the Goderich Exeter Railway | |
 The Goderich Exeter Railway (GEXR), a division of the US based RailAmerica conducted TransCAER (Transportation Community Awareness Emergency Response) on Saturday April 8 in Guelph, Ontario and Sunday April 9 in Kitchener, Ontario.In attendance were Firefighters from Guelph, Kitchener, Palmerston, Cambridge, Puslinch, Eramosa, Woolich, Wilmot, New Dundee, Waterloo and the Guelph Police Service. Attendance for the two days exceeded 70. |
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April 8, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Joint Effort to Help Youth Succeed in Life | |
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Operation Lifesaver, the public safety program that focuses on crossing and trespassing safety along Canada’s railways, and Key Clubs in Eastern Canada have teamed up to help young people reach their full potential in life, safely. The initiative will be delivered through OL partners and volunteers and Key Club teenagers in 42 high schools and other secondary and junior high schools in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. It was announced today in Ottawa by District Governor Janie Charest-Lafleur, a 17-year-old from Trois-Rivières, Que. and Dan Di Tota, Operation Lifesaver’s national director, at the youth group’s convention attended by almost 300 young people. Ms. Charest-Lafleur said their decision to approach Operation Lifesaver regarding the partnership on their district service project was not taken lightly. It occurred over the course of two years and reflected the fact that some of the members of the board knew students killed in Cambridge and Brockville accidents last year. “So the issues involve us directly and are relevant to the communities where we and our friends and families live. We can do something about it, and we will,” she said. |
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April 5, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Locomotive Emissions Monitoring Program 2004 | |
 The annual Locomotive Emissions Monitoring (LEM) data filing has been completed for 2004 in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 1995 between Environment Canada and The Railway Association of Canada (RAC). The analysis shows that the reference emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) totalled 117.05 kilotonnes (kt) in 2004 – which is above the voluntary cap of 115 kt in the MOU.
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Document(s): Click here to download the report in PDF (1.1MB) |
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April 1, 2006 |
Operations |
| PRICEMASTER Update - April 2006 | |
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The latest version of the PRICEMASTER data files are effective and are available from download on the RAC public website.
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Document(s): Click here to download the PRICEMASTER in PDF (1.3MB) Click here to download the full version of the PRICEMASTER data file in ZIP (2.9MB) Click here to download the short version of the PRICEMASTER data file in ZIP (1.8MB) |
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March 31, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Exporail Museum Opens | |
 Exporail museum opened its doors last night to industry and community leaders marking the 170th anniversary of the start-up of rail service in Montreal.
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March 30, 2006 |
Member News |
| Université de Montréal acquires switching yard site | |
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The Université de Montréal (UdeM) has exercised today its option to buy the switching yard site in the borough of Outremont. The site, measuring over 180,000 m(2), was the property of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The university plans to use the land to create a university campus, giving this part of the city a collective use. "This is a historic phase in our institution's history," stated vice-rector of planning, Pierre Simonet. "By deploying its activities on this site, the university will be able to pursue its development, meeting the community's needs for science education and the furtherance of scientific knowledge." Note that, last September, the City of Montréal and borough of Outremont officially and enthusiastically indicated that they supported the UdeM in developing this major project. |
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March 27, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| New President and CEO Of Railway Association | |
 Cliff Mackay is the new President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, effective May 1.Mackay has extensive experience in government and industry at a senior level, recently as President of the Air Transport Association of Canada and a board member of NAV Canada. In the past, he served as a senior executive in the aerospace industry and was in leadership positions with the federal government for more than 20 years dealing with industry and economic development. The announcement was made today by Sean Finn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RAC and Senior Vice-president, Public Affairs, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Canadian National Railway. “Mr. Mackay is a proven leader with energy, and is very results-oriented,” said Mr. Finn. Mackay said he is excited to be joining a first-class organization. He said he looks forward to working with government, the industry and other stakeholders in ensuring Canada’s railways play an active role in meeting the nation’s future needs and challenges in transportation, in both domestic and international markets. |
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March 15, 2006 |
RAC News |
| The Montreal Press Club Announces the Winners of Canada's Richest Essay Competition | |
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The Montreal Press Club and its participating sponsors are pleased to announce the winners of the 2006 edition of The Robert Stewart Essay Competition for students in journalism, communications or public relations at a Canadian university or community college. The subject of this year's competition was "Responsibility". The First Prize of $2,000.00 was won by Terry Woo - a second year journalism student at Ryerson University in Toronto;The Second Prize of $1,500.00 was won by Chantel Hamilton - a third year student of Applied Communications in Professional Writing at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton ; The Third Prize of $1,000.00 was won by Hubert Lapointe - a third year student in Information et Communications at Université Laval in Quebec City. The competition is intended to encourage the art of essay writing among a rising generation of communicators and to honour the memory of Robert Stewart - a long-time member and officer of the Montreal Press Club who died in 2003. The Robert Stewart Essay Competition is sponsored by RBC Financial Group, the Railway Association of Canada, the Montreal Gazette and NATIONAL public relations. |
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March 10, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| CERCA’s Inaugural Newsletter | |
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CERCA (Canadian Emergency Response Contractor’s Alliance) has published it’s first newsletter. The CERCA group is made up mainly of Canadian emergency response contractors but is bolstered by representatives from industry, trade associations, regulators, trucking companies and of course railways. CERCA ensures consistent quality service for the users of emergency response contractors across Canada. This group meets regularly to discuss past experiences, new technologies and to exchange information that ultimately results in the safe conclusion of dangerous goods incidents. The CERCA mandate: "to provide and promote a sound dangerous goods emergency response contractor network in Canada." |
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Document(s): Click here to download the CERCA Newsletter in PDF (829 KB) |
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February 22, 2006 |
Member News |
| CPR's CEO Rob Ritchie Retiring; COO to succeed | |
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The Board of Directors of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX/NYSE: CP) announced today that Robert J. Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, plans to retire following the Company's Annual General Meeting on May 5th, 2006. The Board announced that J.E. (Ted) Newall will also retire from his position as Chairman of the Board following the meeting. Rob Ritchie joined Canadian Pacific Ltd. in 1970 as a research analyst, and moved to CPR in 1972. He was promoted through increasingly responsible positions. He was appointed President in 1990 and added Chief Executive Officer to his responsibilities in 1995. "Rob led the company through a period of significant opportunities and challenges," said Ted Newall, Chairman of the Board. "During his tenure, the CPR was able to rebuild its track network, increase its capacity, renew its locomotive fleet, revitalize its rolling stock, modernize its IT systems and evolve into one of the safest railways in North America. The move of the headquarters to Calgary and the recreation of the CPR as a stand alone company with its own share structure were also significant accomplishments. The value of those shares has more than doubled since the spin-off. It's a track record Rob can be proud of and we thank him for his dedication, his vision, and leadership." |
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February 16, 2006 |
Member News |
| CPR celebrates 125th birthday on February 16, 2006 | |
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February 16, 2006 is an historic day for Canadian Pacific Railway. It is the 125th birthday of the railway's incorporation, and to celebrate the milestone the company has put its birth certificate - the Canadian Pacific Railway Company charter - on display at Calgary's Glenbow Museum. The charter is considered by some to be the country's most significant private company legal document, not only monetarily but historically. The CPR company charter is on a term loan to the Glenbow Museum. "CPR's company charter, with its 69 clauses, is not just another typical corporate legal document," added CPR President, Fred Green. "It is the multi-paged document that allowed Canada to physically link east with west. The CPR transcontinental railway spawned by the charter provided the country with an economic and strategic artery. As well, it continues to remind us how 125 years later, CPR remains a key transportation force for moving Canada's commerce." |
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February 16, 2006 |
Member News |
| CPR unveils new Royal Canadian Pacific building on company's 125th Birthday | |
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On the same day Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) celebrated its 125th Birthday, the company unveiled plans for new offices for its world-renowned luxury rail service, the Royal Canadian Pacific. Developed by Calgary's Centron Group of Companies, a new 9,000 square foot, two-storey building is planned in the heart of downtown Calgary, at the corner of 9th Avenue and 1st Street SW, which will house the offices of all Royal Canadian Pacific operations. It is adjacent to the Centron Group of Companies' redevelopment of the former post-office building. "It was on February 16th, 1881, CPR was incorporated. Since that time the company has played a key role in our nation's growth and development, contributing to our local and national economies by moving goods and people important to Canada," said CPR President, Fred Green. "The exciting move to new service offices with its unique design strengthens Royal Canadian Pacific's presence in Calgary as it provides an exciting physical anchor to promote our luxury rail service through the magnificent Rocky Mountains." "Our company views the redevelopment of this location as an opportunity to enhance the urban landscape and to build on the history of the city associated with Canadian Pacific Railway," said Cole Harris, President of the Centron Group of Companies, co-developer of the site with the Homburg Group. "Our company recognized the importance of celebrating our heritage and combining it with the modern needs of businesses in of one of Canada's great cities." |
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February 14, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| C4 Incident Response Workshop | |
 An Incident Response Workshop called C4 (Collaboration/Cooperation/Coordination/Communication) was conducted in Ottawa February 9th.This workshop, organized by Transport Canada and the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association, was attended by industry, transportation, e/r contractor, emergency services, government and regulatory officials. The purpose of this workshop was for the various different organizations to share information about themselves and learn about other agencies that may be present at an emergency incident in either transportation or at a fixed facility. |
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February 14, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Something of Interest for Everyone in this Edition of Interchange Magazine! | |
 Booming Asian trade is having a major impact on Canada’s west coast ports, port and railway capacity expansion, co-production initiatives involving CN, CPR and BN, and other infrastructure enhancements on the Pacific Gateway.West Coast Express is getting in shape for the 2010 Olympics, and surface links between downtown cities in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are being modernized to improve access to and from their airports. And GO Transit has placed a $143 million order for new locomotives for delivery in 2007-08 to help cope with traffic growth expected to double in Greater Toronto within the next three decades. The Brockville, CN and their partners have made major strides to implement a coroner’s jury recommendation following a tragic accident in the city one year ago that left one child dead and another injured when they didn’t notice a second train warning. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the winter edition of Interchange in PDF (6.1MB) |
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February 9, 2006 |
Member News |
| VIA to relaunch new Easterly Class in 2006 | |
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VIA Rail Canada says that it's new and improved Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience, launched last June, has had a very successful first season. The learning component of the rail journey, the quality of the on-board coordinators and the theme menus offering a culinary exploration of the region, where particularly appreciated. Customer satisfaction ratings, gathered from May to September, exceeded expectations and showed a satisfaction level of 8.4 out of 10, a significant improvement over previous years. Operating from May to October 31, on the Ocean, VIA's Eastern Transcontinental train, between Montréal and Halifax, customers gave particularly high marks as the Maritime Learning Experience immerses travelers in the culture of the region and celebrates its historical richness while pampering passengers with the amenities they expect from a premier class sleeper service. "Our aim was to create a unique learning experience on rails that would give passengers the pleasure of discovering the Maritimes while learning a little more about the history, culture and cuisine from that part of the country," says Keith Moulton, Regional Director, Eastern Services. "It's not about simply getting there, it's about offering a traveling experience to our customers." adding Mr. Moulton. |
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February 8, 2006 |
Member News |
| 170th Anniversary of Canada’s First Railway | |
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Exporail will hold its first fund-raising dinner at its reception hall on Thursday, March 30 to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the opening in 1836 of Canada's first railway, the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad, which ran from Laprairie to St. Jean, Quebec and as a tribute to the Monteregie Region, the birthplace of Canada's railways. The evening will be animated as an early railway shareholders’ meeting, when investors were being asked to put their money into this newly-developed form of transport. A meal based on 1836 menus will continue the historical theme. The Honorary President of the evening will be Sean Finn, Vice-President of CN; Chairman of the Board of the Railway Association of Canada, and Mayor of St. Lambert. The mayors of Laprairie and St. Jean have also been invited. A large number of officials from the Monteregie region are expected. Capacity is limited to 320. Tickets for the event are $150 each, a portion of which is eligible as a charitable donation. |
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February 8, 2006 |
RAC Press Release |
| Full Speed Ahead For World Rail Research Congress | |
 More than 600 world leaders and innovators in the railway industry from 30 countries will meet in Montreal in June to share their knowledge, experience and insights into moving the billions of tons of freight and millions of people that they move by rail each day now, and in the future.The occasion will be the 7th World Congress on Railway Research June 4-8 at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. The Congress will also attract to Montréal the CEOs and their deputies who run the member railways in the Paris-based International Union of Railways, (AREMA) Board members’ and committee chairmen of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and the AAR Railway Technology Working Committee. Three hundred technical papers have been vetted for the conference. The theme of the conference, Progressing Together “reflects the need for railways to work together, and with their partners, to develop modern technologies and processes that help prevent problems and create solutions,” says Congress chair Roy Allen. Topics under discussion “will include the technical, societal and financial challenges facing railways around the world. Awards will be presented for the best research papers given at the conference. |
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February 5, 2006 |
Operations |
| PRICEMASTER Update | |
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The latest version of the PRICEMASTER data files are effective and are available from download on the RAC public website.
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Document(s): Click here to download the PRICEMASTER in PDF (1.3MB) Click here to download the full version of the PRICEMASTER data file in ZIP (2.2MB) Click here to download the short version of the PRICEMASTER data file in ZIP (1.6MB) |
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February 2, 2006 |
Member News |
| Budweiser Super Bowl Tailgate Train Charity BBQ | |
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VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise travellers that West side access to Union Station from Front St. will be limited on Friday February 3, from 5:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. due to the Budweiser Super Bowl Tailgate Train Charity BBQ to support The Easter Seal Society of Ontario. With the Budweiser "Big Rig" set up for the charity lunchtime BBQ, the area directly in front of the station is expected to be congested. Travellers being dropped off in front of the station are encouraged to allow extra time, or to use the side entrances to the station located on either Bay or York St. south of Front. |
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January 26, 2006 |
Member News |
| CN and Canadian Pacific Railway to implement further service improvements at the Port of Vancouver | |
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CN and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) announced today they have reached an agreement that will make rail operations more fluid in the Lower Mainland, enhancing service for rail customers and supporting the growth of Pacific Gateway ports and terminals. The operational improvements are expected to begin in March 2006. The agreement includes a series of significant operational initiatives that will improve the flow of freight to and from the port by operating direct-to-destination trains that bypass yards and eliminating railway-to-railway handoffs. It will also extend the railways’ existing directional running zone in the Fraser Canyon west to the Gateway ports and terminals. |
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January 25, 2006 |
Regulatory Affairs News |
| TC O 0-55: Railway Locomotive Inspection and Safety Rules | |
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On 22 August, 2005, the Railway Association of Canada (RAC), on behalf of its constituent railway companies, requested the approval of revisions to the Railway Locomotive Inspection and Safety Rules. On January 19, 2006, pursuant to paragraph 19(4)(a) of the Railway Safety Act, the revisions were approved. |
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January 19, 2006 |
Member News |
| CN purchases RailAmerica’s Alberta short lines for C$26 million | |
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CN announced today the purchase of the Alberta short-line railways owned by RailAmerica, Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla., for C$26 million in cash. In addition, RailAmerica may receive up to C$4 million in future payments, depending on the development of new business on the acquired railways. CN is buying the Mackenzie Northern Railway (MKNR) and the Lakeland & Waterways Railway (LWR), both located north of Edmonton, following RailAmerica’s decision to divest its Alberta short lines. Also included in the transaction is the Central Western Railway (CWR), a 21-mile railway in east-central Alberta used largely for training purposes that also carries a small amount of agricultural traffic. |
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January 19, 2006 |
RAC News |
| Announcing Railway Operations Live! | |
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The RAC is sponsoring the introduction of a program in Canadian railway operations for people who have a need to be aware of railway operational, regulatory and safety matters and want to learn more about the day-to-day field operations and overall role of Canada's rail industry. The course will be led by industry professionals, featuring an opportunity to experience live practical railway operations.
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Document(s): Click here to download the Railway Operations Live Program Outline in PDF (44 KB) |
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January 18, 2006 |
Member News |
| We’ve Been Working on the Railroad! | |
 The Barrie Collingwood Railway (BCRY), a partnership of the City of Barrie, the Town of Collingwood and CANDO Contracting, is pleased to announce the official start of rail service to the Carney Timber Company at their 200 Brock Street location. The provision of rail service was enabled through an innovative agreement between BCRY, the Carney Timber Company and Western Mechanical, which allowed for the construction of an industrial rail siding from the Lorena Street Spur to the Carney Timber property. “The opening of this new rail spur is an exciting event for the City of Barrie as it supports the growth and retention of an existing Barrie business”, says Mayor Rob Hamilton. “This is an important part of Council’s objectives and contributes to our goal of supporting higher paying, industrial jobs in the City of Barrie. We wish all the best to the Carney Timber Company as they launch this important service and thank them for the investment in our community”. The construction of this industrial rail spur marks an important milestone for the Barrie Collingwood Railway (BCRY) as it is not only the first significant construction project for the BCRY region, but also is the first one to be constructed in Ontario in the last 15 years. It is a symbol of the renaissance that rail is experiencing, not only in Ontario, but in Canada and throughout North America. |
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January 13, 2006 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| RAC DG Team Services | |
 The RAC Dangerous Goods team has released the following information regarding their inspection and training services that are being offered to the shipping community.
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Document(s): Click here to download the 2006 pamphlet in PDF (23 KB) Click here to download the 2006 service fees in PDF (21 KB) |
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| Summer 2010 Edition of Interchange | |
| Railway Emergency Response Training Complete | |
| Locomotive Emissions Monitoring Program 2008 | |
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Mr. Paul Goyette Director, Communications and Public Affairs Phone: (613) 564-8097 |
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