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| 2010 Archives |
July 26, 2010 |
RAC Press Release |
| Assembly of First Nations and Railway Association of Canada Launch Railway Training and Employment Project | |
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WINNIPEG – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) today announced a railway training and employment project to promote skills development and employment to Aboriginal Canadians for career opportunities in Canada’s rail industry. The project was funded as part of the federal government’s two-year, $75 million Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund (ASTSIF) under of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The fund supports short-term, focused initiatives designed to help Aboriginal people get the specific skills they require to benefit from economic opportunities, including those generated by the federal stimulus package. |
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July 26, 2010 |
RAC Press Release |
| Red River College First to Receive Railway Training Program Accreditation | |
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OTTAWA – Manitoba’s Red River College today announced that it has been awarded Railway Conductor Program accreditation from the Railway Association of Canada. Red River College is Canada’s first college to receive the designation which aims to promote skills development and career opportunities in Canada’s rail industry. The 15 week railway conductor program provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in the railway industry. The program integrates knowledge in safety, business, communications and wellness with the management of trains, including switching and marshalling cars, transporting dangerous goods, performing inspections, copying authorities and keeping records – all within the context of the Canadian Rail Operating Rules and railways General Operating Instructions. Five students have enrolled in the program which started May 3rd. |
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July 6, 2010 |
RAC News |
| Summer 2010 Edition of Interchange | |
 The Summer edition of the RAC’s quarterly magazine Interchange is now available.
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June 22, 2010 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| Railway Emergency Response Training Complete | |
 During the week of June 7, a Railway Dangerous Goods Emergency Response Course was conducted at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) in Maple Ridge, BC.This 40 hour course was attended by industry personnel, first responders, e/r contractors, and regulators. Overall 34 persons attended this specialized course.One of the main goals of the course was to provide specific, rail based emergency response training to persons who are already trained in technical response to dangerous goods incidents. |
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June 3, 2010 |
RAC News |
| Locomotive Emissions Monitoring Program 2008 | |
 The annual Locomotive Emissions Monitoring (LEM) data filing has been completed for 2008 in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on May 15, 2007, between the Railway Association of Canada (RAC), Environment Canada and Transport Canada concerning the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and criteria air contaminants (CAC) from locomotives operating in Canada. The MOU is in force from 2006 to 2010 and identifies specific commitments on the part of the major railway companies to achieve during this period.
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| more (this posting has attachments available) | |
May 26, 2010 |
RAC News |
| Winnipeg Inducted into Canadian Railway Hall of Fame | |
 Railway Association of Canada President Cliff Mackay (pictured right) recently presented a commemorative plaque to Councillor Grant Nordman, St. Charles Ward, (left) recognizing the City of Winnipeg’s induction into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame for the year 2009 in recognition of outstanding achievement as a community in the Canadian railway industryThe Canadian Railway Hall of Fame honours Canadian achievement in the railway business — specifically related to the development and ongoing role of Canada’s vibrant railway industry. It fulfills a need to recognize various technology, communities and individuals that have been instrumental in the development of this vital Canadian transportation system. |
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April 26, 2010 |
Member News |
| CN Police Chief announces call to action for Rail Safety Week 2010 — no compromise: no accidents - no injuries - no fatalities | |
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MONTREAL - CN today marked the launch of Rail Safety Week through May 2, 2010 with CN Police Chief Stephen Covey vowing no compromise in the fight to end accidents, injuries and fatalities on and near railway crossings, tracks and property. Covey said: “What is it going to take to stop people from taking risks? Injuries and fatalities on and near railway crossings, tracks and property must be reduced. At CN, when it comes to safety, there is no compromise. CN is determined to end the tragic loss of life and debilitating injuries — most of them completely avoidable.” |
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Document(s): Click here to download the CN News Release in PDF (390 KB) |
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April 26, 2010 |
Miscellaneous |
| Minister Reminds Everyone To Be Rail Wise: Public-Rail Safety Week runs from April 26 to May 2 | |
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Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure news release April 23, 2010 – Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter reminds everyone to be rail wise at all times near any trains and tracks, as national Public-Rail Safety Week gets underway from April 26 to May 2. "Cyclists, motorists or pedestrians should only cross railway tracks at authorized and marked crossings," Reiter said. "It's important to be alert, be prepared to stop, obey all crossing signals and signs and remember it's unsafe to trespass on railway property - you never know when a train will be moving." |
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April 22, 2010 |
RAC Press Release |
| Canadian Railways Celebrate Earth Day | |
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Ottawa – In honour of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day – a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment - the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) is spotlighting the work being done by its members to make rail the sustainable transportation mode of choice in Canada. “Concerns for the environment and higher fuel costs are shifting transportation away from road and back toward rail,” said Cliff Mackay, President and CEO of the RAC. “While rail carried 75% of overland freight and 72 million passengers last year, a freight rail right-of-way uses 66 per cent less land than a lane of highway and is responsible for only 3 percent of transportation sector-related GHG emissions and emits 33 percent less particulate matter, far less than any other mode of land transportation.” |
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April 22, 2010 |
Miscellaneous |
| Parliament of Canada - Statement by Member - Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough, CPC): | |
 "Mr. Speaker, over the past 40 years, Earth Day has grown into a global movement that mobilizes more than 1 billion people in more than 190 countries working to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs in a global green economy.As the chair of the all party rail caucus, I am pleased to say that rail is doing its part. In fact, Canadian rail is increasingly becoming the 21st century's green transportation leader for passengers and freight. Canadian railways are an economic engine for the economy, moving 75% of all freight while transporting 72 million passengers just last year..." |
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April 20, 2010 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| Huron County TransCAER a Success | |
 On Saturday, April 17, the town of Clinton Fire Department held a TransCAER (Transportation Community Awareness/Emergency Response) training session in Clinton, Ontario.This full day information and training session began with a morning portion consisting of lectures and presentations from the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Harold Marcus Ltd., The Railway Association of Canada, Goderich Exeter Railway, CN, Honeywell, and Transport Canada with the focus on safety for Fire, Police and EMS personnel when responding to incidents involving dangerous goods. |
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April 19, 2010 |
Member News |
| GO Transit gets $16.6M from Feds, Province | |
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GO Transit is getting $16.6 million in federal and provincial money. The cash will go toward six projects - widening bridges in Toronto. The announcement Friday was made by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne. The ministers say the bridge widening will allow for a fourth track on the Georgetown South corridor. They say the projects will help ease commuter congestion and make GO more efficient. The $8.3M in federal money is part of the government's economic stimulus plan. (Canadian Press 100416) |
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April 7, 2010 |
RAC News |
| Spring 2010 Edition of Interchange | |
 The 2010 Spring edition of the RAC’s quarterly magazine Interchange is now available. |
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April 1, 2010 |
RAC News |
| RAC posts an updated version of its Best Practices Circular No. 12 | |
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The Railway Association of Canada has posted an updated version of its Best Practices Circular No. 12 governing the use of Blue Flags. In consultation with Transport Canada, the RAC has revised the circular to include such things as minimum dimensions required for the blue flag as well as a minimum height requirement from top of rail. Some definitions were also modified. Workers must familiarize themselves with individual railway policies, as they may be more restrictive than these minimum requirements outlined in the circular. |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Circular in PDF (55 KB) |
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March 29, 2010 |
Member News |
| Government of Canada and VIA Rail invest in rail service, jobs in Moncton | |
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MONCTON – The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Atlantic Gateway; Marc Laliberté, VIA Rail Canada’s President and CEO; and Richard Carpenter, President of Industrial Rail Services Inc today announced funding for the complete modernization and upgrading of six self-propelled rail diesel cars (RDCs). "Our Government’s investment, through the Economic Action Plan, will benefit Canadians from across the country for years to come," said Minister Ashfield. "This project will create skilled jobs, stimulate the regional economy and improve rail passenger service across Canada.” |
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March 28, 2010 |
Miscellaneous |
| Officials dig into GO station tunnel plans | |
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A second GO station for Barrie, ON, is one step closer to reality and Allandale residents are a few steps closer to the waterfront. The federal government, the province and the city announced $2.1 million in joint funding, Friday, to build a pedestrian tunnel and stairs to get the Allandale GO Transit station on track. The new access tunnel will allow commuters and local residents to walk from parking areas along Gowan Street and under the tracks to the GO station platform, which will be located on land near the historic Allandale station. |
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March 26, 2010 |
Miscellaneous |
| Gallant is ready to assist in saving local rail line | |
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Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant is ready to continue to complement local efforts to save area rail lines. That includes delivering whatever plan is developed by local stakeholders to the appropriate decision makers. "In speaking with our federal Minister of Transport, I know he shares my concern about the future of rail transport in the Ottawa Valley. The offer by our federal government to include rail applications in the Canada-Ontario Provincial-Territorial Base Fund provides an existing funding pool to tap to support rail applications. Now what is required is a similar commitment from the Province of Ontario. The first deadline to act is approaching. Local business needs to know they have an efficient means to ship their products to market," said Gallant. |
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March 26, 2010 |
Member News |
| VIA introduces schedule improvements between Quebec City and Montreal - Faster trips and more convenient arrival times | |
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MONTREAL - VIA Rail Canada announced today that as of April 6, travel times on the Montreal - Quebec City route will be significantly reduced with the introduction of new schedules. Trip times will be shortened by as much as 20 minutes, while arrival and departure times for certain trains will be changed to better suit customer needs. For example, train 21 will now leave Quebec City at 05:35 a.m., Sainte-Foy at 06:00 a.m. and arrive in Montreal at 08:32 a.m., as opposed to the current 9:17 a.m. |
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March 15, 2010 |
RAC Press Release |
| The Canadian Railway Hall of Fame Accepting Nominations for 2010 | |
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Railway Hall of Fame (CRHF) is currently accepting nominations to recognize individuals, communities and technologies that have been instrumental in building the freight and passenger infrastructure that plays such a vital role in Canada’s economy. The CRHF pays tribute to honorees in four categories: Leaders Heroes Communities Technology |
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March 9, 2010 |
Miscellaneous |
| Government of Canada and VIA Rail announce new station for Smiths Falls | |
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SMITHS FALLS,- Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough and Chairman of the All Party Rail Caucus Parliamentary Group, on behalf on Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), and VIA's Senior Director, Real Estate, Magdy Fahmy today announced the construction of the town's new station and rail line upgrading. Made possible by the Government of Canada's investments of close to $21 million for major rail infrastructure work, the projects will increase and improve the safety, frequency and speed of passenger rail service all along VIA's busy Toronto-Ottawa route. MP Del Mastro and Senior Director Fahmy were joined at the announcement by Smiths Falls Mayor Dennis Staples and Canadian Pacific (CP) Vice-President of Government Affairs Michael Murphy. "The Government of Canada understands how important VIA's rail service is to Smiths Falls and hundreds of other communities and rail travelers across Ontario," said MP Del Mastro. "By investing in rail services and facilities such as these here in Smiths Falls, we are underlining our commitment to VIA's capital renewal as a wise way to stimulate economic activity and job creation, contribute to environmental sustainability and improve Canada's passenger rail system for years to come." |
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January 15, 2010 |
Miscellaneous |
| Government of Canada Takes Action to Facilitate Shortsea Shipping | |
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Transport Canada Press Release OTTAWA — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced completion of the Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY) rail barge ramp, a shortsea shipping project at the marine rail terminal on Annacis Island in Delta. This project was made possible by $4.6 million in federal funding under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative. “This investment in shortsea shipping will help alleviate traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase overall transportation efficiency in the Lower Mainland,” said Minister Day. |
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January 14, 2010 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| The Railway Association of Canada - Railway Emergency Response Course | |
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The Railway industry of Canada is always asked "why don't you provide Canadian based railway emergency response training?", thus the RAC Dangerous Goods Team is proud to announce for a second year their Canadian based training course that deals with responding to dangerous goods incidents on railway property. On June 7-11, 2010 the RAC is conducting a "Railway Emergency Response" course at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in Maple Ridge, BC. |
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| more (this posting has attachments available) | |
January 14, 2010 |
Dangerous Goods News |
| New Dangerous Goods Team brochure | |
 The RAC is pleased to introduce a new pamphlet that describes the activities and advantages of the RAC Dangerous Goods Team.This publication should be of specific interest to railways, shippers and emergency responders. Contact Information: Mr. Andy Ash Director, Dangerous Goods Phone: (905) 953-8991 andya@railcan.ca |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Brochure in PDF (350 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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