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Celebrating a Decade of Moving Canada’s Economy Forward

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) closes out 2019 by releasing its latest Rail Trends report – an annual snapshot of Canadian railways’ performance against the past ten years of data.

Key takeaways from the report include:

  • Canadian railways originated a record number of carloads last year at 6.1 million, with labour productivity above the 5-year average;
  • RAC passenger railway members completed a record 88.1 million passenger-trips last year, reducing road congestion and making our cities more livable;
  • Freight carriers have increased fuel efficiency by more than 23 per cent in the last decade;
  • Canada’s enviable rail safety record continues: last year’s freight accident rate was among the lowest on record, and passenger railways maintained an accident rate of less than one per million travelers for the seventh consecutive year; and
  • RAC members invested almost $2.4 billion in Canada’s rail networks and paid more than $2 billion to Canadian governments, helping them pay for important services upon which Canadians rely every day

“This year’s Rail Trends report shows that Canadian railways are now fully recovered from the great global recession of 2008-09, the worst economic shock since the Great Depression. RAC members’ wheels are always turning – moving people, goods, and the Canadian economy,” says Marc Brazeau, President and CEO, Railway Association of Canada.

Brazeau added: “RAC members now move more than 88 million passengers and more than $310 billion in goods in Canada every year. We look forward to working with the government and all Parliamentarians to ensure that important investments in rail continue over the coming decade.”

The full Rail Trends report, reflecting data to the end of 2018, is available at railcandev.wpengine.com. Data for 2019 will be captured in next year’s Rail Trends. Regional/provincial snapshots are also available upon request.

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About the Railway Association of Canada:

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents more than 60 freight and passenger railway companies that move 84 million passengers and $310 billion worth of goods in Canada each year. RAC advocates on behalf of its members and associate members to ensure that the rail sector remains globally competitive, sustainable and, most importantly, safe. Learn more at railcandev.wpengine.com.

Connect with RAC on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

For more information on this release, please contact RAC Communications at: communications@railcan.ca