PULLING FOR CANADA: Rail Trends 2023
OTTAWA – December 20, 2023 – The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) today released Rail Trends 2023 – a rolling, 10-year review of financial and statistical results.
“Canada’s railways are pulling for Canada – and this report confirms that they are the backbone of our economy,” says Marc Brazeau, RAC’s President and CEO. “Day in, day out, more than 35,000 dedicated railroaders work tirelessly to move more than $380 billion dollars in goods and getting tens of millions of passengers where they need to be.”
He adds: “Canada’s freight railways continue to be standout supply chain performers, as the safest, most environmental, and reliable, all at virtually the lowest cost anywhere in the world.”
Highlights of Rail Trends 2023 include:
- Railways invested $2.4 billion to improve safety, efficiency, capacity, and supply chain fluidity
- Railways paid a record $2.2 billion in taxes to Canadian governments – supporting social programs we all rely on
- Industry employment increased by 3.2% and average wages increased by 2.2% to $104,443
- Freight fuel efficiency improved to 711 revenue ton-miles per gallon – setting another consecutive record
This 31st edition of Rail Trends is a compendium of Canadian rail data up to December 31, 2022. Data is reported by RAC member companies: Class 1 and shortline freight railways, as well as tourist, inter-city, and commuter passenger railways.
The full Rail Trends report is available here. Data for 2023 will be covered in next year’s report.
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About the Railway Association of Canada
RAC represents close to 60 railway companies and more than 60 associate members (suppliers, consultants, etc.). Our freight railways get millions of people and $350 billion worth of goods across our country and to global markets 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 www.railcan.ca.
Data Contact:
Jonathan Thibault
Manager, Economics, Data and Research
Media Contact:
Chris Day