For Canada, New Measures to Address Extreme Weather, Climate Change Impacts on Rail

“In a period where we are seeing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather in Canada, it’s important that we do everything we can to mitigate future risks,” Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said on July 5.

Transport Canada on July 5 announced new fire-mitigation rules and a research-funding program to help railroads improve safety and security and build “climate resiliency.”

Under the new rules for the fire season (April 1 to Oct. 31), Transport Canada is requiring rail companies to:

• Reduce train speeds and conduct additional track inspections when temperatures are high to reduce the risk of a derailment caused by track conditions.
• Inspect locomotive exhaust systems more frequently to ensure they are free of any deposits that could pose a fire risk.
• Implement a fire risk reduction plan, which “requires companies to monitor fire risk levels, manage vegetation, reduce activities that could spark fires, and respond to detected fires.” Companies must also engage local governments and Indigenous communities on their plans.

The new rules make permanent the measures contained in Ministerial Order 21–06, issued in July 2021, to reduce the risk of wildfires in the context of extreme weather, according to Transport Canada, which noted that they also complement recent revisions to the Rules Respecting Track Safety. “Rules and regulations have the same force of law, under the Railway Safety Act, and a railway company can be subject to monetary penalties or prosecution for non-compliance to a rule,” the government agency added.

Additionally, the Rail Climate Change Adaptation Program has been launched “to support research, development and implementation of innovative technologies, tools and approaches to better understand and address the increasing risks and impacts of climate change on Canada’s rail sector,” according to Transport Canada.

The program will provide up to C$2.2 million in contribution funding to “cost-share” research, according to the government agency. Federally or provincially regulated railway companies incorporated in Canada—including CN and Canadian Pacific as well as most short lines—have until Sept. 28, 2022, to submit projects for consideration.

“In a period where we are seeing the impacts of climate change and extreme weather in Canada, it’s important that we do everything we can to mitigate future risks,” Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said. “Our new rules will protect our railways against wildfires in the context of extreme weather. At the same time, the new Rail Climate Change Adaption Program will help railways assess and adopt next-generation tools to mitigate adverse issues caused by climate change.”