Transport Canada Announces Requirement to Provide More Freight Rail Data

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra

The government of Canada announced amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations to increase supply chain transparency and “create a better understanding of the performance of Canada’s freight rail sector for the benefit of all rail users,” Transport Canada reported Jan. 9.

These amendments, which will come into force on April 4, 2023, and will expand upon the service and performance data currently collected following the implementation of the Transportation Modernization Act of 2018, “aim to strengthen the accountability of freight rail service providers by requiring major railways to provide Transport Canada with enhanced service and performance information.”

This information, Transport Canada adds, will significantly enhance the value of the information being collected and will be published weekly on the Government of Canada’s Transportation Data and Information Hub to provide Canadians with a better picture of end-to-end freight rail performance.

According to Transport Canada, major railways will also provide additional data to support targeted public policy and other regulatory purposes, including waybill information, such as origin, destination and weight; and traffic data, such as the number of carloads, goods and car types.

The amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations are an important part of the Government of Canada’s response to the issues raised in the National Supply Chain Task Force’s Final Report, Transport Canada stated.

“Moving Canadian goods to market efficiently is vital for Canada’s future economic success,” said Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra. “Ensuring access to detailed service and performance information for Canada’s railway sector is another way we are contributing to building even more productive exchanges among supply chain members. This also reflects our commitment to strengthening Canada’s supply chain and improving our economy.”

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