OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government has announced new rules regarding rail air brake inspection and maintenance, to take effect Dec. 1, 2025.
The new changes to the federal Railway Freight and Passenger Train Brake Inspection and Safety Rules, announced on Friday, Dec. 8, require railroads to:
— Perform more robust brake inspections for heavy trains operating on a steep grade in cold weather;
— Develop and submit procedures related to those inspection requirements to Transport Canada;
— Strengthen requirements for maintenance of air brake cylinders.
The rule changes reflect the second part of a ministerial order issued in July 2022 [see “Transport Canada announces new rules …,” Trains News Wire, July 26, 2022]. That order was in response to Transportation Safety Board findings in the wake of the fatal derailment of a runaway Canadian Pacific train near Field, British Columbia, on Feb. 4, 2019 [see “Safety board issues finding and recommendations …,” News Wire, March 31, 2022]. Earlier changes, regarding general air-brake inspection rules and a winter operating plan for brakes, were approved in Janary of this year and went into effect on May 31.
Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the changes are “to make trains moving in Canada safer than ever before, especially during winter. Safety is always the highest priority, and we’re committed to modernizing and to addressing any safety risks that Canada’s rail system may face.”
