Canada’s public passenger railway VIA Rail has been pulled back from pandemic-induced oblivion by a federal government now framing the scheme for a dedicated, electrified right-of-way linking Quebec City and Toronto as a certainty for the first time since the project was first revealed in 2015.
Transport Canada has published a Notice of Intent in the Canada Gazette, Part I, seeking feedback on implementing Enhanced Train Control (ETC) technologies for passenger and freight rail safety in Canada.
Transport Canada has published proposed amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations to ensure employers understand the level of training required for compliance.
Transport Canada is tackling transportation bottlenecks with the distribution of C$8.7 million in grants to four projects under the National Trade Corridors Fund, including one that will boost capacity between Canadian Pacific and the Port of Vancouver; the agency is also requesting further supply chain improvement proposals under the same grant program.
Canadian Pacific will resume service between Kamloops, British Columbia, and Vancouver by mid-day on Nov. 23.
The governments of Canada and British Columbia have established a joint Supply Chain Recovery Working Group to help restore the flow of goods through the province after devastating floods cut off Vancouver from rail and road service on Nov. 16.
Effective Oct. 30, the Canadian government is requiring employers in the federally regulated rail, air and marine transportation sectors to have established COVID-19 vaccination policies for employees, and travelers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains to be fully vaccinated.
All CN employees in Canada are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Nov. 1, the Class I railroad reported on Sept. 8.
Transport Canada will receive more than C$100 million ($79.66 million) from the Canadian government to continue freight and passenger rail safety and security improvements.
Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra on Aug. 10 confirmed that the government of Canada is committed to improving the Milton Corridor by reducing passenger and freight rail bottlenecks through Mississauga and Milton in Ontario.