CN works together with first responders across our network to share information on dangerous goods traffic and offer critical emergency response training.
Our emergency response plan includes specific resources and equipment across our network to address any dangerous goods incident.
We inform communities about what dangerous goods and hazardous materials are transported through their area to help emergency response agencies better prepare for a potential incident, in addition to performing key route risk assessments.
The AskRail® app equips first responders with immediate data about any hazardous materials a railcar is carrying to inform decisions and responses to a rail emergency.
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If you have any concerns about the condition of a crossing, please email Public Inquiries or call 1-800-465-9239 OPTION 2.
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CN focuses on education, engineering and enforcement to help protect public safety along our railway crossings. We also work together with other railroads, regulators (Transport Canada and the Federal Railroad Administration), provinces and states, road authorities, local communities and the public.
Drivers and pedestrians should always obey warning devices and use caution around any crossing. We partner with educators and law enforcement officials to spread the message about the importance of pedestrian and driving safety around railway crossings. Visit our Be Rail Smart page for educational materials, safety tips and other information for your community.
CN works with road authorities and communities to meet federal regulations and crossing standards. There are mandatory engineering requirements for crossing surfaces, road geometry, sightlines, warning systems and other elements that improve safety at crossings. Crossings are a joint responsibility between the railway and local or regional road authority. As such, CN collaborates with the road authority with respect to the types of materials used for the approaches and between the rails.
In Canada, any new crossings and existing crossings undergoing upgrades or modifications must meet Transport Canada’s Regulations.
CN partners with road authorities and regulators to help determine the types of signs and warning systems at a given crossing. This is decided by evaluating each location, including the number of trains and vehicles that go over the crossing. Transport Canada and the Federal Railroad Administration also have grade crossing improvement programss that provide funding for the installation of automatic warning devices.
CN makes every effort not to block crossings. The realities of normal railway operations mean there are instances – such as weather-caused delays or mechanical failure – when a train may stop and block a crossing. Crew members are aware of such instances and work to move trains and clear crossings as soon as possible. In Canada, regulations prohibit a train from stopping on a crossing for longer than five minutes. In the event of a prolonged blocked crossing due to mechanical failure, or other causes, CN will communicate with the local police authority to inform them so they can relay the information to first line responders accordingly.
We recognize the importance of maintaining the condition of crossings for which we are responsible. We regularly inspect our crossings and make necessary repairs. CN crews fix hundreds of grade crossing surfaces each year.
FIND MORE SAFETY RESOURCES
If you have any questions or concerns about living near the railway, please email Public Inquiries or call 1-800-465-9239 OPTION 2.
While we understand that train whistles may be disturbing at times, federal regulations in the U.S. and Canada mandate whistling at all public crossings. Train whistles are safety devices that alert motorists and pedestrians to the presence of an approaching train and warn trespassers away from the rail right-of-way. Locomotive engineers follow a detailed set of instructions that outline when a whistle must be sounded and the whistling sequence to be used. Train crews also use the whistle if there is a work project in the area in order to notify the workers on or near the track that a train is approaching.
In certain circumstances, a particular crossing may be exempt from whistling requirements. In order to obtain this exemption, a municipality must take a number of steps:
1) The municipality needs to submit a request to the railway including a detailed crossing safety assessment on the conditions at the crossing by a qualified external consultant.
2)If it is determined that safety will not be compromised and that the crossing meets the prescribed conditions of Transport Canada (if located in Canada), the municipality must then give public notice and notify each relevant association of its intent to pass a resolution declaring that it agrees that whistles should not be used at the crossing.
3) Finally, the municipality must pass the resolution. In Canada, the complete application procedure to pursue anti-whistling measures can be found on the Transport Canada website under Rail Safety. In the United States, further information on the process surrounding the establishment of Quiet Zones can be found on the Federal Railroad Administration website.
CN crews are trained on fuel conservation practices to reduce our carbon footprint, including locomotive shutdowns in our yards. However, locomotives may need to be left idling due to various operating requirements such as weather and maintaining air pressure for braking and starting systems. Where possible, many CN locomotives make use of SmartStart technology, which is an Automatic Engine Start Stop system for locomotives. More than half of the locomotives in our active fleet are equipped with SmartStart technology. Unlike a car, trains rely on water to maintain engine temperatures and cannot shut down or start like a car. This is why you may notice idling more frequently in colder weather. This system automatically triggers the locomotive to either safely shut down or restart when certain parameters have been met.
CN makes every effort to maintain our property, and we are committed to business practices that protect the natural environment, prevent pollution, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources. Waste management is important to us, and we are addressing this issue with two key initiatives: removing old rail ties from our rights-of-way and establishing an aggressive waste reduction program for our buildings and yards. Should you have concerns regarding property maintenance, please call us at 1-888-888-5909 or email Public Inquiries. A member of the team will communicate your concerns to our Engineering personnel.
Reducing rail noise and vibration is one of our top priorities. It could be noise from the machines we use to carry out essential maintenance and repairs. It could also be the sound of, or the vibrations caused by, our trains running on our tracks.
We cannot eliminate this noise and vibration altogether. As a backbone of the North American economy and a company focused on getting customer shipments delivered on time, we must operate our railroad 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There will always be some noise.
But we are constantly working on noise reduction solutions. Even more so now, since many municipalities today have expanded ever closer to railway tracks — while CN is carrying much more freight to meet global shipping needs.
To help reduce the impact of rail noise and vibration for these neighbourhoods, CN’s Community Planning and Development department does the following:
We encourage you to contact us. Our team of experts is available to review your development project plans.
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Joint efforts with the following organizations have led to much progress in this area:
CN works with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) to prevent and resolve issues that may arise when people live and work near railway operations. The FCM/RAC Proximity Initiative was established in 2003 and is co-chaired by Éric Harvey, Senior Counsel, Regulatory, Legal Affairs at CN, and Randy Goulden, City Councillor for Yorkton, SK. By developing proximity guidelines and improving stakeholder awareness, the Initiative aims to address railway-community issues, including land-use compatibility, drainage, safety, noise and vibration.
Approximately 150 municipalities across Canada have adopted the FCM/RAC Proximity Guidelines, in whole or in part, including Montreal, Calgary, London and Windsor. Several other Canadian municipalities are looking to implement them. The FCM/RAC Proximity Initiative also provided input to the following:
Preventing proximity issues is a shared responsibility.
VIEW FCM - RAC PROXIMITY GUIDELINES
An increased risk of fire, especially during extreme weather in the summer, can greatly impact the safety of communities along our network. CN developed a comprehensive Extreme Weather Fire Risk Mitigation Plan to reduce risks and increase prevention, monitoring and response to wildfires.
We value and welcome your safety related comments on the plan. Please contact our Public Inquiry line at 1-888-888-5909, or click the link below.
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