We believe that crossing safety is a shared responsibly, involving railroads, regulators (Transport Canada and the Federal Railroad Administration), provinces & states, road authorities, local communities and the public. At CN we focus on education, engineering and enforcement to help protect public safety.

Drivers and pedestrians should always obey warning devices and use caution around any crossing. We work with educators and law enforcement partners to spread the message about the importance of pedestrian and driving safety around railway crossings.

CN is working with road authorities and communities to meet Transport Canada’s new crossing Regulations and Standards, and advance our shared responsibility. CN provided communities across its network with information about its public grade crossings by the required November 27, 2016 deadline.

The Grade Crossing Standards are mandatory engineering requirements for crossing surfaces, road geometry, sightlines, warning systems and other elements that improve safety at crossings.

Any new crossings and existing crossings undergoing upgrades or modifications must meet Transport Canada’s new Regulations immediately. All crossings must meet the new Regulations and Standards by 2021.

For information on TC grade crossing regulations: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/railsafety/railsafety-333.htm

Determining the type of signs and warning systems at a given crossing is another shared responsibility among the railways, road authorities, and regulators. The type of waring devices at each crossing is determined by evaluating the characteristics of each location including the number of trains and vehicles that go over the crossing. Transport Canada and the Federal Railroad Administration have grade crossing improvement crossings that provide funding for the installation of automatic warning devices.

For information on TC’s Rail Safety Improvement Program: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/rail-safety-improvement-program.html

CN makes every effort not to block crossings, but the realities of normal railway operations means there are a number of instances – such as weather-caused delays or mechanical failure – where 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 require prohibit a train from stopping on a crossing for longer than five minutes.

We recognize the importance of maintaining the condition of crossings for which we are responsible. We inspect our crossings on a regulator basis and make repairs as needed. CN crews fix hundreds of grade crossing surfaces each years.

If you have any concerns about the condition of a crossing, please email Public Inquiries or call 1-800-465-9239 OPTION 2.