Railway association welcomes Canada-U.S. harmonized tank car standard
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) welcomes the harmonized rail tank car standard introduced today by Canada’s transport minister and the United States transportation secretary.
“We believe that harmonization and consistency between Canadian and U.S. tank car requirements is important to ensure a safe and efficient rail transportation system in North America,” said Michael Bourque, President and CEO of RAC. “A speedy transition to a safer means of containment – the TC-117 tank car – is the most important safety measure we can take to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods.”
Canada’s railways take safety very seriously. The railway industry has advocated for more robust tank car standards including increased shell thickness, jacket protection, and full-height head shields to protect the car from puncturing, among other safety features. The RAC participated in consultations on the new harmonized standard, filing comments with Transport Canada, and with the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration through its membership on the Association of American Railroads’ Tank Car Committee.
Through their common carrier obligation, railways in Canada are required to move dangerous goods, including crude oil, by law under the Canada Transportation Act.
Rail customers and leasing companies own the vast majority of tank cars, and are responsible for updating and retrofitting their tank car fleets.
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Contact:
Alex Paterson
Railway Association of Canada
613-564-8111
alexp@railcan.ca
About the Railway Association of Canada
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents more than 50 freight and passenger railway companies that move 75 million people and more than $280 billion worth of goods in Canada each year. As the voice of Canada’s railway industry, RAC advocates on behalf of its members and associate members to ensure that the rail sector remains globally competitive, sustainable, and most importantly, safe. Learn more at www.railcan.ca. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
