Table of Contents

1. Message from the Minister
2. Message from the Director General
3. Introduction
4. Vision, Mission & Values
5. Key Activities
6. Key Result Areas
7. Figure 1 - Rail Safety Results Model
8. Strategic Directions (2005 - 2010)
9. Environmental Analysis
10. Printable Version

I. MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

As Minister of Transport, I'm proud of the role railways have played in building the Canadian economy since the 1820s. For almost 200 years, Canada has continually improved its rail system to what it is today — one of the safest in the world.

In rail as in other modes, Transport Canada strives to create the best transportation system for Canadians and continues work with its partners to improve the safety and efficiency of its system.

All Aboard, Rail Safety's strategic plan, provides a thorough summary of what Transport Canada's Rail Safety Directorate is doing to further improve the system. It also highlights the challenges and opportunities the department faces in regulating a dynamic industry.

Canadians look to Transport Canada to lead the way in transportation safety. This plan contributes to our continued efforts to work together with industry and stakeholders towards our common goal of a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system.

Hon. Jean-C. Lapierre
Minister of Transport

II. MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

The title chosen for our plan, All Aboard, reflects our firm belief that improvements to railway safety can only be achieved by working closely with our stakeholders and partners. Transport Canada Rail Safety has been focused on a multi-facetted accident and incident reduction program over the past 10 years, which has contributed to significant reductions in the number of grade crossing accidents and trespassing incidents.

The Rail Safety Program has adopted the following four strategic directions for the period 2005-2010 with the intent of changing the way we do business. These include public safety leadership, mutually beneficially relationships, operational excellence and excellence through people. Rail Safety will be incorporating a systems-based approach to safety oversight, which is aimed at improving safety at all levels within the rail industry and with other stakeholders. We will continue and accelerate our efforts in a number of key areas including safety management systems, quality management, risk and performance management. These and other initiatives require a high degree of program integration.

Rail Safety is developing a comprehensive data collection system known as the Rail Safety Integrated Gateway (RSIG). This multi-year project will enable us to have the best possible information for planning and decision-making. These initiatives will promote greater consistency and accountability in program delivery throughout the Rail Safety organization.

Our selection of the 2005-2010 timeframe coincides with Transport Canada's goal of having a common planning horizon of 2010 for all plans. We look forward to implementing this plan.

Luc Bourdon
Director General, Rail Safety

III. INTRODUCTION

This strategic plan, All Aboard, is intended to provide a direction and a focal-point for Rail Safety to the year 2010. By outlining our vision, mission and key activities, and listing key result areas, the directorate intends to provide a framework for Transport Canada’s railway safety oversight for the general public and the railway industry into the next decade.

The Rail Safety Program develops, implements and promotes safety policy, regulations, standards and research and in the case of rail/road grade crossings, subsidizes safety improvements. Regional inspectors monitor for compliance with the approved regulatory regime requirements and if necessary, investigate and enforce wherever non-compliance is discovered. This work is undertaken within the auspices of the Railway Safety Act (1989). The Rail Safety Program works toward the protection of life, health, environment and property of the Canadian public, creating high confidence in the safety and security; and towards a rail transportation system that is competitive and harmonized both domestically and internationally.

There are approximately 60 railways currently operating in Canada of which 35 have a Certificate of Fitness and are covered under federal legislation, while other provincial railways are covered through different agreements. In the last decade the number of railway employees has declined from 55,000 to 37,000, however the number of carloads originating from Canadian railways has increased from 3.5 million to 4.1 million —an increase of 16.3 per cent. (The Railway Association of Canada. Railway Trends 2004.) Although the Canadian-based railways own 97,000 freight cars and 3,200 locomotives, many of the freight cars circulating in Canada are either owned privately or by U.S.-based railways.

There are 500 passenger cars in service, carrying four million passengers annually. There are currently 29,000 miles (47,000 km) 4 of main-track with approximately 49,000 highway-rail grade crossings.

Most provinces with provincial railways have signed agreements with Transport Canada to deliver inspections for compliance to applicable rules, regulations, and standards. The goal is to provide a consistent and harmonized regulatory regime in all provinces.

The Rail Safety Program has been carrying on constructive consultations with the United States and Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and bi-laterally with the United States’ Federal Railroad Administration to work towards building a North American harmonized regulatory regime whenever possible and practicable.

In addition to external stakeholders, the Rail Safety program works closely with other divisions of Transport Canada such as Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Security and Emergency Preparedness and Policy, as well as other government departments and agencies such as the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada in developing and delivering its programs.

IV. VISION, MISSION & VALUES

VISION - the outcome the Rail Safety Program is seeking to achieve:

The safest rail transportation system for Canada and Canadians.

MISSION - the Rail Safety Program’s contribution to achieving this vision is:

To advance the safety and sustainability of rail transportation.

VALUES - the Rail Safety Program shares the values of Transport Canada:

i) Respect - We show value and respect for our colleagues and clients by:

• being open, fair and honest in our dealings

ii) Professionalism - We show professionalism by:

• working conscientiously and in a fiscally prudent manner
• applying common sense in everything we do
• continuously upgrading our training and technology

iii) Teamwork - We encourage teamwork by:

• listening and communicating openly
• supporting collective decisions and showing trust in our colleagues
• sharing resources and remaining open to change

Iv) Client Services - We provide excellent service to our clients by:

• listening and responding to their needs
• soliciting their feedback

V. KEY ACTIVITIES

In the fulfillment of its mission, the Rail Safety Program undertakes the following Key Activities:

Policy, Regulation, Standards & Research

• Legislation, Policy Development & Interpretation
• International, Intergovernmental and Departmental Relations

Outreach – Education, Awareness & Funding Programs

• Funding Programs
• Communications, Consultation, Education & Awareness

Monitoring, Investigation & Enforcement

• Program Delivery & Tracking

Program Planning & Management

• Issues & Crisis Management
• Planning, Review & Analysis
• Administrative Support & Training
• Support to Minister & Department

VI. KEY RESULT AREAS

Rail Safety has developed six key result areas for which the four key activities contribute to and will be measured.

1. Effective Regulatory Tools

• Effectiveness of our regulatory programs and tools in achieving compliance and reduction of fatalities, injuries, accidents and incidents in the rail industry
• Implementation and effectiveness of rules and regulations

2. Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Results achieved in partnership activities
• Benefits of participation in consultative activities

3. Public & Industry Awareness

• Public awareness of railway operations, the dangers associated with these operations and the safety precautions needed
• Rail industry's awareness of the rules, regulations and standards

4. Improved Safety Culture

• Extent to which industry has adopted safe practices, implementation of safety management systems (SMS), adoption of new technology, Occupational Health & Safety, proactive safety improvements

5. Compliance & Management of Risk

• Compliance rates, incident and accident rates as an indicator of the rail industry's management of risk

6. Effective Management

• Rail Safety's management of programs, resources and results

VII. FIGURE 1 - RAIL SAFETY RESULTS MODEL

This model demonstrates the link between the activities, results, outcomes and vision.

Vision: The safest rail transportation system for Canada and Canadians

Outcomes

• A competitive and harmonized rail transportation system, both domestically and internationally
• High confidence in the safety and security of the rail transportation system
• Protection of life, health, environment and property

Key Result Areas

1. Effective Regulatory Tools

• Impact on efficiency & effectiveness through consistent legislation
• Impact on market conditions as safer products/practices are purchased/ adopted
• Effective intervention that resulted in corrective measures being made

2. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Improvements to railway/road infra-structure due to funding programs
• Sharing of best practices and research through information forums
• Leveraged partnership participation
• Stakeholder satisfaction

3. Public & Industry Awareness

• Influence on public perception of safety
• Influence on public & businesses to behave in a safe manner
• Impact on public awareness through workshops, campaigns, website, public service announcements
• Sharing of best practices and research through information forums

4. Improved Safety Culture

• Influence on industry’s perception of safety
• Impact on safety culture
• Impact on industry’s safety choices in research, innovation and new products
• Proactive corrections made

5. Compliance & Management of Risk

• Improved compliance
• Proactive corrections made
• High risk areas targeted
• Impact on industry’s safety choices in research, innovation and new products

6. Effective Management

• Efficient management of financial resources - budgets on target
• Rail safety is considered to be a good place to work by employees
• Coordinated efforts within Rail Safety & with other directorates for effective and efficient operations

Key Activities

1. Policy, Regulation, Standards & Research

Program Functions

a) Legislation, Policy Development & Interpretation

• development of legislation, policy, & alternatives
• new technology scanning
• technology assessment
• interpretation of policy
• identification & management of research projects

b) International, intergovernmental and departmental relations

• negotiation of agreements
• formalized shared program delivery
• harmonization & liaison

2. Outreach - Education, Awareness, & Funding Programs

Program Functions

a) Funding Programs

• program administration & oversight
• review applications
• project development
• approval & certification

b) Communications, consultation, education & awareness

• administration of consultative committees
• committee participation
• promotional activities
• education sessions
• technical advice
• communication
• needs assessment
• information dissemination

3. Monitoring, Investigation & Enforcement

Program Functions

a) Program Delivery & Tracking

• work planning & risk assessment
• enforcement actions
• appeals of decisions
• processing of files
• complaint handling
• program delivery

4. Program Planning & Management

Program Functions

a) Issues & Crisis Mgt.

• occurrence response & investigation
• Minister’s observer role
• media relations
• major issue management

b) Planning, Review & Analysis

• strategic planning
• business planning
• risk analysis
• data collection
• trend analysis
• quality assurance
• staff feedback
• environmental scanning
• ensure consistency
• emergency & contingency planning

c) Administration, Support & Training

• financial management
• internal communications
• records management
• clerical support
• training needs analysis
• human resources
• information systems support
• course development & delivery

d) Support to Minister & Department

• Ministerial correspondence
• reports to parliament
• briefing notes
• response to Transportation Safety Board
• requests under access to information and privacy
• court appearances
• inquiries & coroner’s inquests
• special projects

VIII. STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS (2005 - 2010)

The Rail Safety Program has adopted the following four strategic directions for the period 2005 – 2010, which are linked to the six key result areas:

1. Public Safety Leadership

Key Result Areas to be achieved:

• Effective Regulatory Tools
• Compliance & Management of Risk
• Improved Safety Culture
• Public & Industry Awareness

2. Mutually Beneficial Relationships

Key Result Area to be achieved:

• Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

3. Operational Excellence

Key Result Areas to be achieved:

• Effective Regulatory Tools
• Effective Management

4. Excellence Through People

Key Result Area to be achieved:

• Effective Management

IX. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

The Program’s strategic directions have been developed in recognition of the key forces and factors within its external and internal environments that have significant potential to affect the fulfillment of its vision.

EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

• Commitment to domestic and international harmonization of rules, regulations and policies has yielded significant results to date with both the provinces and the United States.
• Partnerships with industry and others have proven productive in areas such as education and awareness (e.g. Operation Lifesaver, D2006).
• New technologies and approaches improve rail operations.
• Industry has adopted safety management systems regulations.
• Rules may be developed by the rail industry and approved by the Minister of Transport. This process is more efficient, consistent and responsive to the needs of the industry.

CHALLENGES

• Increase in rail industry complexity and workload with fewer employees causes concerns over safety issues
• Development of high speed trains could create additional safety requirements and challenges
• Increase in security concerns requires coordination of efforts
• Increase in public complaints
• Strong competition within the rail industry translates into pressures on resources
• Limited investment by the industry in infrastructure improvements requires continued monitoring & enforcement
• Trend towards longer trains causes challenges for safe operations
• Reallocation efforts on the part of Treasury Board to meet other Government of Canada priorities can have a negative impact on the limited resources of the Rail Safety Program to address safety concerns.

INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

STRENGTHS

• Program is delivered by knowledgeable, professional, dedicated staff
• Ongoing & evolving national training program for inspectors
• Responsive to local issues & needs, as regions deliver the programs
• Rail Safety is a small organization and easily adaptable to changing priorities
• Rail Safety is developing a systems-based approach to program delivery and quality assurance

CHALLENGES

• Aging workforce and ongoing recruitment challenges due to technical requirements
• Programs need to be better integrated and coordinated to improve consistency
• Data systems need to be developed for better information sharing
• Resources are limited and risk-based management is needed in order to meet the program requirements

PRINTABLE VERSION

All Aboard:  Rail Safety Strategic Plan (2005-2010) (May, 2005) (TP14353E) is available in PDF format (file size 1564kb) which will download in approximately 14 minutes and 10 seconds on a 28.8 connection and may be viewed using Acrobat Reader (version 3.0 or higher).

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If you need an alternative format or for more information, please contact us by e-mail at railsafety@tc.gc.ca or call toll free 1-888-267-7704.