ELIMINATION OF TRAIN WHISTLING
AT PUBLIC RAILWAY CROSSINGS

Train whistling at railway crossings is an important way to promote the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who use public railway crossings. For those living close to a railway crossing, however, train whistling can be a noise nuisance. As a result, some municipalities may wish to eliminate train whistling so that people who live close to railway crossings can get some relief from the associated noise levels.

Train whistling requirements are set out in the Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR), which state that trains must whistle as they pass through public and pedestrian crossings at street level. While there are provisions in the Railway Safety Act, 2001, for eliminating of the use of train whistling at a crossing at the request of a municipality, equipment that meets specific safety standards, including adequate warning systems, must be put in place to compensate for the elimination of whistling.

Transport Canada's guideline, Procedures and Conditions for Eliminating Whistling at Public Crossings, outlines the conditions under which a municipality can seek an exemption from whistling and the process to be followed in seeking an exemption. This guideline sets out certain safety requirements intended to offset the absence of train whistling and its warning of an oncoming train.

In brief, the municipality must:

• contact the railway company in question;
• notify the general public and all relevant organizations of its intention to pass a resolution forbidding the use of train whistles in the area;
• discuss the issue with the applicable road authority/owner (if different than the municipality);
• jointly conduct a detailed safety assessment of the crossing with the railway company and the road authority; and
• pass a resolution prohibiting train whistling at the crossing.

Once an agreement has been reached between the railway company and the municipality to discontinue whistling at a crossing, the railway company may arrange to have Transport Canada inspect the crossing to confirm its assessment that the crossing meets the requirements of the guidelines. If Transport Canada is satisfied that requirements have been met, the department sends confirmation to the railway company, which can then issue instructions eliminating whistling at the crossing.

Canada maintains one of the safest rail transportation systems in the world as a result of shared efforts between numerous partners including governments, railway companies and local communities. For more information on how Transport Canada and its partners are working together to improve railway safety in Canada, visit the Railway Safety section of Transport Canada's web site.

May 2006