Transport Canada has updated the Weekly Rail Performance Indicators to include chemicals or allied products as a distinct service type. This change will enhance transparency and align with the United States' reporting requirements.
Details
Transport Canada would like to announce a change to the Weekly Rail Performance Indicators, to include "Chemicals or allied products" as a distinct service type in the 'Cars that have not moved, 48 hours or greater' metrics. This service type will include all Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC) 28 commodities not otherwise reported under ethanol or fertilizer. This change will enable greater transparency into rail service for the chemicals or allied products sector.
Introduced in transitional provisions in the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA), 2018, class 1 rail carriers are required to report Weekly Rail Performance Indicators, as the requirement is incorporated by reference from paragraphs (1) to (8) of Title 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations as amended from time to time. The United States Surface Transportation Board recently adopted a final rule amending its railroad performance data reporting regulations to include chemicals and plastics traffic, as a distinct reporting category for the 'Cars-Held' metric. As a result of this change in the United States, the reporting requirements under the TMA transitional provisions have been similarly modified.
Regulatory Development Update
Transport Canada is undertaking a regulatory development process to amend the Transportation Information Regulations to replace the TMA's transitional provisions regarding the Weekly Rail Performance Indicators.
Transport Canada anticipates consulting publicly on its proposed approach in the fall of 2020. If you are interested in participating in these consultations or receiving further information when the consultations are launched, please contact TC.freightrail-fretferroviaire.TC@tc.gc.ca.