**** Transport Canada Release

Grade Crossings Regulations: what you need to know

There are about 14,000 public and 9,000 private grade crossings along more than 40,000 kilometres of federally-regulated railway tracks in Canada. Transport Canada’s Grade Crossings Regulations (the regulations) help improve safety at these crossings.

 

What is a grade crossing?

A grade crossing is an intersection where a road, sidewalk, path or trail crosses railway tracks. Grade crossings are also known as level crossings, railway crossings or train crossings.

What do I need to know?

Under the regulations, railway companies, public authorities, and private authorities share responsibility for managing the safety at federally-regulated grade crossings. Please contact Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Directorate if you are unsure of your responsibilities for a grade crossing in your community.

How do I know if this applies to me?

A grade crossing can fall under federal or provincial jurisdiction. The regulations apply to federally-regulated grade crossings. To find out if a grade crossing is Federal (F) or Provincial (P), you can locate it on the grade crossings map. If your grade crossing isn’t listed on the map, or if you are unsure of responsibilities for a grade crossing in your community, please contact us.

Public grade crossings

How do I know I have a public grade crossing?

You have a public grade crossing if railway tracks intersect with a road that is owned and maintained by a public authority, and is used by the public. This typically includes municipalities, provinces, and other organized communities.

For more information on responsibilities related to public grade crossings, including costs, please refer to the Public Grade Crossings page.

Private grade crossings

How do I know I have a private grade crossing?

You have a private grade crossing if railway tracks intersect with a road that’s owned and used by private parties.  Private grade crossings are not owned and maintained by public authorities, nor are they used by the public. This typically includes commercial businesses or private individuals. Farm crossings, also known as field-to-field crossings, are subjected to the regulatory requirements.

For more information on responsibilities related to private grade crossings, including costs, please refer to the Private Grade Crossings page.

What changes were made in November 2021?

The regulations use a phased-in approach providing flexibility. In November 2021, changes were made to the regulations’ compliance deadlines. The compliance timelines have been modified in a manner that prioritizes grade crossings by levels of risk:

• November 28, 2022 for high-priority grade crossings, and
• November 28, 2024 for all other grade crossings

Changes were also made to provide relief to some grade crossings by excluding them from certain requirements.

Learn how these amendments could affect you

For more information, see the Grade Crossings Regulations page.