Railway Training and Qualifications Rules

Summary#

The final Railway Personnel Training and Qualifications Regulations set new federal training and certification rules for key railway jobs. They replace the old Railway Employee Qualification Standards Regulations and come into force two years after publication (publication: July 1, 2026 — in force July 1, 2028).

What it does#

• Declares the following positions as "critical to safe railway operations" and requires companies to issue certificates to people carrying out these duties:
  • locomotive engineer, conductor, transfer hostler, yard person, remote control locomotive operator, rail traffic controller.
• Sets how certificates are issued, renewed and checked:
  • Certificates expire after 3 years.
  • To get a certificate a person must pass knowledge and on‑the‑job tests with at least 80%.
  • If someone has not done the job for 12 months, they must be re‑certified before returning to duties.
  • Certificate holders must have their certificate with them and show it to an inspector on request.
• Tightens training standards and adds new types of training:
  • Requires knowledge‑based training, on‑the‑job training, plus new familiarization, continuing and renewal training.
  • Requires Crew Resource Management (CRM) topics (teamwork, communication, situational awareness, threat-and-error management) in all training.
  • Instructors, examiners and evaluators must meet higher qualification standards (including recent high marks — 90% for instructor/examiner qualification).
  • Prohibits using a simulator as the only method to evaluate on‑the‑job competence.
• Requires companies to keep a training record for each person and retain it for at least 6 years. Records must be made available to the Minister on request.
• Introduces a mentoring/contact requirement:
  • A certificate holder with less than 2 years’ experience must be able to contact someone with at least 2 years’ experience in the same role for guidance. Exception: locomotive engineers on passenger trains when at least two locomotive engineers are on board.
• Includes a narrow non-application for some U.S. crews: the rules do not apply if a crew originates in the United States, enters Canada only to reach a terminal within 24 km (15 miles) of the border, and holds a U.S. railway company certificate.
• Makes a consequential change to the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Regulations so federal and provincial/territorial certificates can align.
• Sets the coming‑into‑force rule: the Regulations take effect on the second anniversary of their Canada Gazette, Part II publication (in this case July 1, 2028).

Who's affected#

• All federally regulated railway companies that operate on federal track in Canada (the Government’s analysis counted 21 Canadian railway companies).
• Employees, contractors and supervisors working in the listed positions, including:
  • locomotive engineers, conductors, transfer hostlers, yard persons, remote control locomotive operators, rail traffic controllers.
• Small rail companies: the analysis estimates 13 small businesses will be affected and bear a share of the costs.
• Transport Canada inspectors and the federal government will have modest extra inspection and guidance work to do.

Why it matters#

• Safety: the rules aim to modernize training and reduce mistakes linked to lack of experience or poor crew coordination. The Government says better training, CRM and an experienced contact for new workers should reduce human‑factor incidents.
• Practical effects for workers: more formalized and repeat training, a requirement to re‑certify after long absences (12 months), and the need to pass exams and evaluations (minimum 80% pass mark).
• Practical effects for companies: new or updated training programs, record keeping, and time spent providing or making staff available as experienced contacts. The Regulatory Impact Analysis estimates total net costs of about $31.77 million (present value, 2026–2037). The analysis says a reduction of about 27.45% (roughly 35 in‑scope occurrences per year) would be needed to offset those costs.
• Trade and mobility: the Regulations align federal certification rules with labour‑mobility rules so certificates can be recognized across jurisdictions, while keeping a short exception for some U.S. crews operating very near the border.
• Timing: companies have a two‑year transition period after publication to meet the new rules (in this case until July 1, 2028).