Questions from the development / planning community:
- How do the Proximity Guidelines apply to commercial or industrial developments?
- The guidelines would be applied the same, if possible, but it is a best practice to consult with the railway to solicit their feedback for your specific development as well as with the local government to ensure compliance with local land use planning policies.
- How do I apply the guidelines for my development site?
- If you have questions regarding a specific development, it is best to contact the railway company directly to request their feedback on potential mitigation options best suited to your specific needs.
- I would like feedback from a railway to inform my development. Who can I contact?
| Railway | Phone Number | Website |
| CN Rail | 1-888-888-5909 | https://www.cn.ca/en/contact-us/ |
| Canadian Pacific | 1-800-766-7912 | https://www.cpr.ca/en/contact-us/community-connect |
| Barrie Collingwood Railway | 1-866-989-5310 | www.candorail.com |
| BNSF Railway | 604-520-5200 | www.bnsf.com |
| Cape Breton and Nova Scotia Railway: | 514-948-6999 | www.gwrr.com |
| Capital Railway | 613-842-3600 | www.octranspo.com |
| Central Manitoba Railway | 1-866-989-5310 | www.candorail.com |
| Great Western Railway | 306-297-2777 | www.greatwesternrail.com |
| Goderich Exeter Railway | 514-948-6999 | www.gwrr.com |
| Huron Central Railway | 514-948-6999 | www.gwrr.com |
| Keewatin Railway Company | 204-623-5255 | www.krcrail.com |
| Last Mountain Railway | 306-992-5915 | www.lastmountainrailway.com |
| Metrolinx | 416-874-5900 | www.metrolinx.com |
| New Brunswick Southern Railway | 1-877-838-6277 | www.nbsouthern.com |
| Ontario Northland Transportation Commission | 705-472-4500 | www.ontarionorthland.ca |
| Ontario Southland Railway | 519-471-9606 | www.osrinc.ca |
| Ottawa Valley Railway | 514-948-6999 | www.gwrr.com |
| Quebec Gatineau Railway | 514-948-6999 | www.gwrr.com |
| Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway | 418-968-7603 | www.qnsl.com |
| Montreal exo | 514-287-8726 | www.exo.quebec |
| Southern Ontario Railway | 514-948-6999 | www.gwrr.com |
| Southern Railway of British Columbia | 604-521-1966 | www.sryraillink.com |
| Trillium Railway | 905-735-5529 | www.trilliumrailway.com |
| VIA Rail | 1-800-681-2561 | www.viarail.ca |
- How do I determine which railway company I can contact?
- You can use the Railway Association of Canada’s Rail Atlas to look up your location on a map to identify the railway company.
Questions from residents:
- I would like to know how often I can expect a train to come by my residence.
- Railways operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, meaning you may see or hear a train any time of the day or night. Related rail work may occur at any time of the day or night as well.
- I have concerns over noise, vibrations, and other proximity issues, what can I do as a homeowner or tenant?
- You should contact the railway company directly to voice your concerns. We also recommend that you contact your local government to determine what mitigation measures were recommended as part of the initial development proposal and whether they were implemented. The Canadian Transportation Agency has Guidelines for the Resolution of Complaints Over Railway Noise and Vibration that can help persons, municipal governments, and railway companies to resolve noise and vibration concerns. If no results are achieved after reasonable attempts to collaborate on the issue, you may file an application with the Canadian Transportation Agency. More information can be found on the Canadian Transportation Agency website. It is important to remember that railways are obliged, by federal law, to meet the rail freight transportation needs of customers. They must also meet those needs efficiently and cost-effectively, in order to keep their customers competitive.
Questions from municipalities:
- I have a question about x specific situation (e.g. a setback of 10m).
- You should contact the railway company to discuss the specific situation and how best to account for your local context.
- Am I legally required to follow the Proximity Initiative guidelines?
- No, while the guidelines do not have the force of law, they do serve as best practice for new development in proximity to railway infrastructure. However, your community can voluntarily commit to following the guidelines. If you do make the commitment to implement the guidelines, please send us an email at jsaskiw@railcan.ca and we will feature you on our list of communities that have adopted the guidelines.