| Abstract | Canada’s passenger rail network serves as a critical economic and social artery, transporting over 88 million passengers annually prior to the pandemic. However, the majority of this infrastructure was constructed decades ago and is increasingly vulnerable to the compounded stresses of aging components and intensifying climate volatility.
The National Research Council’s (NRC) industry working group identified a critical gap of Canadian passenger rail’s reliance on standards and best practices developed by United States-based organizations, such as American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) and American Public Transportation Association (APTA). While robust, these standards often fail to account for the unique severity of the Canadian climate, specifically regarding extreme cold, extreme hot, freeze thaw cycles, and distinct precipitation patterns. This gap in guidance has resulted in decreased system efficiency, accelerated infrastructure damage, and maintenance challenges that are not adequately addressed by current North American best practices.
Funded by the NRC through the Climate Resilient Built Environment (CRBE) initiative, this project aims to develop Canadian specific guidelines. The objective is to develop guidelines for Canadian passenger rail systems that focus on the Canadian climate. |
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