Railway Personnel Training and Qualifications Regulations (SOR/2026-141)

Marginal note:Non-application

1 These Regulations, other than subsections 2(5) and (6), do not apply in respect of a person who carries out the duties of a position listed in subsection 2(1) if the person

• The following provision is not in force.

  (a) is a member of a railroad crew that originates from a home terminal in the United States and enters Canada to reach a terminal or turnaround point that is within 24 km (15 miles) of the boundary between Canada and the United States; and

• The following provision is not in force.

  (b) holds a certificate issued by a railway company of the United States authorizing the person to carry out those duties.

Marginal note:Positions critical to safe railway operations

• The following provision is not in force.

  2 (1) For the purposes of these Regulations, all of the following positions are declared to be critical to safe railway operations:

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) locomotive engineer;

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    (b) conductor;

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    (c) transfer hostler;

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    (d) yard person;

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    (e) remote control locomotive operator;

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    (f) rail traffic controller.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Requirement to hold certificate

  (2) A railway company must ensure that a person who carries out the duties of a position listed in subsection (1) holds a certificate issued under these Regulations authorizing the person to carry out the duties of the position.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Less than two years’ experience

  (3) Subject to subsection (4), a railway company must ensure that the holder of a certificate for a position listed in subsection (1) and who has carried out the duties of the position for less than two years in total is able, while carrying out their duties, to contact a person who holds a certificate for the same position and who has carried out the relevant duties for at least two consecutive years.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Exception

  (4) Subsection (3) does not apply in respect of a certificate holder who is a locomotive engineer on board a passenger train if there are at least two locomotive engineers on board.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Requirement to possess certificate

  (5) A certificate holder must have their certificate in their possession, in paper or electronic format, while they carry out their duties.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Requirement to produce certificate

  (6) A certificate holder must produce the certificate at the request of any person who is designated to enforce or administer the Railway Safety Act.

Marginal note:Issuance of certificate

• The following provision is not in force.

  3 (1) Before issuing a certificate to a person for a position listed in subsection 2(1), a railway company must ensure that the person meets the following conditions:

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) they have completed the knowledge-based training referred to in section 10 and have obtained a mark of at least 80% on the examination referred to in subsection 16(1); and

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    (b) they have completed the on-the-job training referred to in section 11 and have obtained a mark of at least 80% on the evaluation referred to in subsection 18(1).

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Expiry of certificate

  (2) The certificate expires on the third anniversary of the day on which it is issued.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Issuance of certificate — presumption

  (3) On the day on which these Regulations come into force, a remote control locomotive operator or rail traffic controller is deemed to have met the conditions set out in subsection (1) if the railway company is satisfied that the remote control locomotive operator or rail traffic controller has the skills, qualifications and knowledge set out in the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, 2015 to perform their duties safely.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Previous certificates

  (4) A certificate issued under the Railway Employee Qualification Standards Regulations is deemed to have been issued under these Regulations and remains valid until the third anniversary of the day on which it is issued.

Marginal note:Transfer of certificate

• The following provision is not in force.

  4 (1) A railway company must ensure that the holder of a certificate that is issued by another railway company for a position listed in subsection 2(1) is able to carry out their new duties safely.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Validity of certificate

  (2) If the railway company is satisfied that the certificate holder is able to carry out their new duties safely, the certificate remains valid until its expiry date.

Marginal note:Renewal of certificate

• The following provision is not in force.

  5 (1) A railway company may renew a certificate for a position listed in subsection 2(1) if

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) the certificate holder has completed the renewal training referred to in section 15;

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    (b) the certificate holder has obtained a mark of at least 80% on the examination referred to in subsection 16(1) and the evaluation referred to in subsection 18(1); and

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (c) the certificate is still valid or has been expired for no longer than 12 months.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Expiry of certificate

  (2) The renewed certificate expires on the third anniversary of the day on which it is renewed.

Marginal note:Non-exercise of duties

6 If a person has not, for at least 12 months, carried out the duties of a position listed in subsection 2(1) for which they hold a certificate, that person cannot resume those duties unless the railway company renews their certificate in accordance with section 5.

Marginal note:Training program

7 A railway company must establish and implement a training program designed to ensure the safe exercise of duties of the positions listed in subsection 2(1) that meets the requirements of sections 10 to 14 and that includes crew resource management, including threat and error management, interpersonal communication, situational awareness, leadership, teamwork, problem solving, decision making and emergency situations.

Marginal note:Training requirement

8 A railway company must ensure that a person who holds a position listed in subsection 2(1) receives training in accordance with these Regulations.

Marginal note:Instructors — knowledge-based training

• The following provision is not in force.

  9 (1) A railway company must ensure that, before an instructor provides the knowledge-based training referred to in section 10, the instructor meets the following conditions:

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) they have completed the same training within the previous five years and have obtained a mark of at least 90% on the latest examination administered to them under subsection 16(1);

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    (b) they have completed any other training required by these Regulations to carry out the duties for which they will provide the training; and

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    (c) they have completed instructor qualification training provided by the railway company.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Instructors — on-the-job training

  (2) A railway company must ensure that, before an instructor provides the on-the-job training referred to in section 11, the instructor meets the following conditions:

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) they hold a certificate for the position for which they will provide the training;

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    (b) they have completed the most recent version of the on-the-job training referred to in section 11 and have obtained a mark of at least 90% on the latest evaluation administered to them under subsection 18(1);

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    (c) they have carried out the duties for which they will provide the training for at least three consecutive months in the area where the training is provided;

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    (d) they have at least two years’ experience in carrying out the duties for which they will provide the training; and

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    (e) they have completed instructor qualification training provided by the railway company.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Instructors — familiarization training

  (3) A railway company must ensure that, before an instructor provides the familiarization training referred to in section 13, the instructor meets the conditions set out in subsection (2).

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Exception

  (4) A railway company may authorize up to two persons who do not meet the conditions set out in subsections (1) to (3) to provide knowledge-based, on-the-job or familiarization training if they are responsible for the development of the training and related examinations and evaluations.

Marginal note:Knowledge-based training

• The following provision is not in force.

  10 (1) The knowledge-based training must include the subjects that the person needs to know to carry out the duties of their position safely, including the subjects set out in any of columns 1 to 6 of the schedule marked with an “X” under the heading that corresponds to the position.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Training content

  (2) The knowledge-based training must also include

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    (a) the requirements of the instruments listed in subsection 10(1) of the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, 2015;

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    (b) any federal legislation that may affect railway safety; and

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    (c) any of the railway company’s procedures, standards, instructions, bulletins or other internal documents that may affect railway safety.

Marginal note:On-the-job training

11 The on-the-job training must

• The following provision is not in force.

  (a) be sufficient to ensure that the person acquires the knowledge and skills required to carry out their duties safely; and

• The following provision is not in force.

  (b) include a practical component that allows the person to learn the duties of their position during the carrying out of tasks, evaluated in accordance with a defined performance scale.

Marginal note:Change to training elements

12 A railway company must ensure that continuing training is provided to a certificate holder as soon as feasible if there is a change to any of the elements of the knowledge-based training or the on-the-job training.

Marginal note:Familiarization training

• The following provision is not in force.

  13 (1) A railway company must ensure that familiarization training is provided to a certificate holder before the certificate holder carries out their duties for the first time.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Training content

  (2) The familiarization training must include

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    (a) the handling of railway equipment;

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    (b) the application of a railway company’s operating rules and special instructions;

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    (c) in respect of the area where the certificate holder is to carry out their duties,

    • (i) the topographic features, and

    • (ii) the physical characteristics of the railway work, including any grade crossings, grades and curves in a line of railway; and

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (d) at least one practice trip carried out by the person in their designated area, using the railway equipment to be operated.

Marginal note:Training related to area

14 A railway company must ensure that the familiarization training is provided to a certificate holder who has not carried out their duties within the previous 12 months in the area to which they are assigned. The training must be provided before the certificate holder carries out their duties in that area.

Marginal note:Training

15 A railway company must ensure that knowledge-based training that meets the requirements of section 10 is provided to a certificate holder before the renewal of their certificate.

Marginal note:Knowledge-based examination

• The following provision is not in force.

  16 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a railway company must ensure that an examination is administered as part of the knowledge-based training referred to in sections 10 and 15 to determine whether the person has the knowledge required to carry out their duties safely.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Exception

  (2) A certificate holder who takes the renewal training referred to in section 15 is not required to undergo the examination if they successfully complete, no more than six months before the certificate’s expiry date, a competency test to ensure that they have the required knowledge and skills to carry out their duties safely.

Marginal note:Examiners — correction

• The following provision is not in force.

  17 (1) The railway company must ensure that an examiner

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) corrects the examination referred to in subsection 16(1) and gives a mark;

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    (b) gives a mark of 80% or higher only if the examiner is satisfied that the person has sufficient knowledge to carry out their duties safely; and

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    (c) completes, signs and provides the railway company with a document indicating the mark given.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Qualifications of examiner

  (2) The railway company must ensure that, before an examiner carries out their duties, the examiner has completed, within the previous five years, the knowledge-based training referred to in section 10 and has obtained a mark of at least 90% on the latest examination administered to them under subsection 16(1).

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Exception

  (3) The railway company may authorize up to two persons who do not meet the conditions set out in subsection (2) to carry out the duties of an examiner if they are responsible for the development of the knowledge-based training and related examinations.

Marginal note:On-the-job evaluation

• The following provision is not in force.

  18 (1) A railway company must ensure that an evaluator conducts an evaluation as part of the on-the-job training referred to in section 11 to determine whether the person has the required knowledge and skills to carry out their duties safely.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Evaluation

  (2) The railway company must ensure that the evaluator

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) evaluates the person’s knowledge and skills and gives a mark;

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (b) gives a mark of 80% or higher only if the evaluator is satisfied that the person has the required knowledge and skills to carry out their duties safely; and

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (c) completes, signs and provides the railway company with a document indicating the mark given.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Qualifications of evaluator

  (3) The railway company must ensure that, before an evaluator carries out their duties, the evaluator

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) holds a certificate for the position for which the evaluator is conducting a knowledge and skills evaluation; and

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    (b) has obtained a mark of at least 90% on the latest examination administered to them under subsection (1).

Marginal note:Use of simulator

19 A railway company must not use a simulator as the only means of conducting an on-the-job evaluation.

Marginal note:Training record

• The following provision is not in force.

  20 (1) A railway company must create a training record for each person who takes the training and undergoes the examinations and evaluations required under these Regulations and make the record available to the Minister on reasonable notice given by the Minister.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Record keeping

  (2) The railway company must keep the record for at least six years after the day on which it is created.

Marginal note:Establishment of training program

• The following provision is not in force.

  21 (1) A railway company must

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) before it establishes a training program, consult with the bargaining agents representing the employees who are affected by the program; and

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (b) before it implements the program, inform those bargaining agents.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Changes to training program

  (2) Before the railway company makes any changes to the training program that relate to railway safety, it must consult with the bargaining agents representing the employees who are affected by the program and inform those agents before the changes are implemented.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Exception

  (3) However, a railway company may make changes to the program on a temporary basis before consulting with the bargaining agents representing the employees if failure to make changes without delay could result in a threat to the safety of any person, property or to the environment.

Marginal note:No bargaining agent

22 If there is no bargaining agent, a railway company must consult or inform any affected employees or a representative selected by those employees with respect to the establishment of the training program or any changes to it.

23 [Amendments]