Railway Operating Certificates

A Railway Operating Certificate is an official document issued by Transport Canada, under the authority of the Railway Safety Act, to authorize a railway company or local railway company to operate in Canada.

Companies apply for a Railway Operating Certificate by completing an application form and submitting it to Transport Canada.

Below is a list of railway companies and local railway companies that have been issued a Railway Operating Certificate.

Since January 1, 2015, new companies must obtain a Railway Operating Certificate prior to commencing operations in Canada. Existing companies have a two-year grace period, until January 1, 2017, to obtain a Railway Operating Certificate.

For more information about Railway Operating Certificates, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field	Value
Last Updated	April 17, 2026, 19:53 (UTC)
Created	April 17, 2026, 19:53 (UTC)
contact_email	TC.OpenGovernment-GouvernementOuvert.TC@tc.gc.ca
contact_person	{}
criticality_level	[]
data_dictionary	[]
geographic_scope	[]
open_canada_collection	primary
open_canada_date_published	2021-03-08 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords	{"fr": ["Sécurité ferroviaire", "Certificat d'exploitation", "Loi sur la sécurité ferroviaire", "Compagnie de chemin de fer"], "en": ["Railway", "Operating Certificates", "Railway Safety Act", "Railway Compagnies"]}
open_canada_subject	["transport"]
sensitivity_level	unrestricted
title_fr	Certificats d’exploitation de chemin de fer
update_frequency	P1M