ARRC President, Bob Ballantyne, said that, “the issue of running rights has been under discussion for some time, especially during the Canada Transportation Act Review process, and is continuing as the Transportation Blueprint is developed.”

This issue is important to all stakeholders, railways (short line and regional and Class I carriers), shippers, and policymakers.  Mr. Ballantyne said, “ARRC has been participating in the current debate and wishes to make its position clear.”

1.         ARRC prefers the historic term “running rights” as more accurately describing the issue than “access”.

2.         Running rights are common throughout North America and have been part of the continental railway industry for over a century.  For example, four railways currently operate on the CN Oakville subdivision.

3.         NTA 1987 and CTA 1996 both provide for running rights.

4.         ARRC supports running rights for both federally and provincially regulated railways under the terms of Section 138 of the CTA.

5.         ARRC believes that parties should be encouraged to negotiate on a commercial basis with regulatory recourse as a last resort.

6.         ARRC believes that the regulatory process should be neither too time consuming nor too costly for applicants so as to be an effective barrier to applicants.

ARRC promotes the interests and perspectives of the short line and regional railways in Canada. The founding members of ARRC are BC Rail, The Hudson Bay Railway, The Carlton Trail Railway, and Ferroequus Railway Company Limited.  In 2000, ARRC members produced over 5 billion revenue-ton-miles, had revenues of approximately $450 million, operated 4,067 route-kilometres of track, and employed approximately 2,000 people.

Membership in ARRC is open to all short line and regional railways in Canada (both passenger and freight).  ARRC offers both open and confidential memberships.  The confidential option is available to any railway that wishes to support ARRC and take advantage of the significant benefits offered by ARRC membership, but who would only be in a position to do so anonymously.

For more information about membership (public or private) in ARRC, contact Cindy Hick at ARRC in Ottawa.  All information will be kept confidential.

Contact:          Cindy Hick
                       hick@arrc.ca
                       (613) 726-7111

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