Safety is integral to CP's long-term success and a foundation of everything we do.
To ensure the safety of the public, our employees, our operations and the environment, CP undertakes a comprehensive annual vegetation management program across its rail network.
Left uncontrolled, vegetation can hinder the proper inspection of track infrastructure and the railway roadbed and create an unsafe workplace. It can also pose safety hazards such as impaired visibility of train signals, impaired sight lines at railway crossings and increase the risk of trackside fires.
CP follows
Transport Canada's Rules Respecting Track Safety, which require railways to maintain free-draining ballast (the track bed on which railroad ties are laid) and ensure certified track inspectors can properly assess the condition of rail infrastructure.
CP's vegetation management program encompasses two different aspects that support safe railway operations and reduce hazards:
- Yearly herbicide treatment of the ballast to facilitate required track inspections, decrease the likelihood of wild fires, and promote a safe walking area for our employees while inspecting trains.
- The mechanical cutting of trees, shrubs and brush to ensure train crews can see railway signals and to reduce the risk of trees and limbs falling onto railway or neighbouring property. Mechanical vegetation management also includes the removal of vegetation around public and private crossings to allow motorists and pedestrians to see approaching trains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does CP need to remove vegetation from its right-of-way?
Operating safely is a core foundation at CP. To ensure the safety of the public, our employees, our operations and the environment, CP undertakes a comprehensive annual vegetation management program across its network.
In addition, CP is required to comply with
Transport Canada's Rules Respecting Track Safety, which require railways to maintain free-draining ballast and ensure certified track inspectors can properly assess the condition of rail infrastructure.
When does herbicide application usually take place?
Herbicide application takes place annually across the CP network between mid-April and mid-July.
What measures does CP take while spraying to ensure the work is conducted safely?
CP hires contractors who are specifically licensed to apply vegetation control products. In order to become licensed, the employees of the contractor company must undergo annual training and testing, to ensure the vegetation control products are applied safely.
Vegetation control products are only applied to the ballast area. CP requires all approved contractors to use shrouded brooms on spray equipment. This feature directs the spray downwards onto the ballast, as part of CP's efforts to minimize drift off the CP right-of-way.
In addition, the
Pesticides and Pest Management regulatory branch of Health Canada sets the minimum weather conditions and setbacks from waterbodies, which must be followed when applying vegetation control products. CP follows these standards.
Can I request my area not to be sprayed?
Operating safely and ensuring the safety of the public, our employees and the environment, is of utmost importance to CP. As a result, we undertake a comprehensive annual vegetation control management program and cannot choose to reduce spraying in some areas versus others across our network. All CP ballast must be treated to control vegetation, in compliance with
Transport Canada's Rules Respecting Track Safety.
How are vegetation control products approved in Canada?
In Canada, all vegetation control products undergo review by the
Pesticides and Pest Management regulatory branch of Health Canada. The products are evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling weeds, their impact on the environment and on the safety of people – both those who will be applying the products on a regular basis, and people who could be neighbours to areas sprayed.
As part of a product's approval, Health Canada sets limits on how much of a product can be used, how close to sensitive environmental areas the product can be applied and how long people have to wait before entering an area which has been sprayed. CP complies with these limits.
Can the vegetation control products used by CP hurt people or animals?
CP follows all of the requirements and limitations set by Health Canada when applying vegetation control products. When applied according to the limits set by Health Canada, the vegetation control products used by CP will not hurt animals or people. This is because these products target life processes in plants (e.g. photosynthesis), which do not occur in animals or people.
Treated areas are confined to the CP right-of-way, access to which is limited to CP employees and licensed contractors. As per
Transport Canada's Railway Safety Act, it is illegal to be on a railway property without lawful authorization.
Are there alternative methods other than herbicides CP could employ to control noxious weeds?
Other methods for controlling weeds in the ballast instead of spraying Health Canada-approved vegetation control products, which meet the requirements set by
Transport Canada's Rules Respecting Track Safety, have not yet been found.
Will you remove branches that hang over neighbouring property?
As with any neighbouring property, those with property adjoining railway lands should manage vegetation from their side of the property boundary. This includes grass, weeds, overhanging branches or otherwise. If access to CP property is required,
contact CP to seek authorization.
Will cut branches and trees be mulched?
To ensure the safety of our operations, our employees and the public, CP will clean up large debris left over from sightline clearing operations. Larger cut tree branches will be mulched and chipped.
Resources
This Integrated Vegetation Management Plan describes CP's planning processes and the principles of integrated pest management, and how, together, these approaches ensure effective vegetation management while considering and incorporating environmental and human health values.
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Every spring in Ontario, CP begins our vegetation control program to keep our rail line clear of unwanted brush or weeds. Our vegetation control program is in accordance with
Ontario Regulation 63/09, which provides public works the right to use herbicides when it comes to the safety of their infrastructure.
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Health Canada Pesticides and Pest Management
All pesticides used in Canada must meet the requirements of the Pest Control Products Act and its regulations. Find out how Health Canada regulates pesticides.
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Transport Canada Rules Respecting Track Safety
Transport Canada Rules Respecting Track Safety require railways to maintain free-draining ballast and ensure certified track inspectors can properly assess the condition of rail infrastructure.
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Transport Canada Railway Safety Act
The Railway Safety Act ensures the safe operation of railways in Canada.
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