"Rail in Canada, 2005" provides information on the size and structure of the Canadian rail transport industry. It contains a number of financial and operating statistical tables.

The data released in this publication are based on various surveys of railway companies operating in Canada. The objectives, coverage and methodologies of these surveys are not identical. For details refer to the Data quality, concepts and methodology — Survey concepts and data limitations  section of this publication.

Attention Users!

The following changes in the coverage, data and format apply to this and prior publications:

• Data published prior to 1997 conform to industry group 453 (Railway Transport and Related Service Industries). This grouping was part of the Standard Industrial Classification System (SIC), 1980,which was replaced by The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), to allow comparability with the United States and Mexico. Please refer to the section on Data quality, concepts and methodology — Survey concepts and data limitations for more detail.
• Statistics Canada is required by law to protect the confidentiality of data supplied by survey respondents. However, for decades, railway operations were regulated through governmental approval of shipping rates. Hence, railway statistics were published in detail by carrier and by province/territory. Since deregulation in 1996, the railways can negotiate confidential contracts with shippers. To preserve confidentiality, data on commodity movements are presented by region. Mainline railways have granted permission to Statistics Canada in writing to report their financial and operating statistics as they appear in this publication.
• In 2005, the survey universe was composed of three mainline carriers and 47 regional and short-haul carriers.
• Results for commodity origin and destination can be affected by the addition or removal of carriers in the universe coverage.
• Financial, operational and origin and destination data may change on a year to year basis as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, reclassifications of accounts, etc. Data are also influenced by mergers, acquisitions and companies which may enter or exit the industry.
• The analysis section of this publication contains revised data from 2001 to 2004.