The Agency's role in Canada's Rail Transportation System

The Canadian Transportation Agency processes applications for certificates of fitness for the proposed construction and operation of railways, and approvals for railway line construction. It also determines regulated railway interswitching rates and the railway revenue caps for the movement of western grain.

The Agency deals with rate and service complaints arising in the rail industry, as well as disputes between railway companies and other parties over railway infrastructure matters, or issues such as noise and vibration. The Agency also develops costing standards and regulations, and audits railway companies' accounting and publication/statistics-generating systems, as required.