Canada's railways endorse locomotive video, voice recorder regs

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) announced this week it welcomes Transport Canada's publication of proposed regulations specifying technical requirements for rail companies to install video and voice recording devices in locomotives.

"Canada's railways have long advocated for the implementation of locomotive voice and video recorders on trains," said RAC President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Brazeau in a press release. "Allowing railways to use on-board voice and video recordings in the context of proactive safety management will be instrumental in the rail industry’s efforts towards accident prevention."

The association and its members have worked with rail unions and regulators for several years to develop a plan to implement locomotive video and voice recorders, RAC officials said.

Last week, Canada's Transport Minister Marc Garneau unveiled the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette.