As of midnight February 7th, the speed limit for trains with 20 or more cars carrying dangerous goods to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h), and 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) in cities.
Transportation Minister Marc Garneau said today (Thurs) this is in response to the latest train derailment near Guernsey. He says the derailments of railway cars containing dangerous goods over the past year are concerning.
The new speed limits will be in place for 30 days.
Garneau calls it a precautionary measure, with similarities between today’s accident and other recent rail accidents.
Transport Canada’s speed limits for trains up to this point have been 80 km/h in open areas, and 64 km/h in cities and where dangerous goods are in older tank cars in higher risk areas.