In Canada, urban rail transit refers to a wide variety of rail mass transport systems, such as commuter train, rapid transit, light rail, and streetcar systems. Building public rail transportation infrastructure is both a duty and a viable way for Canadian metropolitan areas to direct growth, with profoundly advantageous economic and social effects.
Current endeavors, successes, and experience comments demonstrate what functions best and why. The railway system in Canada moves about $320 billion worth of commodities per year, or 50% of the exports of the nation. Across roughly 43,000 kilometers of rail track, which also reaches various locations in the United States, nearly 3,800 locomotives and 33,300 devoted railroaders convey goods and people every year.
Proactive maintenance ensures safe and efficient transportation. Rail is one of Canada’s most capital-intensive industries. Canadian railways are vertically integrated, involving track, property, and rolling stock ownership, which demonstrates the need for large investments. Over the past ten years, Canadian railroads have invested between 20 and 25 percent of their annual income back into their networks, totaling more than $20 billion in Canada.
By bringing Canadian goods to international markets, these substantial investments help to meet consumer demand.
2018 saw a cumulative $17.6 billion contribution from the railway sector to Canada’s real GDP, which also allowed for the maintenance of 182,000 jobs. The rail sector’s operations and investments increased Canadian incomes by $10.1 billion and brought in a total of $7.2 billion in tax revenue for the federal, provincial, and territory governments.
Also, compared to the industrial average of 8.5%, the rail industry’s GDP per worker increased by 53.9% from 2009 to 2018. This article will explore several urban rail transit initiatives that are planned for or currently underway in Canada.
