A GUIDE TO THE PIPE AND WIRE PROCESS
- ELECTRICAL -
General Guidelines
1.
Applications
Applications must have two (2) copies of an acceptable plan attached plus cover letter. Plans must
provide sufficient information to determine that installation will meet Railway Standards, General
Order requirements and CSA Standards. They must be to scale or have all dimensions shown. They
must clearly and accurately show Railway property lines. Refer to Appendix "C-1" for detail list of
areas where Railway requirements exceed General Order or CSA Standards as well as a list of
common omissions.
2.
Agreement
2.1
3.
When plans are approved by the Railway for installation, the Company will be sent appropriate
documents with:
i.
Agreement for signing.
ii.
Costs.
iii.
Special conditions will be identified.
iv.
Company responsibilities will be listed.
2.2.
Acceptance by the Company will be by signing appropriate documents, and returning it with a
cheque in the amount requested. If the Company is not incorporated, the signature should be
witnessed.
2.3
When the Company's acceptance is received, the Railway will reply with a Letter of Acknowledgment
with contact names and phone numbers of local CN personnel to make arrangements.
Installation
3.1
Installation can be done with Ten (10) working days' notice to the contacts listed on Letter of
Acknowledgment. This notice will allow the Railway to arrange for flagging protection and signals
location as required. See Appendix "B-1".
3.2
After installation, if there are no additional flagging charges, and payment was prepaid, the account
will be closed. If additional charges are applicable, an invoice will be produced.
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4.
Contact Names, Addresses and Phone Numbers
Mail/Email should be directed to:
NORTHERN ONTARIO, MANITOBA,AND SASKATCHEWAN
CN Design and Construction
Prairie Division
Operations Building B, 2nd Floor
10229 – 127th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5E 0B9
ATTENTION:
Utilities Coordinator
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
(780) 643-7668
(780) 472-3047
[email protected]
ALBERTA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA
CN Design and Construction
Pacific Division
Operations Building B, 2nd Floor
10229 – 127th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5E 0B9
ATTENTION:
Utilities Coordinator
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
(780) 472-3041
(780) 472-3047
[email protected]
BC RAIL TERRITORY
CN Design and Construction
Pacific Division
Operations Building B, 2nd Floor
10229 – 127th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5E 0B9
ATTENTION:
Utilities Coordinator
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
(780) 643-7668
(780) 472-3047
[email protected]
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Appendix "B-1"
FLAGGING PROTECTION & SIGNALS & COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION
What is flagging protection and signals protection?
Flagging protection consists of protecting men and equipment from passing trains and protecting passing
trains from possible damage that could occur to the track infrastructure as a result of construction. Signals
protection is locating underground and/or above ground signal wires, underground Railway power lines,
Railway fibre optics cable and the protection of these facilities while the work is in progress.
When is it required?
Flagging is required for men and equipment on the Railway right-of-way unless so specified. Signals
protection is required if the Signals & Communication Department ("S&C") has identified the work area as
being one of possible conflict.
What are the costs?
The Railway recovers from the Company it's costs for actual time spent getting to, from, and on the site by
Railway field forces. Flagging protection is provided by a flagging foreman, and the signals protection is
provided by a S&C Maintainer.
Time required to contact the Railway's Traffic Controller and set up "flagging protection" could vary daily,
depending on conditions. Flags or other positive protection must be in place before the contractor starts
work and removed only after the contractor's day is over, or protection has expired.
Work blocks for the next twenty-four (24) hours have to be communicated to the Railway's Traffic Controller
by 1400 hours. The Company, or its agent, is responsible to advise the Railway flag person on site prior to
that time, of their schedule for the following day.
Depending on the flagging protection provided, it may not be possible to provide extensions or reductions
to the length of time set up to provide protection for the Company or its agent on that day.
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CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CROSSINGS
1.
The Company shall give the Railway at least ten (10) days' prior notice of its intention to do any construction
or maintenance work. The determination of this notice period shall not include Saturdays, Sundays and
statutory holidays. Should an emergency situation arise, the Company shall contact the Railway to make
special arrangements. The Railway agrees to act reasonably in these situations.
2.
Construction and maintenance by the Company of any crossing shall be subject to the supervision of the
Railway or the Railway's appointed representatives.
3.
Should any work be required to support or repair the tracks or facilities of the Railway or to protect train
movements due to the construction, operation, maintenance or removal of crossings, such work shall be
performed by the Railway and the Company shall reimburse the Railway for all reasonable costs associated
with such work upon receipt of the Railway's account.
4.
The Company shall maintain all Crossings under this Agreement in good order and condition in accordance
with the applicable rules, requirements and specifications issued from time to time by the Canadian
Standards Association and approved by Transport Canada. If at any time during the term of this Agreement,
the Company neglects to do any restoration and Maintenance work required to keep any Crossing free from
hazard, the Railway, after giving reasonable prior written notice to the Company specifying the nature of the
work required, may itself carry out such work. The Company shall reimburse the Railway for all reasonable
costs associated with this work upon receipt of the Railway's account.
5.
The construction, operation and Maintenance of Crossings shall be carried out in a manner so as to
minimize interference with Railway Property, facilities and operations. When any such work has been
completed, Railway Property shall be restored by the Company to its former condition so far as practicable.
The Company shall, at its expense, expeditiously and effectively, remedy any interference that does occur, or,
should no appropriate remedy be found, remove such crossing and restore the Railway Property to good
order and condition. Should the Company fail to correct such interference, the Railway reserves the right to
do so at the Company's expense and the Company will reimburse the Railway upon receipt of the Railway's
account therefore.
6.
The Railway may impose other construction conditions at time of application.
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FEE SCHEDULE
(plus applicable taxes)
1.
Basic Engineering Application Fee
$ 950.00 (plus GST)
- Response back within 6-8 weeks (workload permitting)
Rush application
add
- Response back within two weeks (Workload permitting)
2.
Agreement Fee starting at:
$ 3,500.00 (plus GST)
$ 2,200.00 (plus GST)
$2,200.00 applies to a 3m wide x 30m long
or
Starting at $10,000.00 which applies to a 3m wide x 30m long for major yards
NOTE: Cost may increase due to location, length, type of Utility (e.g. high voltage, fiber
optic, culvert, restricted clearance etc.)
NOTE: As of February 1, 2014, CN no longer grants Easement Rights unless previously
approved by CN, standard License Agreements will be issued. If Easement has been granted, please also
include a copy of the Land Title to which your location pertains to.
3.
Flagging Protection and Signals Protection During Installation
Minimum costs:
Flagging protection
Signals protection
$ 825.00 (plus GST)
$ 375.00 (plus GST)
(dependent on location)
Additional costs for flagging and signals will be invoiced after completion of project if:



time on site was more than one day for either flagging or signals protection
a large number of hours were at overtime rates ,i.e. weekend installations.
24 hour notice of project cancellation is not received. One additional day of flagging will be
invoiced.
4.
Additional Review Fee
5.
Additional Costs
$ 250.00 (plus GST)
per review
The Railway reserves the right to charge for additional costs incurred by the Railway as a result of
specific applications. Without limiting the generality, this includes items such as open-cut
installations, inductive coordination, charges for train delays and slow orders, consulting and
inspection costs.
6.
Fee Review
All fees and charges that may be imposed under this Agreement are subject to annual review and
adjustment by the Railway.
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Appendix "C-1"
ELECTRICAL CABLE/WIRE CROSSINGS
Applicants:



Must submit two (2) copies of an acceptable plan. Plans must meet NTA General Order E-11
and E-12, latest revision of CAN/CSA-C22.3 No.1-10 and/or CAN/CSA-C22.3 No.7-10.
Cover letter outlining the proposed work, legal name, phone number, fax number and contact
name of the company/entity who is the owner of the proposed structure
If your application includes approvals for utility installations across yard and multi-track
locations, please also include a detailed work plan identifying any impacts or encroachments on
CN Property during installation of your utility ( such as the use of Guide Wires, Sending,
Receiving Pits etc).
Cost for reviewing the first plan received shall be included in the basic engineering application fee. The applicant may
be charged an additional fee ($250.00 plus GST/each review) for each review after the initial application due to
inadequate or missing information.
These Guidelines are to be used with all types of Utility Applications (e.g. Print Substitution, Encroachment, Parallel,
Crossing Tracks (live or inactive) and on basic land (no tracks) etc.). If applying for a Print Substitution, please also
include a copy of the original drawing and agreement.
Plans Must Have:










Plan Number & Date
o Revised plans must have a revision number, date of revision, and reason.
Full company name & contact information of the owner of the utility.
o can be on the application letter
Land Description (legal description & or CN Subdivision & Mileage)
Site Plan & Profile
o width of CN right-of-way / number of tracks / angle of crossing
Drawing must be to scale or have all dimensions/measurement noted.
NOTE stating: “Construction, maintenance and operation of the line shall be in accordance with
Transport Canada General Orders E-11 and E-12 and Canadian Standards Association Standards
CAN/CSA-C22.3 No. 1-10 and CAN3-C22.3 No. 7-10 as applicable”.
“Signed” stamp of a Professional Engineer.
Circuit voltage must be shown.
Existing and proposed facilities must be clearly marked.
11 x 17 paper size drawings only please ( large format plans may be returned as they can not be digitally
recorded properly)
SPECS – Underground:



Type and details of cable and mechanical protection.
Cables must be protected for a minimum distance of 7.5m from center of outermost track at right angles to
track by steel pipe.
o Other mechanical protection will be required for the remainder of railway property.
Profile showing depth of burial from base of rail and ditch bottoms to cable.
o Minimum depth of burial:
- Main Tracks
- Siding and Industrial Tracks
- Road Surface
- Ditch Bottom

1.68m
1.37m
1.00m
0.75m
Warning Markers required on each edge of the railway right-of-way
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. . . cont’
Appendix "C-1"
cont’d
(underground specs)

Method of Installation. (ie: boring/augering)
o
Nearest Point at which digging can take place;
Starting 10 (ten) feet from the gauge side of the nearest rail, calculate a slope to the bottom of the
proposed pipe at 1.5:1. If a 1.5:1 slope cannot be maintained or more restrictive conditions occur,
approved shoring will be required.
SPECS – Overhead:





When joint facilities are used, drawings must show information pertaining to both users and approval of
other user denoted on drawing.
Location and all information must be shown pertaining to:
o poles and adjacent structures or towers
o anchors, guys, cross arms
o insulators
o power and communication cables
Minimum clearances under maximum sag above rails and CN Signals and Communications plant (CSA-C22.3
No. 1-10).
o allow 0.3m to clearance listed in CSA-C22.3 No. 1-10 to allow for future track lifts.
Horizontal and vertical separation distance between wires and cables.
Standard Clearance:
o If structure (ie: pole) is <=4’ in height then the horizontal clearance must be 6’ minimum to
centerline of any track.
o If structure (ie: pole) is >=4’ in height then the horizontal clearance must be 8’ minimum to
centerline of any track.
Geo-technical Report:
If installation is known or suspected to be a problem due to soil conditions at location, a written
recommendation from a Geo-technical Engineer, who has reviewed soil testing and water table results, will be
required. The written recommendation is to note the following:



That the method of installation is appropriate to the soil conditions.
There will be no adverse affect to CN operations and property.
The contingency plan if problems arise during construction at the site.
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Table 2 Minimum vertical design clearances above ground or rails, ac (See Clauses 5.3.1.1, 5.7.4.1, and A.5.3.1 and
Tables 4, 9, and 11.)

Always add 0.3m for track lifts.
Table 4.10 Least nominal wall thickness for steel casing pipe in cased crossings and carrier pipe in uncased crossings
(See Clauses 4.12.3.1-4.12.3.3 and 15.3.5 and Table 4.5.)
4.8mm
MIN.
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Note: For intermediate pipe outside diameters, the minimum wall thickness may be determined by interpolation.
4.12.3.2 Uncased railway crossings
Uncased steel pipelines may be installed under railways, provided that the following requirements
are met:
(a) The pipe has been designed to sustain the loads at the crossing as specified in Clause
4.3.
(b) For steel pipe with a joint factor of less than 1.00, the hoop stress in the carrier pipe
does not exceed
(i) 50% of its specified minimum yield strength, if such pipe crosses secondary or
industry tracks; and
(ii) 30% of its specified minimum yield strength, if such pipe crosses tracks that are
other than secondary or industry tracks.
(c) The pipe nominal wall thickness is not less than the applicable least nominal wall
thickness given in Table 4.10 or the applicable least nominal wall thickness for steel carrier
pipe specified in Clause 4.3.11.2, whichever is the greater.
(d) The D/t ratio is not greater than the applicable maximum D/t ratio specified in Table
4.11.
(e) The design requirements are applied to the pipeline for a minimum distance of 7 m
beyond the centreline of the outside track, measured at right angles to the centreline of the
track.
(f) All circumferential joints within the railway rights-of-way are nondestructively inspected
as specified in Clause 7.
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Enabling Statute: Canada Transportation Act
Wire Crossings and Proximities Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1195)
Regulation current to August 27th, 2009
Attention: See coming into force provision and notes, where applicable.
Table Of Contents
Wire Crossings and Proximities Regulations
C.R.C., c. 1195
CANADA TRANSPORTATION ACT
Wire Crossings and Proximities Regulations
CANADIAN TRANSPORT COMMISSION GENERAL ORDER NO. E-11 E4399-AS: String "" is
not a legal integer.
REGULATIONS RESPECTING STANDARDS FOR WIRE CROSSINGS AND PROXIMITIES
SHORT TITLE
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Wire Crossings and Proximities Regulations.
INTERPRETATION
2. In these Regulations,
"across" or "cross" means crossing under or over; (à travers or traversant)
"communication line" means a line for telegraphic, telephonic, signalling or other
intelligence purposes; (ligne de communication)
"construction" includes extensive modification and extensive reconstruction; (construction)
"line" includes a communication line and a supply line, including the wires, cables,
conductors and their supporting or containing structures and appliances, if any, forming
part thereof or used in connection therewith; (ligne)
"maintenance" includes repairing; (entretien)
"near" means in such proximity as may give rise to the possibility of physical, inductive or
electrolytic interference; (près)
"supply line" means a line used primarily for the transmission of a supply of electrical
energy for other than telegraphic, telephonic, signalling or other intelligence purposes.
(ligne de distribution)
APPLICATION
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3. These Regulations apply to the construction and maintenance of lines, wires or other
conductors for the transmission of electrical energy, or for communication purposes, for
which leave of the Commission is required by virtue of section 317 of the Railway Act or
which have been or are to be constructed or maintained by consent and in accordance
with these Regulations.
4. These Regulations apply except where the Commission directs or permits a departure
therefrom in respect to any particular line.
GENERAL
5. (1) The party that has leave of the Commission or consent to carry out construction or
maintenance of a line (hereinafter called the “line party”) shall do so at its own expense.
(2) The construction and maintenance shall be carried out in accordance with the
applicable rules, requirements and specifications issued from time to time by the Canadian
Standards Association and approved by the Commission.
(3) Upon such approval by the Commission, such rules, requirements and specifications
shall automatically, without further order, be adopted and incorporated in these
Regulations.
(4) The construction and maintenance shall also be carried out, and the line operated, in
such a manner as not unduly to interfere with or obstruct the operation of any railway or
line crossed or neared or to endanger the safety of the railway or line or of persons using
or working on the railway or line.
(5) Such additional precautions shall be taken as the Director of Engineering of the
Commission may require.
6. (1) Before constructing any line that, when completed, will be
(a) along or across a railway, or
(b) near a line that is within the legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada,
the party proposing to do so shall
(c) apply to the party owning, operating or having control over the railway or line for
its written consent to the construction and maintenance of the line; and
(d) if required, send to the party referred to in paragraph (c) detailed plans of the
construction.
(2) Where the consent referred to in subsection (1) cannot be obtained or cannot be
obtained otherwise than subject to terms and conditions not acceptable to the party
proposing to construct a line, that party may apply to the Commission for leave to
construct and maintain the line.
(3) A party applying to the Commission for the leave referred to in subsection (2) shall
(a) file with the Secretary of the Commission
(i)
three copies of a statement setting out all the facts relevant to the
application, and
(ii) three copies of a plan, profile and cross section combined of the proposed
works and of the part of the railway or line that the proposed line will cross or be
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near showing the location of the proposed line; and
(b) give notice of the application, with a copy of the statement and the plan, profile
and cross section combined, to the party referred to in paragraph (1)(c).
7. (1) Before commencing any work of construction or maintenance of a line, except minor
changes or minor repairs, the line party shall give to an officer of the other party owning,
operating or having control over the railway or line to be crossed or neared, if such railway
or last mentioned line is within the legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada, at
least 72 hours notice thereof in writing; except that in an emergency the work may be
commenced without the giving of the notice, but in such event notice shall be given by
telegram as soon as is reasonably possible.
(2) The other party may appoint an inspector under whose supervision the work shall be
carried out, and whose wages and expenses shall be paid by the line party upon receipt
from the other party of a statement showing in reasonable detail the particulars of such
wages and expenses; but if the line party is a municipality or the agent of a municipality,
and the line on which the work is to be done is on a highway within the jurisdiction of the
municipality the said wages shall be paid by the other party.
8. (1) Notwithstanding section 5, in every case in which a railway or a line within the
legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada is to be constructed along, across or near
any existing line, the existing line shall be made to conform to such of the rules,
requirements and specifications issued from time to time by the Canadian Standards
Association and approved by the Commission as are applicable thereto or as are necessary
to avoid interference with the service of the railway or line.
(2) The party owning, operating or having control over the existing line shall, after
receiving whatever information may be necessary to determine any changes that are
required, send plans of those changes to the party proposing to construct the railway or
line and, upon receipt of that party’s written consent shall, at that party’s expense, make
such changes.
(3) Where a railway or line is constructed across or near an existing line, such existing line
shall be dismantled unless it has been constructed and is thereafter maintained in
accordance with such of the rules, requirements and specifications issued from time to
time by the Canadian Standards Association and approved by the Commission as are
applicable thereto.
9. The line party shall at all times wholly indemnify the other party owning, operating or
having control over the railway across or along which, or the other line across or near
which, the line party’s line is constructed, from and against all loss, cost, damage, injury
and expense to which that other party may be put by reason of any damage or injury to
persons or property caused by the construction, maintenance or operating of the line
party’s line or any work herein provided for by the terms and provisions of the Regulations,
as well as against any damage or injury resulting from the imprudence, neglect or want of
skill of the employees or agents of the line party in connection with the construction,
maintenance or operation of the line party’s line, unless the cause of such loss, cost,
damage, injury or expense can be traced elsewhere.
10. Any dispute between the parties as to the manner in which a line is to be constructed
or maintained may be referred by either of them to the Director of Engineering of the
Commission, whose decision is subject to appeal to the Commission.
11. Two or more lines shall not be constructed in the same or approximately the same
vertical plane, but joint use of poles as provided for by Joint Use of Poles Regulations or
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any other order of the Commission is permitted.
12. The line party shall, as soon as possible and immediately after its head office has
received information of the occurrence upon railway lands along or across which its line is
constructed of any accident involving its line attended with personal injury to any person
using the railway, or to any employee of the railway company, or which causes loss or
damage to the railway company, give notice thereof by telegraph, with full particulars, to
the Commission.
13. Nothing in these Regulations shall prejudice or detract from the right of a company
owning, operating or using a railway to adopt at any time the use of electric or other
motive power, and to construct and maintain along or across its right-of-way such lines as
may be necessary or proper for such purpose; the cost of any removal, change in location
or construction of any other line rendered necessary by any of the matters referred to in
this paragraph shall be borne by such of the parties and in such proportion as the
Commission upon the application of any party interested, may determine.
14. Nothing herein shall deprive any party of any remedy or right of action which such
party would otherwise have against any other party for loss or damage resulting from the
construction, maintenance or operation of any railway or line.
15. For the purpose of these Regulations, Canadian Standards Association Standard C22.3
No. 1-1970 pertaining to Overhead Systems and Underground Systems, being part of the
Canadian Electrical Code, Part III, containing rules, requirements and specifications relating
to the construction of
(a) supply lines and trolley lines along or across railways,
(b) communication lines along or across railways, and
(c) communication lines near or across communication lines on file with the
Commission, under Case 4707, is approved.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C.R.C.-c.1195/
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