Industry’s had its say…

Ruth Snowden, executive director of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), says she’s optimistic the review will yield changes.

In fact, even though the panel has yet to draft a report on the submissions, she says the industry has seen a difference in approach from Canada’s railroads already.

“CN and CP seem to have been making a more concerted effort to recognize or identify customer service issues,” she says.

This is a welcome development because, as Snowden explains, many well-researched submissions detailed the ways in which railroad service is not acceptable.

“I think what’s happened is the railroads have started to respond without waiting for the official panel report,” she adds. “The process is going to be good for rail service in this country.”

CIFFA’s submission focused on three areas: the adoption of performance standards, the creation of an integrated tracking system and better rail infrastructure.

Snowden recognizes that her organization’s wishes won’t be granted overnight. She does, however, think there’s a possibility the industry will gain an oversight body out of the process. Moreover, she says the change in attitude from the railways is encouraging.

“Right now it’s talk, but I think there is a real possibility that we will gain some of the improvements that we suggested.”

The rail industry’s take

Those representing rail service providers recognize that there’s room for improvement.

Cliff Mackay, president and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada (RAC), says the review process has presented an opportunity to zero in on what can be done better with regards to service.

RAC recommends implementing commercial dispute resolution, a process that could improve service and resolve issues quickly and economically—especially for smaller shippers.

Mackay adds that more transparent demand forecasting would also improve service. That would involve a lot of effort to collect and apply data, but the challenge would reward shippers and the railways alike.

“We’re hopeful that what will come out of this are pragmatic, practical suggestions on ways the parties can work together better and improve the overall system,” says Mackay.

But the solution isn’t re-regulation, in the RAC’s view. “If you look at the benefits to all of the players from the deregulation of the rail systems since the early-90s to now, it’s one of the strongest possible examples of good government policy I could point to in the last 50 years,” says Mackay.