US/CANADA RAIL BORDER OPERATIONS

TRANSPORTATION BORDER WORKING GROUP

WASHINGTON, DC

APRIL 30, 2004

Jane Bachner

Federal Railroad Administration

US/CANADA RAIL BORDER OPERATIONS

TRANSPORTATION BORDER WORKING GROUP

WASHINGTON, DC

APRIL 30, 2004

Jane Bachner

Federal Railroad Administration

CROSS-BORDER ABC’S

22 RAIL CROSSINGS- TOP 6 ACCOUNT FOR 90% OF TRAFFIC

14 RAILROADS- 6 MAJOR US AND CANADIAN RR’S

- CN (inc. GTW) CP (inc. Soo, D&H)

- UP, BNSF, CSX, NS

US/CANADA RAIL CROSSINGS

2003 RAIL CROSS BORDER TRAFFIC

Crossings Value (Billion $US)

Port Huron MI 22.9

Detroit MI 16.7

Buffalo/Niagara Falls NY 9.1

Int’l Falls/Ranier MN 4.6

Portal ND 2.7

Blaine WA 2.1

Subtotal 58.1

Total, All Crossings 64.8

2003 TRUCK CROSS BORDER TRAFFIC

CROSSING VALUE (BILLION US$)

Detroit MI 84.7

Buffalo/Niagara Falls NY 45.7

Port Huron MI 35.7

Champlain/Rouses Pt. NY

12.7

Alexandria Bay NY 10.0

Blaine WA 9.9

SUBTOTAL 198.7

ALL CROSSINGS 240.9

TOP US EXPORTS TO CANADA, 2003

VALUE (Billion $US)

BY RAIL:

Transp. Equipment 7.3

Plastics 1.4

Organic Chemicals 1.0

By TRUCK:

Transp. Equipment 27.5

Reactors, Boilers, etc. 25.9

Elec. Machinery 12.1

TOP US IMPORTS FROM CANADA, 2003

Value (Billion US$)

BY RAIL:

Transp. Equipment 27.3

Wood, Products 5.1

Paper, Paperboard 3.0

BY TRUCK:

Transp. Equipment 25.4

Reactors, Boilers, etc. 13.3

Charity Articles, Military Apparel

7.8

Rail-Carried US Trade with Mexico and Canada

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

year

Bill

ions

US

$

Mexico

Canada

Source: USDOT , Transborder Surface Freight Data

RAIL BORDER CROSSINGS

• Constructed, paid for and operated by carrier

• New crossings require Presidential Permit

- Engineering plans, environmental impacts

- States involved in review process, but approval on Federal level

FRA’S ROLE

Safety regulatory agency

- Close relationship with Transport Canada

CROSS BORDER OPERATIONS

Equipment moving into US is subject to US rules, unless waived

Crews change at terminal nearest the border- Locomotives may change at crew change points or run through

Cross-border crews must qualify under rules of both countries - FRA Hours of Service rules begin when run starts, not when border is crossed- FRA alcohol/drug rules go into effect for foreign crews June 11, 2004

OPERATIONS, CON’T

FRA does NOT routinely station inspectors at border crossings

We DO conduct random, routine periodic inspections for crews and equipment inside the US

FRA’S ROLE

Liaison/facilitator between railroads and border agencies

Liaison on security and policy issues with Transport Canada

Railroad Vehicle & Cargo Inspection System (Railroad VACIS®)

Benefits

The Railroad VACIS is unique in its capabilities. It is the only available method for non-invasive inspection of loaded and moving railroad cars.

Railroad VACIS Images

Contraband surrounding cloth

Illegal aliens

600 pounds of cocaine

Locations

U.S. Northern Border• Blaine WA• Eastport ID• Portal ND• Noyes MN (2)• International Falls MN• Buffalo NY• Rouses Pt NY• Sarnia Ontario *• Windsor Ontario **

U.S. Southern Border• Brownsville TX• Laredo TX• Eagle Pass TX• El Paso TX (2)• Nogales AZ• Calexico CA ***• San Ysidro CA

Mexico Northern Border• Nuevo Laredo• Matamoros• Piedras Negras• Nogales• Cd. Juarez• Mexicali ***

Mexico Ports• Vera Cruz• Manzanillo

* Installation Spring/Summer 04** Project on hold*** Systems purchased; in planning stage

Rail VACIS Locations

Blaine WA

Easport ID

Portal ND

Noyes MN (2)

International Falls MN

San Ysidro CA

Calexico CA ***Mexicali Mexico ***

Nogales AZNogales Mexico

El Paso TX (2)Cd. Juarez Mexico

Eagle Pass TXPiedras Negras Mexico

Sarnia Ontario (2) *

Windsor Ontario **

Buffalo NY

Rouses Pt NY

Manzanillo Mexico

Vera Cruz Mexico

Laredo TX Nuevo Laredo Mex

Brownsville TXMatamoros Mexico

* Install Spring 2004** Project on hold*** In planning stage

Applications

•The Railroad VACIS is capable of inspecting trains traveling at speeds of between 1 and 8 MPH.

•As the rail cars move through the gamma beam, their images are individually saved, along with radio frequency identification (RFID) data and a digital video snapshot of the car ID number.

•The Railroad VACIS operator can view the images as they are acquired, and make appropriate decisions to further inspect the rail cars if necessary.

FRA’S ROLE

• US Chair of Rail Consultative Group under NAFTA

• Reviewing agency for new crossings

CHALLENGES AHEAD

Increasing security needs Rising traffic levels Scarce funding resources New safety regulations

MEETING THE CHALLENGES

• Cooperation/Consultation

- National

- State/Provincial/Local

- Private sector