Established in 1971, CANAC Railway Services Inc. (CANAC) is a creative, single source provider of end-to-end integrated railroad solutions. We deliver customized, distinctive and sustainable solutions to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations, worldwide. In everything we do we value the highest professional, ethical and business standards. 

CANAC has a mix of young talent and seasoned rail professionals with numerous years of experience in the rail industry. With this expertise and knowledge of all technical and operational aspects of rail infrastructure, operations, logistics, rolling stock and training. CANAC provides clients with comprehensive, turnkey solutions for the most complex projects, and CANAC develops and implements plans for the overall management of rail operations and/or the oversight and implementation of railway construction projects.

 

CANAC is an industry leader and has a proven track record worldwide in six main business lines:

-Engineering services

-Rail operations and capacity planning

-Mechanical services

-Training solutions / Training delivery and development

-International end-to-end rail consultancy and operation

-Rail related information technology systems

 

CANAC was founded as the international railway consulting arm of Canadian National Railway Company (CNR), and is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of SAVAGE Companies. 

 

 

RAILROAD CONSULTING SERVICES

  

ENGINEERING SERVICES 

Engineering Services: Track, Bridge and Roadway

Railroad infrastructure demands specialized engineering expertise. CANAC’s knowledge of the industry translates into informed, worry-free engineering solutions for our customers. Our services extend beyond design and specification - they include execution.

Whether it is straightforward bridge inspection, redesign of an industrial layout, or a major track upgrade program, we have the expertise to perform the services using the latest methods. We understand rail operators’ priorities and we plan our work to minimize disruptions. Our engineers, technicians and draftspersons using industry-specific software, drawing tools, technical knowledge, and recommended and standard practice circulars to support us in our services. We are capable of estimating capital and operating costs for transportation of iron ore.

 

Maintenance-of-Way

We also carry out a full range of maintenance-of-way services. We have an outstanding track record in handling large-scale rail relay, rail welding, tie replacement and total track rehabilitation projects - complementing our range of consulting services.

 

Track Renewal Machine (P-811)

CANAC also owns the P-811, a unique multi-task track renewal machine which replaces ties and rail, while levelling the roadbed in a single continuous process. There is only a limited number of such machines in North America. Because the P-811 performs a number of activities rapidly over a short distance, our clients experience fewer train delays, shorter work blocks and a reduction of workforce and equipment costs.

 

 

RAIL OPERATIONS AND CAPACITY PLANNING 

CANAC's background in capacity planning, operations analysis and engineering design of rail infrastructure is second to none, as demonstrated by our success in helping clients resolve some of the toughest rail operation issues. Our approach is based on understanding the business needs and priorities of the rail carrier and its customers as well as knowledge of operational best-practices. This allows us to develop strategies that are balanced, practical, and implementable.

Our services range from performing simulations in co-ordination with a railroad’s personnel to comprehensive project management with full responsibility to develop and recommend infrastructure and operations improvements on strategic corridors.

We are capable of estimating capital and operating costs for transportation of iron ore. 

 

MECHANICAL SERVICES 

CANAC provides top-quality inspection and repair services for railway Rolling Stock – locomotives, railcars and passenger coaches.

We use fully equipped mobile repair units to provide routine and emergency mechanical inspections. We also carry out scheduled preventative maintenance to help increase the efficiency of rolling stock and reduce downtime in rail operation.

Our mechanical services include:

locomotive inspection	testing of rolling stock
locomotive maintenance	mobile repair services
repair and refurbishing	locomotive rental and procurement
locomotive repairs and modification	car design
freight car design and modification	equipment inspection
establishing and managing maintenance programs	full service shop

 

CANAC also possesses the required expertise to help its customers make important decisions related to acquisition, maintenance, repairs and modifications of its rolling stock. 

 

TRAINING SOLUTIONS 

Specializing in the Rail and transportation industry, our creative team provides customized, effective and innovative training development and delivery solutions. Our team includes instructional designers, graphic artists, programmers and qualified instructors to meet any training requirement.

 

Training Development

CANAC can design, develop and deliver courses for classroom training, custom eLearning courseware, as well as blended learning initiatives. In addition, we provide development of business cases to support training investment, human performance analysis and technical support.

We offer a full range of training development services including:

Needs analysis	Layout and graphics production
Learner analysis	Audio-visual production
Curriculum development	Project management
Product design and development	Reproduction and distribution services
Subject matter expertise	Archival and cataloguing services

 

Training Delivery

CANAC offers rail training to railroad and transportation employees. Our team of experienced railroad instructors ensures your company benefits from real-world rail experience and innovative learning methods.

CANAC’s approach to training is to emphasize practical application and performance. That is why a “hands-on” component is always included. Our courses are in demand across North America and have repeatedly been recognized for excellence. 

 

RAILWAY TRADES TRAINING CENTER (RTTC) 

It is a known fact that there is a need to maintain specialized rail personnel in the industry as many railway companies will soon be losing their accomplished staff to retirement. CANAC Railway Services has decided to respond to this urgent requirement by creating the RTTC (Railway Trades Training Center).

The RTTC has gathered several certified rail experts who have an impressive number of years of experience.  The combination of this expertise in a classroom environment with our established course curriculum offers a variety of practical exercises and activities to demonstrate real life situations. We believe that the RTTC will be able to fill the industry’s demand for rail personnel and ensure a new generation of qualified workers.

Our courses are offered to the general public; anyone who is interested in working for or learning more about the rail industry can register for one of our courses. Our courses are based on Transport Canada and Transport Québec’s railway standards. 

Courses Offered:

Introduction to Railroading	Track Technician
Train Conductor	Car Repair Technician
Locomotive Engineer	Electro-Mechanicial Maintainer
Rail Traffic Controller

 

 

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES

 

International, including Railway Operations and Management

Our International group’s extensive capabilities encompass all the expertise and service offerings described below. This enables CANAC to act as a single source multi-disciplinary rail solution provider worldwide.

By way of example, we:

-Provide business/operations reviews and project feasibility proposals to identify the value added of specific improvement opportunities using specialized Business Development Teams (rail operations, rolling stock, infrastructure, materials management and financial expertise).

-Manage and operate mainline railways worldwide. Since 1971, CANAC specialists involved in these operations have utilized their mainline rail operations and maintenance expertise gained through years of experience working for highly competitive North American Class I railways. Some of CANAC’s mainline railway experience includes:

	Argentina: 5-year contract for Roca Line concession operation
	Togo: 5-year contract for management of national railways
	Kenya: 22-year management contract for Halco Mining (ALCOA–ALCAN [Rio Tinto])
	Guinea: 4 ½ -year contract for management of a privatized railway
	Jamaica: 10-year contract for ALCAN (Rio Tinto)

-Provide railway restructuring and rail business planning.  CANAC has contributed to the successful restructuring programs in countries such as Turkey, France (SNCF Fret), Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Russia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Argentina, Croatia and Indonesia.  CANAC has also worked with DB Cargo in Germany to assist with the design of new business processes and system interfaces related to the implementation of the “Service Reliability System” (SRS).

 

 

RAILWAY AUDITS

With over 35 years of rail experience, CANAC will help you determine what you need to make your workplace as safe and secure as possible and help you better address your business objectives. Whether you require rail training, engineering services or if you need advice on how to better utilize your locomotives or tracks, CANAC will work with you to determine creative solutions towards maximizing safety, efficiency and productivity.

 

 

RAIL TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS 

Using its knowledge of subject matter, CANAC has developed a number of computer software applications designed to assist in capacity and operational analysis, as well as to support live operations in the field. Apart from being a prime user of these applications, CANAC also acts as a licensor of this proprietary software, and provides technical support to the users of these applications. The following is a list of software applications developed and used by CANAC: 

-Railcar management (TRACman™) is a web based car inventory application that tracks, in real time, the location of individual cars (by car number) within yards and industrial sites. TRACman™ is a prime tool for yard masters, assisting in efficient planning and coordination of yard operations. 

-Train control (CAMBS®) is a computerised train dispatching system for dark territories. It provides cost effective and safe train control for low volume corridors. 

-Train Simulator RAILS2000® is a line capacity simulator that encapsulates CANAC’s 30+ years of experience in development of capacity algorithms and methodology. RAILS2000® allows to model movement of trains in corridors with complex, multi-track configurations. Over the years, RAILS2000® assisted CANAC in numerous studies that resulted in recommendations to our clients involving hundreds of millions of dollars. 

-Train simulation program TRNSIM® which is a standard in the industry to analyze derailment incidents and train handling issues and is frequently used for driver training and to establish train handling policy in difficult terrain.

 

Since 1998, CANAC participated in the North American pilot project to develop standards and technical specification for Communication Based Train Control System (CBTC). This advanced technology will significantly increase capacity of existing corridors, while dramatically improving safety at the same time

-Web Based Training (WBT) programs. These feature a number of distinct and unique features such as immediate feedback, student placement via on-line testing and integration of text, graphics, video, and sound. This type of training is also cost effective, self-paced, and flexible. It gives trainers increased control over training activities and can reduce resource requirements as well as improve job performance.