Photo: Stu Salkeld/Rural Alberta Report

For many in the agricultural sector, rural operations include more than planting, harvesting and tending livestock. They also involve navigating the complex interface of farm machinery and rail infrastructure. As Canada stretches over 45,000 kilometres of active railway track with roughly 40,000 rail-road crossings, farms situated near these corridors face elevated risk.

In rural settings, agricultural equipment often encounters what are known as “passive” rail crossings—those without lights, bells or gates. These crossings depend entirely on the operator’s vigilance rather than automatic warning systems. The combination of oversized or heavy farm implements and rail crossings creates a scenario in which safe transit across tracks requires more than casual attention. Machines may be low-slung, wide, heavy, or slow to clear the crossing zone—all characteristics that increase the potential for entrapment or collision.

The Transportation Safety Board reported 167 railway crossing accidents across Canada in 2024, up from 150 the previous year. Of those, 35 occurred at private and farm crossings, a figure unchanged from 2023 but above the 10-year average of 30. However the board’s data did not specify what types of vehicles were involved at these locations, leaving unclear how many incidents included farm equipment.

When operators approach a rail crossing, certain practices improve their margin of safety. Cab windows should be opened, radios and fans switched off, headphones removed—and the scene scanned left and right, as well as around any visual obstructions. In winter, snow muffles sound and ice can hinder control, so extreme care is required. Aligning the wheels of large equipment so that they meet the tracks at a 90-degree angle reduces the tipping hazard, especially when the load is heavily skewed or extended. It is also crucial to ensure there is enough clear space on the far side of the crossing for the machine to fully clear without stopping—and that no part of the unit remains within five metres of the tracks if halted.

Some farm machines simply are not suitable to cross rail tracks. Low-clearance units risk snagging on the rails. New or unusually heavy or wide equipment should be vetted for crossing capability and, if necessary, the rail operator engaged ahead of time. Tow-equipment must have hitch pins secured and wagons checked so that no part becomes loose or drags into the track space.

If equipment becomes immobilized or stalled on the tracks, the operator should exit the machinery immediately and move at least 30 metres away to avoid potential debris from an oncoming train. The emergency number posted on the blue sign at the crossing—or 911 if no number is available—should be contacted without delay so that train movements can be halted.

Ultimately, the goal on every farm is to end the day with everyone safe and accounted for. The convergence of large farm equipment and freight trains—vehicles that may weigh tens of thousands of tonnes and require the equivalent of 18 football fields to stop when travelling at speed—demands respect. Awareness of the crossing environment, careful machine selection for the crossing, and conscious attention to surroundings all contribute to reducing risk.

For farms situated near rail infrastructure these crossing points should be treated with the same rigour given to implements, grain storage, chemical handling and all other safety-critical operations. A moment of caution at the tracks can make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.