Transportation

The history of Canada is closely tied to the history of Transportation -- and to the gradual triumph of transportation over geography.
Canada is the world's second largest country, but it ranks 28th. in population size. An efficient transportation network is essential to hold Canada together, to allow people and goods to move freely throughout the country and to carry Canadian goods to international markets.
To build and maintain that network, Canadians have overcome enormous natural barriers. In winter, snow must be constantly cleared from roads, airports, runways and railways. In many areas, waterways are open only during the summer. Rugged mountain ranges, vast areas of muskeg and tundra, almost impenetrable forests and extreme temperatures challenge the skills of engineers and builders.
Despite these obstacles, Canada has developed a highly sophisticated transportation system. It has more kilometers of road and railway track per person than most other countries, including the United States. Canada has pioneered the use of long distance pipelines for transporting oil, gas and other commodities. Intermodal passenger systems, including subways, buses or commuter rail lines, exist in every major city. Most centers are near modern airports with links to international air services. A specialized marine industry thrives on both coasts, the Great Lakes and the St.Lawrence Seaway system.

The automobile is the most favoured form of personal transportation. Apart from the United States, Canada has more automobiles per person than any other Country, with at least one automobile for every two Canadians.
Intercity buses offer the most extensive public passenger services in Canada. More than 1000 operators or carriers offer passenger services, including school bus service, in more that 3.400 Canadian communities.

Roads also provide one of the most highly used forms of freight transportation. In 1990, about 47% of total freight revenues in Canada were generated by the trucking industry. Giant trucks transport logs, coal, construction materials and other bulky cargo. Huge off road vehicles move enormous quantities of coal, minerals and logs in the North.
Movement of goods in Canada totals about 270 billion tonne-kilometres per year. Of this, roughly 17.5% travels by roads on for-hire trucks, while 65% travels by rail, and 17.3% travels by marine mode.

The railways have played a leading role in Canada's history: the expansion of Canada westward beyond the Great Lakes depended on the railways. According to the Railway Association of Canada, the railway transportation network now incorporates almost 71 133km or rail lines. This makes the Canadian Railway network one of the world's largest. With annual revenues of over five billion dollars (Canadian), it is also one of Canada's largest industries. The railways are still one of the main forms of freight transportation.

Canada has 59,509 km of coastline, including 3000 km of inland waterways (excluding island coastlines). Water routes play a dominant role in Canada's transportation network.

Canada's aviation industry has expanded dramatically in the past 25 years. Two major Canadian airlines -- Air Canada and Canadian Airlines International -- serve both domestic and international routes. Other airlines also offer scheduled services throughout the country.
Air transportation is especially important in Canada's northern communities. Many are inaccessible by other means of transportation and depend on air services for basic supplies.

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