Railway safety refers to federal regulatory oversight of railway operations in Canada, administered by Transport Canada. While railways physically pass through municipal communities, safety regulation is exclusively federal jurisdiction under the Railway Safety Act. This creates challenges for municipalities concerned about train speeds through urban areas, dangerous goods transport, grade crossing safety, or noise from rail operations. Major accidents like Lac-Mégantic (2013) highlighted the limits of municipal authority over railways. Municipalities can request safety improvements and participate in consultations but cannot directly regulate railway operations. The federal government works with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on railway safety issues.