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Canada's Real-Time Rail:

Real Time, Real Possibilities.

Real Time, Real Possibilities.

Understanding the Real-Time Rail

RTR icon About the Real-Time Rail
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The SUMMIT icon The RTR at The SUMMIT
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Collaboration icon Payment service provider participation
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Fraud icon Fraud services
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Testing icon Testing and launch
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FAQ icon Frequently asked questions
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Guides icon Technology & innovation
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Check box icon Access
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Policy icon Public policies
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 The Real-Time Rail, launching in Q4 of 2026, is Canada’s new real-time exchange and clearing and settlement payment system that supports instant, data-rich payments.

Real-time payments will transform Canada’s economy, giving businesses and consumers more transparency and access to their payments any day, any time. The Real-Time Rail will enable this transformation while ensuring transactions are safe and secure.

The RTR Participation Guide for PSPs

Download The Real-Time Rail Participation Guide for Payment Service Providers to learn more about the competitive advantage the Real-Time Rail offers.

 

Learn more about the application process

Get the latest on the Real-Time Rail 

Canada’s Real-Time Rail reaches another critical milestone: the start of industry solution assurance testing with participants. The RTR’s by-law and rules will be published this quarter and we continue to onboard new Payments Canada members.

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Canada's Parliament building

Canada’s Real-Time Rail recognized as a powerful engine for national productivity and growth

Payments Canada welcomes the 2026 Spring Economic Update (SEU), Canada Strong For All, and the Government of Canada’s continued commitment to the future of Canada’s Real-Time Rail (RTR). The Update...

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Jude Pinto speaking in the Q2 update video

Canada’s Real-Time Rail Quarterly Update with Jude Pinto: 2026 Q2

In 2026, we have transitioned from building new national payment infrastructure to cultivating an ecosystem that will redefine how money moves across Canada.

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Jude Pinto speaking in the 2025 Q4 video

Canada’s Real-Time Rail Quarterly Update with Jude Pinto: 2026 Q1

Jude Pinto, Chief Delivery Officer at Payments Canada, provides a quarterly update on the Real-Time Rail (RTR) sharing the program’s progress to date and future direction over the next three months.

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People in a bright office setting

Inviting payment service providers to participate on the Real-Time Rail

The Bank of Canada is now supervising payment service providers (PSPs) under the Retail Payments Activities Act (RPAA). Once changes to the Canadian Payments Act (CP Act) come into effect, registered...

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Real-Time Rail public consultation reconfirms strong industry support for Canadian real-time payment system

Between May 20 and July 2, 2025, Payments Canada conducted a public consultation to seek input on the proposed legal framework that will govern the forthcoming Real-Time Rail (RTR), supporting the...

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Payment being made at a retail location

Canada’s Real-Time Rail: Collaborating for the benefit of the payment ecosystem

Account-to-account (A2A) payments are gaining momentum around the world, and Canada is no exception. For instance, Payments Canada’s research shows that over a quarter of Canadians (around 29 per cent...

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