SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Dated March 24, 2005

    Fording Canadian Coal Trust    
(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)

Suite 1000, 205-9^th Avenue SE

      Calgary, Alberta Canada  T2G 0R4     

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

Form 20-F ______

Form 40-F ___X___

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

Yes ______

No  __X__

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________.

This report furnished on Form 6-K shall be incorporated by reference into each of the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 of the registrant.

---

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST

March 24, 2005

By: /s/  James F. Jones

     James F. Jones

     Corporate Secretary

2

---

Exhibit Index

The following is a list of Exhibits included as part of this Report on Form 6-K.

Description of Exhibit

Number

“Fording Files 2004 Documents”

  99.1

---

March 24, 2005

Via Edgar

Securities and Exchange Commission

450 Fifth Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20549

RE:

Fording Canadian Coal Trust File NO. 1-15230

Form 6-K Report dated March 24, 2005

Dear Sir or Madam:

On behalf of Fording Canadian Coal Trust  transmitted herewith for filing under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is the Company's Report on Form 6-K.

Yours truly,

 

/s/ James F. Jones

James F. Jones

Corporate Secretary

Attachments

---

For Immediate Release

FORDING FILES 2004 DOCUMENTS

CALGARY, March 23, 2005 - Fording Canadian Coal Trust (TSX: FDG.UN, NYSE: FDG) today announced that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements for the year-ended December 31, 2004 and related management's discussion and analysis with Canadian security regulatory authorities. The financial statements and management's discussion and analysis have also been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the respective documents are available at www.sedar.com, www.sec.gov and the Trust's website at www.fording.ca.

About Fording

Fording Canadian Coal Trust is an open-ended mutual fund trust. Through investments in metallurgical coal and industrial minerals mining and processing operations, the Trust makes quarterly cash distributions to unitholders. The Trust, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fording Inc., holds a 60% interest in the Elk Valley Coal Partnership and is the world's largest producer of the industrial mineral wollastonite. Elk Valley Coal Partnership, comprised of Canada's senior metallurgical coal mining properties, is the world's second largest exporter of metallurgical coal, currently supplying approximately 25 million tonnes of high-quality coal products annually to the international steel industry. The Trust's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDG.UN and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDG.

- 30 -

For further information contact:

Susan J. Soprovich

Catherine Hart

Director, Investor Relations

Coordinator, Investor Relations

Fording Canadian Coal Trust

Fording Canadian Coal Trust

(403) 260-9834

(403) 260-9817

Email: investors@fording.ca

Website:  www.fording.ca