Saskatchewan, Wheatland Rail pursue short-line crossing safety project

Saskatchewan Highways Minister David Marit this week announced a C$100,000 pilot project to enhance safety at a province-regulated short-line crossing.

The project calls for the Ministry of Highways and short line Wheatland Railway Inc. to install and test a flashing LED railway crossing sign and broken rail detection system at Highway 41 near Wakaw. It's the first time such technology has been used at a provincial short line crossing in Saskatchewan, according to a press release issued by the Saskatchewan government.

The system is expected to detect the presence of a train and provide a signal to trigger flashing LED lights integrated into the railway crossing signs to improve visibility and advance warning for motorists approaching the area. The system also is expected to be capable of detecting broken rails at the crossing to provide notifications to the railway operator to mitigate derailments.

Wheatland and ministry officials anticipate the system will be installed this month and complete testing by September of 2026 to determine if the pilot project succeeded. 

Owned by six north central Saskatchewan municipalities, Wheatland is a Canadian short line that operates on track in Saskatchewan and leases former CN track.

There are 45 short-line railway crossings on provincial highways in Saskatchewan. Short lines support Saskatchewan's export-based economy by moving grain and other commodities from more rural locations to CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City operating on more than 3,700 miles of track in the province.