Saskatchewan awards funding for short-line improvements

The provincial government of Saskatchewan last week announced the award of CA$530,000 in funding for short lines.

Under the Saskatchewan government's Short Line Railway Improvement Program (SRIP), funding will assist with track upgrades and expansion, improved grade crossing surfaces and sightlines, bridge maintenance, track rehabilitation and other projects, Highways Minister Lori Carr said in a press release.

"Short line railways play an important role in getting Saskatchewan's food, fuel and fertilizer on their journeys to worldwide markets, which helps keep our export-based economy strong to sustain our quality of life," she said.

In Saskatchewan, 13 short lines operate about 1,300 miles of track.

The SRIP allocations (in Canadian dollars) for 2024-2025 are: Big Sky Rail, $87,035; Carlton Trail Railway, $37,515; Great Sandhills Railway, $43,089; Great Western Railway, $129,909; Last Mountain Railway, $29,155; Long Creek Railroad, $25,000; Northern Lights Rail, $25,000; Red Coat Road and Rail, $25,000; Southern Rails Cooperative, $25,000; Stewart Southern Railway, $28,297; Thunder Rail, $25,000; Torch River Rail, $25,000; and Wheatland Rail, $25,000.