Saskatchewan’s shortline railways
Saskatchewan’s shortline railways are receiving half a million dollars from the provincial government for infrastructure grants to assist with projects such as track maintenance, railway tie replacement and bridge repairs. Many people probably don’t realize that there are now 10 privately owned shortline railways in the province operating on about 1,700 km of provincially-regulated track. The first shortline in the province was Southern Rails Co-operative based in Avonlea which started in 1989. The rest in chronological order are: Carlton Trail Railway based out of Prince Albert, Red Coat Road and Rail based out of Viceroy, Great Western Railway based out of Shaunavon, Thunder Rail based out of Arborfield, Wheatland Rail based out of Cudworth, Fife Lake Railway based out of Coronach, Torch River Rail based out of Choiceland, Great Sandhills Railway based out of Leader, and the newest addition – Last Mountain Railway based out of the Regina area. Shortline railways, which move mainly grain, have become an important part of the province’s transportation system. I’m Kevin Hursh.