(The following story by Angela Hall appeared on The Leader-Post website on May 21.)
REGINA, Sask. — Shortline railways in need of repair are getting a boost from the provincial government.
Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard unveiled a $500,000 program Tuesday targeted at the province’s eight shortline railway companies, which can now apply to the province to have infrastructure projects cost-shared this fiscal year.
“We have some shortlines that are very concerned about the condition of their rails, but even more concerned about the condition of the ties underneath the rails,” Elhard said.
“The possibility of failure at some point is a real concern to the shortline operators and it’s a concern to our ministry as well.”
The province’s eight shortline railways cover about 1,400 kilometres and are regulated by the province. The shortlines connect to rail lines of the national railways.
Elhard said the shortline railway industry plays an important role in the province’s economy, contributing to activity in the regions they serve as well by taking heavy loads off the province’s highways.
The provincial program will cover up to half the cost of projects that are accepted, with a five-member panel set to review all applications. Shortlines may cover their share with some in-kind contributions of equipment and labour, Elhard said.
The goals of the infrastructure program are to help improve shortline rail safety as well as capacity and efficiency.
Roger Gadd, chairman of the Saskatchewan Shortline Railroad Association, said the provincial cash will help companies get started on some important projects.
“When we bought the abandoned lines from CN or CP all of the expense, of course, for rehabilitating them was left to the new owners,” said Gadd, who is also general manager of Great Western Railway and Fife Lake Railway.
“That’s going to help us upgrade our track, our road bed, ties, ballast, bridge repairs and things like that.”
The money for the infrastructure project was included in the March budget, but details of the program weren’t announced until Tuesday in Assiniboia, an area with three shortline railways — Fife Lake, Great Western and Red Coat.
Elhard said the government may consider continuing the program in future years, but no commitment has been made to do so.
The $500,000 figure was deemed appropriate because the industry would only be capable of handling a limited number of projects this fiscal year, the minister said.
“It’s an important contribution for us to make to an industry that is both vital but also in its financial infancy in some respects,” he said.