MOOSE JAW — The provincial government is allocating $1 million to support short-line rail infrastructure in the province, with several Moose Jaw-area rail companies to receive this funding.
This funding is an increase of $470,000 from the 2024-25 provincial budget, while it recognizes the important role rail transportation plays in supporting Saskatchewan’s export-based economy, the Ministry of Highways said.
The ministry’s short-line railway improvement program (SIRP) will support track upgrades and expansion, improved crossing surfaces and sightlines, bridge maintenance, track rehabilitation and other projects. Since SIRP is a 50/50 cost-sharing program between the province and privately owned short lines, the total investment is $2 million for the 2025-26 year.
The 13 short-line rail companies to receive funding include:
- Big Sky Rail (Delisle, Eston, Elrose region) $167,541
- Carlton Trail Railway (Saskatoon to Prince Albert area) $71,391
- Great Sandhills Railway (Swift Current to Leader area) $82,945
- Great Western Railway (Assiniboia, Shaunavon, Coronach area) $250,073
- Last Mountain Railway (Regina to Davidson) $56,122
- Long Creek Railroad (west of Estevan) $45,000
- Northern Lights Rail (west of Melfort) $45,000
- Red Coat Road and Rail (Ogema area) $47,456
- Southern Rails Cooperative (south of Moose Jaw) $45,000
- Stewart Southern Railway (southwest of Regina to Stoughton) $54,471
- Thunder Rail (Arborfield area) $45,000
- Torch River Rail (Nipawin to Choiceland area) $45,000
- Wheatland Rail (Cudworth, Wakaw area) $45,000
“The Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association thanks the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways for their support of the short line railway industry,” the organization said.
“Rising material costs over the last three years means that it is now more expensive per mile for railways to maintain their tracks to meet and exceed the safety and performance standards required,” the association continued.
“The Saskatchewan railway improvement program now provides more funding per mile to support the maintenance and improvement of this valuable trade-enabling infrastructure,” the organization added. “This increase of almost 90 per cent to the program will go a long way to further supporting the value that short line railways bring to the supply chain.”
The provincial grants provide up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs and are determined by how much track each short line owns. Short lines with fewer than 80 kilometres of track receive at least $45,000. Larger networks receive a proportional amount based on how much track they operate.
Thirteen provincially regulated short-line railways operate on 2,123 kilometres of track in Saskatchewan.
