Truckers, passengers feel the impact of the CN Rail strike in Saskatoon

The CN Rail strike resulted in delays for truck drivers in Saskatoon.

Tuesday morning striking workers set up picket lines and were blocking the main access roads into the rail yard behind Montgomery Place.

It forced dozens of semis and cars to line up along Chappell Drive near the CN Curling Club.

This was the scene on Chappell Drive at 8am as CN Rail workers walk the picket line. #yxe pic.twitter.com/lo1lwDqjrO

— Brent Bosker (@brentbosker) November 19, 2019

Gary had to wait over an hour to pick up a load of tarps before he was finally allowed through the picket line.

“It brings us to a halt. We need loads out of there for customers and can’t get them,” he said.

“I’m getting paid, but its kinda boring just sitting here not doing anything.”

Traffic moved at a snails pace through the morning as picketers allowed just a couple of vehicles through every five minutes.

In a statement, VIA Rail said they didn’t anticipate any impact on operations due to the strike.

However, the traffic blockade did impact passengers on a train that arrived in Saskatoon from Winnipeg.

Phillip Jannard was forced to walk to the nearest bus stop with his luggage because he wasn’t able to hail a cab to pick him up at the train station.

“It’s not too bad,” he said, adding it was a minor inconvenience. Jannard’s train ended up arriving an hour ahead of schedule because of less traffic on the railway network.