City asking CN, CP Rail to share railway outside of Saskatoon

Saskatoon city staff are waiting to hear back from Canada’s two rail companies on a proposal for the pair to share a rail line outside of city limits.

Transportation director Jay Magus told city councillors on Monday that staff made a pitch to CN and CP Rail for the two to share CN’s main rail line, which runs south of the city.

The proposal was made over several meetings with the companies through the help of consultants hired by the city to study the rail line issue.

The hope would be to eliminate most of the rail traffic travelling along CP Rail’s main line, which runs through Preston Crossing and the downtown core.

Talk of the proposal was brought forward after Ward 2 Coun. Hilary Gough inquired about the process, spurred by concerns raised over last week’s derailment and oil car explosion southeast of Saskatoon near Lanigan.

The derailment occurred along the CP Rail mainline, the same rail that runs through Saskatoon.

Magus said once they hear back from the rail companies on any interest, the responses will be reported to the city’s transportation committee.

City hall is in the process of analyzing different solutions to rail safety and crossing delays.

A report issued by HDR consultants in 2018 pegged the cost of relocating the CP Rail mainline at $587 million.

At the time, councillors indicated a preference for having the companies share a rail corridor outside the city rather than paying for relocation or building overpasses and underpasses at crossings.