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An estimated $100,000 pilot project will enhance safety at a provincially regulated short line crossing, as Rail Safety Week runs Sept. 15 to 21.
“Seeking innovative ways to improve safety for motorists is a top priority as we move forward with this short line rail initiative,” Highways Minister David Marit said.
“Motorists are reminded regardless of the season, it’s always important to watch for trains, tracks and railway crossings so everyone gets home safely.”
Read more:
- $1 million investment into provincial short-line railroads ‘has benefits’
- Sask. NDP calls for more short-line rail investment to reduce dependence on the U.S.
- Saskatchewan short lines get a financial boost from the province
The provincial short line railway highway crossing at Highway 41 near Wakaw will receive a new flashing LED railway crossing sign and broken rail detection system this month. Wakaw is located 90 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
The Ministry of Highways and Wheatland Rail will install and test the new sign and system, which is expected to “detect the presence of a train and provide a signal to trigger flashing LED lights integrated into the railway crossing signs to improve visibility and warning for motorists approaching the area,” read the statement from the Ministry of Highways.
The provincial short line railway highway crossing at Hwy 41 near Wakaw will receive a new flashing LED railway crossing sign and broken rail detection system this month. (Google Maps/screenshot)
The first-of-its-kind technology system is also expected to be capable of detecting broken rails at the crossing to provide notifications to the railway operator to mitigate derailments.
Wheatland Rail and the Ministry of Highways will determine if the pilot project succeeded by the end of this month.
In Saskatchewan, 13 provincially regulated short line railways operate on 2,123 km of track. There are currently 45 short line railway crossings on provincial highways in Saskatchewan.
In June, CKOM reported the Government of Saskatchewan said it was investing $1 million toward maintaining and improving short line railway infrastructure through the Short Line Railway Improvement Program (SRIP).
In an emailed statement, it said this would be done under a cost-sharing program with an increase of $470,000 (88 per cent) compared to last year’s budget of $530,000.
“This provincial investment increase of 88 per cent over last year’s budget is recognition by the Government of Saskatchewan of short-line railways and the role supporting our export-based economy,” the government said in the statement.
Short lines support Saskatchewan’s export-based economy by moving grain and other commodities from more rural locations to larger national federally regulated rail lines of CN and CPKC operating on more than 6,000 kilometres of track in the province.
Rail Safety Week runs across Canada to raise awareness about the dangers of trains and tracks with the goal of reducing crossing collisions and trespassing incidents.
