Saskatchewan’s short-line railway companies will receive $700,000 in provincial government grants this year.
The grants, awarded annually under the province’s Shortline Railway Sustainability Program, are meant to improve the condition of provincially regulated short-line railways and can be used for projects such as track maintenance, tie replacements and bridge repairs.
The program offers infrastructure grants on a 50-50 cost-shared basis.
That means government money must be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by eligible railway companies.
Provincial funding is provided through the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corp.
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Provincial grants also totalled $700,000 in 2011.
“Our government recognizes short lines are an effective transportation alternative for grain producers and other shippers to get products to market,” said highways and infrastructure minister Jim Reiter.
“In addition to supporting economic development in rural Saskatchewan, short-line railways help reduce heavy truck traffic and road wear on our highways.”
Saskatchewan short lines that qualify for grants this year include:
- Southern Rails Co-operative, Avonlea, $35,000
- Carlton Trail Railway, Prince Albert, $76,382
- Red Coat Road and Rail, Viceroy, $47,739
- Great Western Railway, Shaunavon, $205,901
- Thunder Rail, Arborfield, $35,000
- Wheatland Rail, Cudworth, $35,000
- Fife Lake Railway, Coronach, $40,267
- Torch River Rail, Choiceland, $35,000
- Great Sandhills Railway, Leader, $78,458
- Last Mountain Railway, Regina, $56,457
- Stewart Southern Railway, Fillmore, $54,796
Conrad Johnson, president of the Saskatchewan Shortline Railway Association, said annual grants offered through the program represent an important source of funding for his members.
“Our association appreciates the provincial government’s ongoing commitment in supporting short-line rail in Saskatchewan,” Johnson said.
“These grants have provided the funding necessary to grow our transportation sector.”
Saskatchewan has 11 short-line railway companies that operate 1,900 kilometres of provincially regulated track.
