Province reminds people to be vigilant during National Rail Safety Week

The Saskatchewan government is marking National Rail Safety Week, a topic that has been brought to the forefront in the province in recent weeks due to collisions.

In Saskatoon alone, a woman was injured when she was hit by a train in late August, and in early September, a train-vehicle collision disrupted traffic in the Bridge City.

“Rail is an important part of our provincial transportation system, carrying Saskatchewan’s food, fuel, fertilizer and other goods to market,” Highways Minister Lori Carr said in a government media release issued Monday — the first day of National Rail Safety Week.

“Making sure these goods are moving efficiently is important to the provincial economy, but most importantly we need to ensure they arrive to their destination safely.”

The 13 short-line railways in Saskatchewan move crops, oil and lumber around the province and connect rural communities and locations to the national rail lines of CN and CPKC. There are more than 2,000 kilometres of railways under provincial jurisdiction, the government said.

“Incidents can happen in a split-second and can have tragic and far-reaching consequences for your family, friends and community,” Al Sauve, CPKC’s Chief of Police-Canada, said in the government’s release.

“Rail safety requires constant vigilance, and CPKC asks that everyone think about their safety around railway property. We continue to focus education and enforcement efforts towards building communities of rail safety ambassadors young and old. We want everyone to go home safely,”

The government said the Ministry of Highways promotes rail safety through its partnership with Canadian Safety Train Express Inc. Together, they provide educational materials to students in communities in the province that are served by short line railways.

“Saskatchewan boasts an extensive railway network. As we embrace the economic benefits and connectivity that railways bring, we must also recognize the importance of railway safety,” Western Canadian Safety Train CEO Perry Pellerin said in the release.

“As we strive to enhance railway safety across Canada, we strongly urge the public to stay vigilant and prioritize safety near railway tracks and crossings. Railway safety is a shared responsibility, and it is imperative for individuals to actively contribute to safeguarding both their personal safety and that of their communities.”