SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — A report by city staff members has advised the Saskatoon city council that there is merit to a proposal by a group of Saskatchwan mayors seeking to reroute VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian from its current route to a less-trafficked line north of the city, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports.
The mayors say that shifting the Canadian to Canadian National’s Prairie North Line, which would take the train through Warman, Sask., 20 miles north of Saskatoon, would serve other communities with a population of more than 128,000, compared to about 22,600 on the current route. (This excludes Edmonton and Saskatoon/Warman, served either way.) They also say the more northerly route would be more scenic and improve timekeeping by shifting the train to a route with less freight traffic [see “Saskatchewan mayors seek to shift route …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 13, 2023].
The report to the council says that the current stop near CN’s yard in Saskatoon, which only generates traffic of about 200 people per year, “falls short of providing a welcoming experience.” A stop in Warman could “revolutionize” that experience, the report says, although it would require significant collaboration with Warman. VIA must also complete an assessment of the Prairie North line’s suitability for passenger service. VIA, in a statement to CTV News, expressed concerns about the investment required for the route’s infrastructure , and the potential impact on travel times.
