Released on April 27, 2015
Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner marked National Public-Rail Safety Week (PRSW) with a visit to Regina’s St. Jerome School, where she encouraged fourth graders to be cautious around tracks and trains.“Saskatchewan’s growing network of shortline railways are an effective transportation option for shippers,” Heppner said. “We want to instill in people at a young age that tracks and trains are potentially dangerous and need to be respected.”
Each year, the Government of Saskatchewan, in partnership with Saskatchewan Shortline Rail Association (SSRA), distributes the train safety activity booklets to Grade 4 students at about 100 Saskatchewan schools located near shortline rail lines.
“These booklets are an important tool for promoting safety in the communities where we operate,” SSRA President Perry Pellerin said. “We will continue to work with the province to ensure the public stays safe around our tracks and trains.”
Now in its 13th year, PRSW takes place across Canada and encourages drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be safe while traveling near rail crossings or tracks. PRSW is an initiative of Operation Lifesaver, a government and industry partnership that promotes awareness around rail safety.
Further resources can be found at Operation Lifesaver’s website at www.operationlifesaver.ca.
The Government of Saskatchewan conducts routine safety inspections of the province’s nearly 1,100 shortline rail crossings, regularly reviews shortline railways' safety management plans and works closely with shortlines to make sure their operating rules and plans are up to date.
Saskatchewan has 13 operational, privately-owned shortline railways on about 2,000 km of provincially-regulated track. A 14th shortline, Northern Lights Rail, will begin operations later this spring.
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For more information, contact:
Joel Cherry
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4805
Email: joel.cherry@gov.sk.ca