I have received from a number of sources word and concern regarding the impending abandonment of CN's Craik Subdivision railway line that connects Regina and Saskatoon via Davidson, Craik, and Lumsden. In concert with Transport 2000, with the help of Jonathan Bodvarson who is Transport 2000 Prairie Region's V.P. for Saskatchewan and myself, George Wooldridge, a group "The Louis Riel Trail Railway Group" has been formed to bring the communities
along the line together to rescue the line and operate it as a
community owned railway. Such railways exist in Europe, the
United States and on Vancouver Island providing locally based,
locally focused freight and passenger railway operations.
Don't go off the rails! Regina-Stoon passenger service possible, group says. Tomasz Sienicki photo.
Meetings with the participation of Transport 2000 and the Louis Riel Trail Railway Group have already taken place. However there needs to be a wider demonstration of interest in saving the railway.
This railway line could be a vital sustainable link between Saskatchewan's two largest cities for not only freight and passenger train services but has a wider regional dimension as a link for goods from southern Saskatchewan being able to reach the
Ports of Prince Rupert (currently being expanded), the Port of Churchill and Vancouver.
The Mayor of Davidson has met
with Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and David Orchard on this issue
during the past month. Political pressure needs to be stepped up
quickly whereever possible including the city councils in
Saskatoon and Regina.
Please spread the word that a
group is out there fighting to retain this vital piece of railway
infrastructure!
For more information please contact
either myself George Wooldridge @ (306)771-4669, Jonathan
Bodvarson @ (306) 229-2265 or Martin Wooldridge @
Comments
Written by pelliott on 2007-03-08 15:33:11Regina folk, you should care about this. Craik is fighting it for the rails for everyone. Once they're gone, they're gone.
"sustainability corridor?" Written by oswald on 2007-03-08 16:49:28Agreed -- this is crazy that they're looking at abandoning this line. Hasn't Saskatoon-Craik-Regina just been named a sustainability corridor by the United Nations University? We should be pushing hard for passenger transportation along this line -- years ago they had an electric rail car that made the trip, and there's no reason we couldn't bring it back.
Written by hugo chavez on 2007-03-12 20:08:48No drive and defeat Bush.
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Subdivision railway line that connects Regina and Saskatoon via Davidson, Craik, and Lumsden. In concert with Transport 2000, with the help of Jonathan Bodvarson who is Transport 2000 Prairie Region's V.P. for Saskatchewan and myself, George Wooldridge, a group "The Louis Riel Trail Railway Group" has been formed to bring the communities
along the line together to rescue the line and operate it as a
community owned railway. Such railways exist in Europe, the
United States and on Vancouver Island providing locally based,
locally focused freight and passenger railway operations.