18 March 2009
Railway Reluctant to Leave Downtown
Canadian Pacific Railway says it has no plans to leave
downtown.
Saskatoon Saskatchewan - With plans for the 25th Street
extension now approved, the major question turns to if or when the railways will abandon some of their downtown lines for new routes
on the periphery of the city.
But Canadian Pacific Railway dug in its heels Tuesday, saying it has no plans to leave downtown. Doing so would significantly disrupt
its business in the city, a spokesperson said.
"We have no desire or intention to relocate," Breanne Feigel said in an interview.
The city is stuck in a position where it is planning the 25th Street extension - and the redevelopment of the surrounding area -
across two sets of tracks while also planning long term for the departure of trains from downtown or, at least, for the CPR and
Canadian National Railway to move rail-car switching out of the area.
Switching of rail cars poses one of the biggest impediments to redeveloping the city yards along the 25th Street extension -
downtown's next big development opportunity after River Landing.
Extending 25th is expected to spur development in the warehouse district with the new $91-million police station already
planned for the largest piece of land. The new road will give downtown a northern boundary, ease traffic flow, and create a direct
route through downtown from Highway 5.
The hope is the rail companies come to an agreement to move the car-switching out of the city's core. That would remove
the need for CN's short spur line west of First Avenue, where it parks rail cars until they're switched, and would mean the company
would have no need to come into the centre of the city, said Angela Gardiner, manager of the city's transportation branch.
The two options being explored are moving the switching operations to CN's Chappell Yards south of Montgomery Place or a new facility
southeast of the city off Highway 16, Gardiner said.
"Ultimately, our preference would be for the railways to be out of downtown by the time the 25th Street extension is complete in
2010," Gardiner said. "It's still possible and we're continuing discussions."
The approved alignment of 25th Street, with a three-way intersection at Idylwyld Drive at the CPR crossing, was approved
Monday, but city administration has been asked to consult with businesses and community groups, several of whom lambasted the plans.
The alignment will see 25th Street continue from where it ends at First Avenue, cross the single set of CN tracks, wind through the
city yards and end at Idylwyld.
The main deterrent for CP Rail leaving downtown or moving its switching operations is the effect on its operations. The company runs
three trains through the downtown every day and serves six businesses west of Idylwyld, Feigel said.
It's also an expensive and complicated process that must involve major cost-sharing from all levels of government, she
said.
"It's not as simple as it sounds to pick up rail infrastructure and move it out of the city," she said. "It's there for
a reason."
A CN spokesperson would not comment on negotiations with the city except to say CN is considering the 25th Street alignment. The
spokesperson would not discuss the logistical challenges of finding a new site with CPR to switch cars.
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