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Yesterday, Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter officially opened the Last Mountain Railway, the province’s 10th short line.

Last Mountain Railway received a $1.6 million interest-free loan from the province to help finance a $5.1 million transaction with CN through which the short line leased 67 miles of track between Davidson and Lumsden. The short line plans to lease the remaining 17 miles of track between Lumsden and Regina, and retain an option to buy the segment from CN.

The short line also received an $8,000 provincial grant to study the short line’s viability prior to the CN transaction. Last Mountain Railway is owned by a partnership comprising Mobil Grain Ltd.; the towns of Davidson and Craik; villages of Chamberlain and Kenaston; rural townships of Sherwood, Arm River, Willner, McCraney and Dundurn; and several private investors.

The short line, which began operating in mid-summer, plans to work with CN and local producers to expand and diversify its traffic and services.

"Last Mountain Railway provided a strong case for short-line operation north of Regina," said CN Vice President of Network Strategies Francois Hebert in a prepared statement.