The Town of Vermilion has sent a letter of support in principle to the City of Lloydminster regarding the VIA Rail Prairie North Line project.
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The letter was received prior to the May 19 regular council meeting and the town took the opportunity to discuss the item. The request to Vermilion council was gauging regional interest in the project.
“At this stage, the request is intended to demonstrate regional interest and general support for improved passenger rail service and potential economic development opportunities,” said Town of Vermilion CAO Shannon Harrower.
The City of Lloydminster has requested letters in principle from both Vermilion and the Town of Vegreville.
Currently, VIA Rail goes along the CN Main Line and the proposal would see it shift to the CN Prairie North Line.
“The proposal would see VIA rail service transition from the CN mainline to the Prairie North line through Humbolt, Sask., with the goal of improving passenger rail accessibility, on-time performance and regional connectivity for rural and Indigenous communities,” she said.
The proposal also outlines falling on-time performance with Canada’s auditor general, Karen Hogan, concluding VIA needs to improve its service. She noted that over the past decade, on-time performance fell to 51 per cent in 2024 from 71 per cent in 2015.
The proposal also notes VIA Rail attributes 85 per cent of delays to freight traffic on CN’s rails. CN’s Main Line often sees more than 40 trains per day, while the north line, the new proposed route, sees between three to six trains per day.
The proposed route would be diverted from the CN Main Line at Melville, Sask., north to Canora and then west on the north line to Edmonton, where it would reconnect to the CN Main Line.
While detailed information about final route alignments and operational impacts had not yet been provided, council saw some value in supporting the proposal.
“I think there’s a lot of value of having a VIA line go through the north line. Traditionally, it’s gone through the Wainwright line,” said Mayor Robert Snow. “Having that go through our communities does bring the opportunity for people stopping in our communities.
“In supporting our neighbours, it seems valuable to them that also has trickledown value for us.”
Deputy mayor Kevin Martin echoed the benefits the town could see if VIA Rail were to pass through Vermilion.
“I think it would be a good economic driver for the community (having) more people through the community to see what we’re all about,” he said.
Town of Vermilion council ultimately passed a motion to send a letter of support in principle to the City of Lloydminster regarding the VIA Rail Prairie North Line project.
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