The City of Saskatoon will soon be implementing a pilot project to notify first responders about any train delays.
The city plans to install detectors at four railway crossings including 22nd Street and Avenue F, Warman Road and 33rd Street, Idylwyld Drive and 25th Street, as well as 33rd Street and Edmonton Avenue.
When the arm goes down — a notification will be sent to the fire department and police service — so they can adjust how they respond.
“It’s a benefit in a timing perspective, because timing is everything for us,” Saskatoon Fire Department assistant chief Wayne Rodger said.
“With that pre-planning and forewarning, we’re able to then strategize. If the truck at Station No. 1 can’t make the call because of an obstruction, we’ll send from an alternative station right off the get-go.”
On Feb. 28, there were two train delays in Saskatoon. The first when a train stalled across the west side of the city and later when a train fatally struck a pedestrian near 20th Street.