With concerns over long, slow trains blocking streets and preventing emergency vehicles from responding to calls in some neighbourhoods in Saskatoon, there are questions over whether the long trains should be diverted around local communities.

Fire Chief Dan Paulsen of the Saskatoon Fire Department presented a report last week calling for rail safety improvements in Saskatoon, including eventually re-routing trains outside the city. Moose Jaw Fire Chief Rod Montgomery says that it's not as big of a concern for us considering our main lines are go under bridges, making it easier for emergency responders to get where they need to go in a timely manner.

Montgomery says that they keep the lines of communication with CP Rail open so they are aware of when trains are coming through the other areas. "We have a daily communication with CP Rail as far as when the trains might be crossing 9th Avenue, they give us an update when that would be so we can take that information and use an alternate route."

Montgomery says that CP Rail and CN have been good corporate citizens and continue to work with the Moose Jaw Fire Department to improve on any safety related issues.