Another impact of last week's provincial budget is the loss of the $900,000 maintenance grant program for the province's 13 short line railways.

The program for maintenance infrastructure work on the lines had been in place for several years on a matching grant basis.

Andrew Glastetter, the General Manager for Great Western Railway is very disappointed adding rail safety and maintenance are huge priorities for line.

"The grant money did enable us to meet that requirement and go a little bit over and above to make sure our line is in top shape so we could do our best to serve our customers. For us at Great Western Railway is the farming community for the most part and the oil industry in southern Saskatchewan."

Glastetter says they averaged about $200,000 through the program adding they are now re-evaluating their 2017 plans and will probably have to make some adjustments.

"We are taking a hard look at the program. We had planned one of the biggest years we've ever had for track infrastructure and capital track expenditures. We're looking to add in a couple siding tracks this year to help improve congestion on the line and put us in a position to better serve our customers here because we're looking at ways to grow our business."

He notes moving freight by rail is significantly more beneficial than trucking it as it saves the highways from getting beat up and it's more environmentally friendly.