Calgary-Edmonton high

Calgary-Edmonton high-speed rail project moves forward with new commitments from Alberta, feds

Proposed rail service would get passengers from one city to the other through Red Deer in under 2 hours

Plans for high-speed rail service between Calgary and Edmonton are moving forward with new commitments from the governments of Alberta and Canada, the province announced Monday.

The province says it is preparing to launch a formal process for private-sector proponents of the rail project to submit proposals.

"Throughout the development of Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan, we heard that a high-speed passenger rail connection between Calgary and Edmonton via Red Deer is a priority for Albertans," provincial Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said.

Through that plan, the province found that high-speed rail service between Edmonton and Calgary through Red Deer with more than one train an hour was a "feasible" project "that could generate the greatest benefits for Alberta over 30 years."

The plan, which included a rail network more than 500 kilometres long that also includes service between Calgary and Banff and all-day service to and from the Calgary and Edmonton airports, also came with a $15-million investment over the next three years.

"We are excited to move forward with this project, which will transform the way Albertans travel," Dreeshen said.

High-speed passenger rail service is now a goal in Alberta

After the formal request for proposals is launched, the province plans to select a private-sector proponent for the project by April 2027, with minimal financial investment expected from the provincial government.

With the area between Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer home to about 80 per cent of Alberta's population, Premier Danielle Smith said connecting the three cities with high-speed rail service "would be a generational investment in Alberta’s future."

"As our province continues to grow, we need to build the infrastructure that keeps people, businesses and our economy moving," she said.

The province expects the proposed high-speed rail connection, going at speeds of up to 320 km/h on new rail tracks in a dedicated corridor, would get passengers between downtown Edmonton and downtown Calgary in one hour and 45 minutes.

"By working with the federal government, we are taking the next steps toward a project that could strengthen one of Canada’s fastest-growing economic corridors and support Alberta’s growth for decades to come," Smith said.

The province's announcement on Monday also came with a commitment from the Government of Canada that the project corridor will be referred to the federal Major Projects Office.

The federal government says Ottawa would work with Alberta to advance the project once the province has selected a private proponent.

“High-speed rail has great potential to reshape the way people move in Canada, and supports Alberta's economic growth, productivity and regional connectivity," said Steven MacKinnon, the federal minister of transport.

"Today's collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to exploring opportunities that could deliver lasting benefits for Albertans and Canadians."

Amir Said is a multimedia journalist with CBC Calgary. He is an alumnus of the University of Regina, and his award-winning work as a writer and photographer has been published by outlets across Canada, including Postmedia, The Hill Times and The Narwhal. Amir can be reached at amir.said@cbc.ca or through social media.