Banff townsite. (Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

Partnerships announced to develop Calgary-Banff passenger train

Jul 15, 2021 | 10:45 AM

CALGARY, AB – Planning continues for a new passenger train that would connect Alberta’s largest city with one of its most iconic recreation destinations.

The Invest Alberta Corporation, the Alberta Government’s Ministry of Transportation, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank have announced a detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Calgary-Banff Rail project.

They are proposing a new 150 km rail service that would potentially include seven stops between the Calgary International Airport, downtown Calgary, Calgary Keith, Cochrane, Morley (Stoney Nakoda), Canmore, and Banff.

It would be built along the existing CP Rail corridor.

Premier Jason Kenney says, by utilizing a long-term P3 model, the service would attract investments and ensure it can be supported for many years in the future.

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“The YYC-Calgary-Banff rail project has the potential to be the first airport-to-mountain community transit solution of its kind in North America, making Alberta an even more compelling destination for global visitors year-round. I’m proud of Invest Alberta’s work with Alberta Transportation and Canada Infrastructure Bank to explore innovative public-private partnerships like this passenger rail solution which may even be the first hydrogen train in North America.”

The passenger rail line is proposed to have up to 10 departures per day from the airport the Banff and have the capacity of running an express service from the airport to downtown Calgary every 15 minutes.

Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen says, once completed, the project would create an innovative, environmentally-friendly public transit option that will support the Banff National Park Net Zero 2035 Initiative.

“The return of passenger rail connecting Calgary and Banff has long been identified as a way to take traffic congestion off our highways and mountain roads, while improving the overall experience for people visiting Canada’s first national park. Bow Valley communities have been working to bring back affordable mass transit for a number of years and we are excited to see progress on development of an environmentally-responsible service that would connect workers with jobs throughout the valley, reduce vehicle emissions, and provide a fantastic way to enjoy this special place in the Rockies.”

A joint press release from the affiliated parties did not mention when they would hope to start construction, nor how much the service would cost to build.