Proponents of a regional rail network in Alberta are pursing funding to undertake a feasibility study and support short-run pilot projects showcasing the possibilities of linking communities by rail.
Integrated Travel and Rail Development (ITRD) is behind a pair of initiatives, Connecting Communities, its vision for revitalizing Alberta communities with passenger rail links, and Connecting Neighbours, which envisions a rail network to link Alberta with destinations in Montana.
The organization wants to commission a feasibility study to evaluate the viability of regional passenger service linking all communities in the Edmonton-Calgary corridor. The study will look at gaps in service, how a new rail service could mesh with other transit systems, how frequently trains should run and what socio-economic benefits could be expected.
ITRD works as the non-profit research arm for Alberta Regional Rail (ARR), the for-profit corporation that would develop and operate a regional rail system aimed at increasing connectivity between communities, developing sustainable travel options and providing an economic development boost.
Vern Raincock, a director with ARR, said efforts are already underway to seek funding from the federal or provincial governments to bankroll the feasibility study, necessary to sell a regional rail service concept to investors.
“We need to create an economic-grade feasibility study to go to Wall Street or Europe or to Japan for investment,” said Raincock.
Shows of support are also being sought to get the rail service pilot projects rolling.
Raincock said they also hope to line up the financial and logistical support necessary to undertake small pilot projects to run trains between communities, such as Stettler and Red Deer, for a few weeks to gauge public interest and work out practical details. After trying out one route, the trains could be sent to link communities elsewhere for a time to repeat the experiment.
“It’s proof of concept. If nobody wants to take it then why are we investing in it. But if we find everybody joins the commuter or the longer-distance regional rail option that would be wonderful.”
Another route he would like to see tested is from Okotoks to Anderson station, the CTrain stop in south Calgary, effectively creating a commuter link to the town 50 km to the south.
In 2024, ARR will scout out shorter lines where it will likely be easier to get approval to run pilot projects than on the main lines for CN Rail or CPKC (formerly CP Rail).
Rail proponents have reached out to U.S. transportation government and Amtrak representatives, who have expressed interest in the potential to link Calgary airport to U.S. destinations such as Yellowstone National Park. ARR also had a conference call with executives from Brightline, which connects Miami to Orlando and is the only privately owned and operated inter-city railroad in the U.S.
The passenger rail Dayliner service between Edmonton and Calgary was dropped in 1985. However, Raincock believes it is an idea whose time has once again come.
About 2.6 million live in the Edmonton-Calgary corridor and regular rail service would provide affordable transit, reducing road traffic and greenhouse gas emissions, while improving small communities’ access to larger centres and the jobs, economic opportunities and health-care services there.
Connections between the province’s two major airports would be improved and rail has the potential to cheaply transport goods between communities. The mail cars that were part of rail service in the old days could be packed with packages from Amazon and other companies in a modern iteration.