The ultra-high-speed tube train proposed by TransPod to connect Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary has the support of Alberta’s construction workers.
TransPod CEO Sebastien Gendron recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Building Trades of Alberta.
“We’ve been working with Building Trades of Alberta for the last three years now and we thought that it would be nice to formalize our collaboration,” Gendron said.
TransPod wants to use electric vehicles called FluxJets to transport people or cargo through elevated vacuum-sealed tubes at speeds of over 1,000 km/h — three times faster than a high-speed train.
Last year, a feasibility study concluded that up to 140,000 new jobs will be created, and over $19.2 billion will be added to Alberta’s GDP, throughout construction of the private project.
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Terry Parker, executive director of Building Trades of Alberta which represents 18 trade unions, said the Alberta TransPod project will create thousands of well-paying, community-supporting jobs for Alberta’s skilled trades workers, including those from Indigenous communities, women, new Canadians, and apprentices.
“The Building Trades of Alberta — and its more than 60,000 members — is ready and excited to be part of this project,” said Parker in a statement.
In addition to providing a workforce, the memorandum gives TransPod access to a trades yard in Edmonton to build three segments of tube totalling 75 metres in length as a test track to evaluate its manufacturing and materials, and establish training for a future workforce. This preliminary work is expected to begin in September.
After signing the agreement with Building Trades, TransPod met with Indigenous groups from Treaty 6 and 7 First Nations where parts of the high-speed transportation tube are proposed to run.
“We’re making progress step by step,” Gendron said.
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He said one of the next steps is to meet with the provincial government following the May election to modify the Railway Act to allow for the tube transportation system and so work can begin on the land acquisition process.
The first tube link would be constructed between the Edmonton International Airport and the south end of Edmonton, with options proposed to extend into downtown Edmonton.
Gendron said TransPod expects to make a Canadian investment announcement to fully finance the technology this summer or fall. Once the necessary authorizations are secured in Edmonton, work with Red Deer and Calgary to identify potential tube stations will begin.
He said the target for construction to begin on the project is 2024.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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