Preliminary plans for passenger train service connecting Banff with Calgary airport remain on track
A proposed rail service for transporting passengers between Banff National Park and Calgary International Airport, with several stops in between, is one step closer to coming to fruition.
Invest Alberta announced Thursday that another memorandum of understanding had been reached involving Alberta Transportation and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) regarding the service.
The initial MOU was signed in June 2020 and the latest agreement took into consideration the results of a recently conducted project feasibility study.
According to Invest Alberta, the CIB has reaffirmed its support and willingness to consider a long-term investment in the project. There has also been strong private sector interest in the project including an unsolicited proposal from a prospective project developer.
Should the project materialize, the proposed passenger train service is expected to bolster tourism opportunities, increase the potential labour pool for businesses in Banff, decrease traffic volume in the townsite and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"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," said Premier Jason Kenney in statement released Thursday.
The stops along the proposed 150-kilometre line within the existing CP Rail corridor would potentially include:
- Calgary International Airport;
- Downtown Calgary;
- Calgary Keith;
- Cochrane;
- Morley/Stoney Nakoda;
- Canmore; and,
- Banff.
Current plans could see up to 10 departures from the airport to Banff each day as well as the potential for running an express service between the airport and downtown Calgary four times an hour.
Karen Sorensen, Banff's mayor, says the potential return of passenger rail between Calgary and Banff would improve 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."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.