Alberta will work with the federal government to explore the possibility of bringing high-speed rail to the Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton corridor. The announcement was made Monday by federal and provincial officials, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen and the federal minister responsible for economic development in the Prairies, Eleanor Olszewski. Smith said Alberta is preparing to launch a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process this fall, inviting private-sector proponents to submit proposals for a rail project that would connect downtown Calgary, Airdrie, Red Deer and downtown Edmonton. The successful proposal would have to include “minimal financial investment by the provincial government,” Smith said, and be integrated into existing passenger rail systems in Calgary and Edmonton. Plans are to select a proponent by April 2027. Olszewski said Monday that once Alberta has selected a private-sector proponent, the project will be referred to the federal government’s Major Projects Office, similar to the high-speed rail initiative being explored between Toronto and Quebec City. Smith said the high-speed rail line would make it easier to live, work and do business throughout the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. “Connecting Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton with high-speed rail would be a generational investment in Alberta’s future,” she said. “As our province continues to grow, we need to build the infrastructure that keeps people, businesses and our economy moving. “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.” The feds and Alberta will also establish a joint governance structure to guide the work and identify potential next steps, including assessing market interest and opportunities for implementation. “This is what it means to dream big and work together,” Olszewski said. “High-speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary would create incredible new job and business opportunities for Albertans while transforming Canada’s third-largest transportation corridor.” The work is expected to include consultation with Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry, investors, stakeholders and the public. Dreeshen said it’s too early to tell what the project could cost. What could Alberta’s high-speed rail look like? The announcement does not commit the governments to building a high-speed rail line between Calgary and Edmonton. Instead, the partnership will focus on planning, due diligence and determining whether the project could be viable. The initiative is part of Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan, which identifies improved passenger rail connections as an opportunity to support future growth, mobility and economic development. If it did move ahead, the Prairie Link project could include seven stops such as Airdrie and Red Deer. The high-speed train would move between Edmonton and Calgary in just 90 minutes, and would have room for 400-700 passengers.
