Alberta's Passenger Rail Master Plan
Alberta’s government recognizes the critical role of passenger rail in shaping the future of our rapidly growing province and is taking action to advance passenger rail in Alberta.
On April 29, 2024, the government announced the development of the Passenger Rail Master Plan along with a 15-year Delivery Plan for passenger rail services connected to municipal-led mass transit systems.
Alberta is growing at a rapid pace with more than 4.9 million people already calling it home. The province is expected to be home to almost 7.3 million people by 2051. We have one of the highest population growth rates in the country: as of October 2023, our population has grown by more than 4.3% year-over-year.
The government’s vision is for an Alberta passenger rail system that includes public and/or private involvement, with the following new components:
- Commuter rail systems in the Calgary and Edmonton areas that connect surrounding communities (e.g. Airdrie, Okotoks) to downtown;
- Rail systems that connect the Calgary International Airport to downtown Calgary and the Edmonton International Airport to downtown Edmonton;
- Regional rail lines between Calgary/Edmonton and the Rocky Mountain parks (e.g. Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, and/or Jasper);
- A regional rail line between Calgary and Edmonton, with a local transit hub in Red Deer; and
- Rail lines connecting regional communities (e.g. Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray) to Calgary and Edmonton.
The vision also includes integrating with existing and planned municipal-led light-rail transit (LRT) systems in Calgary and Edmonton with major stations that facilitate transfers for passengers between different rail lines as well as with buses, driving, and cycling.
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