High-speed transit would connect Edmonton, Calgary
Proponents of a highspeed rail link between Calgary and Edmonton say they've received backing from the provincial government to begin developing what's long been an unrealized transportation dream in Alberta.
Edmonton-based construction giant Ellisdon Corp. says it's formed a partnership with infrastructure consultant AECOM dubbed Prairie Link to move the $9-billion infrastructure project forward.
And the group says it's signed a memorandum of understanding with the UCP government that paves the way for its development of the 350-400 kilometres per hour train that could transport passengers between the cities in a little over an hour and would also include a station in Red Deer.
“Prairie Link has secured a memorandum of understanding from Alberta Transportation laying the foundation for co-operatively advancing project development,” says the group's news release.
“With an estimated capital cost of $9 billion, the project will be among the largest and most defining nation-building transportation projects in Alberta's history.”
If all goes according to plan, construction would begin in 2023 and would last for seven to nine years, finally linking the city centres with connections to the two international airports, said Jeffrey Hansen-carlson, a director with Ellisdon Capital and project director for Prairie Link.
Some of the project's partners are Indigenous, says Hansen-carlson, whose group has identified 19 First Nations and Metis communities that could participate or have a stake in the initiative.
The announcement comes as another proposal centring on a 1,000-km/h elevated, electromagnetic link between the two major Alberta cities is in the works. Hyperloop, championed by Toronto-based Transpod, is aiming to complete the $24-billion project in the early 2030s. Its developers, who have also secured an MOU from Alberta Transportation, are eyeing a 20-km test section in the Edmonton area.
Like Hyperloop, Prairie Link would be fully privately funded, developed and owned, but its proponents say it's a tried and true concept.
“Standard manufactured highspeed trains are proven technology and the infrastructure, which is quite a bit different from technology (hyperloop),” said Hansen-carlson.
The critical mass of population and business demand exists to make high-speed rail economically feasible in Alberta, he said and would require about four million passengers a year. He noted that was the conclusion of a provincial government analysis seven years ago. Even so, the partnership will tap an independent engineering firm to conduct an assessment of its economic merits.
Its consultations with First Nations and Metis will help inform what route the high-speed rail link would take, an alignment's that's yet to be determined, he said.
And its possible use of hydrogen propulsion would add a significant environmentally sustainable dynamic to the project, said Hansen-carlson.
Transpod CEO Sebastien Gendron said his company's vision of electromagnetic tube transportation for the Calgary-edmonton corridor remains intact, with at least $20 billion in investment secured for it.
“So far, our project for Alberta remains the same and the fact that we have some investors lined up gives us a good head-start,” said Gendron, adding he's been aware of the Prairie Link proposal.
Realistically, there would only be room in Alberta for one of the transportation concepts, said Hansen-carlson.
“I genuinely want (Transpod's) test track to proceed and the technology is proven and maybe in 100 years from now they can have our alignment,” he said. “But we're going to present a solution to satisfy a genuine need now.”
An Alberta rail advocacy group said it's cautiously optimistic about the prospect of a dramatic leap forward the Prairie Link proposal might offer.
“High-speed rail provides the potential for an efficient, clean connection,” said Justin Simaluk, president of the Rail For Alberta Society.