A train ride between downtown Calgary and downtown Edmonton in less than two hours is moving a step closer to the bidding stage, with Alberta preparing to seek private-sector proposals this fall.
The proposed high-speed rail project would connect the two cities through Red Deer, with service to Airdrie and Alberta’s two largest airports. The province plans to select a proponent by April 2027, although the announcement does not establish a construction start date or an opening date.
For travellers along the busy QEII corridor, the proposal offers the prospect of another way to move between Alberta’s largest population centres. For prospective developers, it comes with a clear expectation: keep the provincial government’s financial contribution to a minimum.
“Connecting Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton with high-speed rail would be a generational investment in Alberta’s future. 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,” Premier Danielle Smith said.
The formal Request for Proposal process will invite private-sector proponents to put forward plans for the corridor. The selected proposal will also be expected to integrate with existing passenger rail systems in Calgary and Edmonton.
Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan identifies a high-speed connection between the two cities as part of a phased, 30-year passenger rail network focused on routes with the strongest potential demand and economic benefit.
According to the province, trains travelling at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour on new, dedicated passenger tracks could make the downtown-to-downtown journey in one hour and 45 minutes. The announcement does not specify how intermediate stops would affect that travel time.
“Throughout the development of Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan, we heard that a high-speed passenger rail connection between Calgary and Edmonton via Red Deer is a priority for Albertans. We are excited to move forward with this project, which will transform the way Albertans travel,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors.
Ottawa is also taking a role in advancing the proposal.
The federal government has committed to referring the corridor to its Major Projects Office as a transformative strategy. Once Alberta selects a private proponent, the two governments intend to work together on planning and advancing the project, including exploring financing options.
That commitment does not establish a specific federal funding contribution. The announcement provides neither an overall project price tag nor a detailed breakdown of how costs would be shared.
“High-speed rail has great potential to reshape the way people move in Canada, and supports Alberta’s economic growth, productivity and regional connectivity. Today’s collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to exploring opportunities that could deliver lasting benefits for Albertans and Canadians,” said federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon.
The case for the project rests heavily on the corridor’s population and economic importance.
About 80 per cent of Albertans live along the Calgary–Red Deer–Edmonton corridor, according to the provincial government. Alberta projects its population will reach between nine million and 10 million over the next six decades, with growth concentrated along the Edmonton–Calgary corridor.
A frequent rail service could offer more options for business trips, airport connections and travel between communities, while potentially easing pressure on the QEII Highway. How much traffic it could draw would depend on details still to come, including fares, schedules and station access.
The upcoming competition will put the province’s ambitions before potential developers. Their proposals will need to address how to deliver a fast, connected service while meeting Alberta’s expectation of minimal provincial investment.
For now, the next scheduled stop is procurement: proposals this fall, followed by a planned proponent selection in April 2027.
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