Calgary-Edmonton high-speed rail plan advances with federal backing
Ottawa has agreed to refer the proposed 350-km rail corridor to its Major Projects Office as Alberta prepares to launch a formal request for proposals this fall.
Why it matters
The rail line would connect the corridor where 80 per cent of Alberta's population lives, potentially reshaping travel between the province's largest cities.
A high-speed rail line linking downtown Calgary and downtown Edmonton, with a stop in Red Deer, moved forward on Monday as the Alberta government confirmed the federal government is now supporting efforts to advance the project. The province plans to formally launch a Request for Proposal this fall, inviting private-sector participation, with a proponent expected to be selected by April 2027.
The envisioned line would run from downtown Calgary to downtown Edmonton, with additional stops at each city's international airport, Airdrie and Red Deer. Trains would travel on new, dedicated tracks in a new greenfield corridor at speeds up to 320 km/h, making the roughly 350-km trip in under two hours. The province says 80 per cent of Alberta's population lives along this corridor.
Premier Danielle Smith called the project a "generational investment in Alberta's future" and said she hopes construction could happen sooner than 2035. She also pointed to a 120-day approval timeline for projects worth more than $250 million. Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to exploring benefits for Albertans and Canadians.
The announcement follows a $15-million commitment from the Alberta government in June to begin implementing recommendations from the province's Passenger Rail Master Plan. Monday's announcement made no mention of TransPod, the company that announced a Canadian steel pact in October 2025 tied to its own proposed ultra-high-speed line along the same corridor.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.