The Province of Alberta continues to seek public input and perspectives for its Passenger Rail Master Plan, announced in 2024, which will assess the feasibility of passenger rail in the province, including intercity and commuter services. The plan is intended to identify projects that will to build the optimal passenger rail system for the province’s growing population and promote economic opportunity.
Online Consultations
The provincial government is hosting three online sessions to share updates about the development of Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan. Register for a virtual session focused on the regions listed below.
- Calgary and surrounding areas | Tuesday, June 24 | 7 to 8:30 pm (MDT)
- Edmonton and surrounding areas | Wednesday, June 25 | 7 to 8:30 pm (MDT)
- Provincewide | Thursday, June 26 | 7 to 8:30 pm (MDT)
Citizens unable to attend the session for their region are invited to join either of the other sessions.
Update: The slide deck presented at the sessions is available on the province’s web site: Passenger rail virtual session engagement materials.
Transport Action encourages members and supporters to participate in these sessions and to continue reaching out to their MLAs, emphasizing the importance of public sector leadership and direction through the creation a provincial transit agency, which would have standing to negotiate for track access and infrastructure investments that are win-wins for passenger and freight railways. The province should also seek to work with VIA Rail Canada to resume intercity services, in the same way that many US states work with Amtrak to achieve their rail policy objectives.
In our report Beyond HFR: Advancing Passenger Rail Across Canada, we urged the government of Canada to invest broadly in rail infrastructure across the country, including to support Alberta’s plans for intercity and commuter rail.