A future that runs on rails
Alberta is growing rapidly and has a population of more than 5 million people as of January 2026, making it the fastest-growing province or territory in Canada.
Passenger rail services will be a vital factor to connecting our growing population and shaping the future of how we live, work and play.
Passenger rail has the potential to:
- promote economic growth by supporting job creation, connecting Albertans to employment opportunities and expanding tourism
- support sustainable urban growth to meet current and future population demands
- provide increased land development and economic opportunities through transit-oriented development
- improve access to housing and better-connected regions
- create a safer and more resilient transportation system
A feasible passenger rail network is no longer just a vision for Alberta, it's a goal.
- Danielle Smith, Premier
Vision
The Passenger Rail Master Plan looks decades ahead and identifies concrete actions to build the optimal passenger rail system for the province. The master plan explores a variety of delivery options including public, private or a combination of both.
Passenger Rail Master Plan
The Passenger Rail Master Plan is complete and is a vital tool to guide the next steps in advancing Alberta’s passenger rail. The plan includes:
- a comprehensive feasibility assessment that identifies what elements of a passenger rail system should proceed, in what sequence and based on what conditions
- financial and delivery model options that consider private, public or hybrid services
- options to ensure the effective governance and operations of the passenger rail system
- engagement with Albertans and interested stakeholders
- options and recommendations to Alberta's government
30-Year Network
The Passenger Rail Master Plan identifies a feasible 30-Year Network with connections that could generate the greatest benefits for Alberta over 30 years, including:
- high-speed (up to 320 km/h) regional service between Edmonton and Calgary via Red Deer with more than one train an hour
- higher-speed (more than 160 km/h) regional service between Calgary and Banff with up to one train an hour
- frequent airport-express and commuter rail service, including all-day service every 20 minutes for Calgary International Airport, Airdrie, Edmonton International Airport and St. Albert, and commuter-peak services for other connections
The proposed 30-Year Network aligns with Alberta’s objectives of attracting riders by providing high-speed, frequent, reliable and comfortable services to key destinations to connect to jobs and services, and support tourism.
The proposed network includes more than 500 km of passenger rail corridors and seeks to make the best use of infrastructure by accommodating regional and commuter rail services on the same infrastructure in Calgary and Edmonton.
Calgary–Edmonton High-Speed Rail
Alberta’s government is preparing to launch a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process in fall 2026, inviting private-sector proponents to submit proposals for a downtown Calgary-Red Deer-downtown Edmonton high-speed rail (HSR) project that also includes service to Alberta’s two largest airports and the City of Airdrie.
Through this process, we are seeking innovative and commercially viable solutions that leverage private-sector expertise, investment and experience to help deliver a safe, reliable and world-class passenger rail service for Albertans.
Key highlights:
- Project: The passenger rail service will connect downtown Calgary and downtown Edmonton with stops in Red Deer, service to Alberta’s 2 largest international airports and a station in Airdrie.
- Performance targets: High-speed regional service in a greenfield, dedicated corridor with operating speeds of 300 km/hr or faster, achieving a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes between downtown Calgary and downtown Edmonton.
- Proponent: The RFP will request qualifications from a consortium that show experience in planning/design, development and operation and maintenance of HSR, plus financing of major projects.
- Proponent scope: The successful private-sector proponent will be expected to provide a project proposal that includes minimal financial investment from the provincial government and identifies seamless connections to existing light-rail transit (LRT) systems in downtown Calgary and downtown Edmonton.
- Proponent selection: The Government of Alberta plans to select the successful proponent by April 2027.
- Federal support: The Government of Canada has committed to referring the Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton corridor to the federal Major Projects Office as a transformative strategy. Following proponent selection, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada will collaborate on project planning, regulatory advancement and financing options.
Learn more in the news release: Alberta and Canada advance high-speed rail plan.
Timeline
Types of passenger rail
Passenger rail is a train consisting of one or more passenger cars used to transport and serve passengers.
Commuter rail
Passenger rail that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting commuters to a central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns, and is often traditional heavy rail.
Regional (inter-city) rail
Municipal-led light-rail transit (LRT)
Urban passenger rail transit that typically operates small, frequent trains in an urban area. Calgary and Edmonton have LRT as part of their mass transit systems.
Multi-modal hubs
Provide links in major cities between commuter rail systems, regional rail routes and municipal-led mass transit systems.
News
- Alberta and Canada advance high-speed rail plan
(September 28, 2026) - Full steam ahead on passenger rail
(June 5, 2026) - Alberta’s future runs on rails
(November 22, 2024) - Alberta's vision for passenger rail
(April 29, 2024) - Improving Calgary Transit
(July 10, 2023)
Resources
Contact
Email: [email protected]