A future that runs on rails

Alberta is growing at a rapid pace with more than 4.75 million people already calling it home. We have one of the highest population growth rates in the country. As of October 2023, our year-over-year population growth rate is more than 4.3%.

Passenger rail services will be a vital factor to connect our growing population and shape the future of how we live, work and play.

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Get involved in shaping the future of passenger rail services in Alberta.

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Illustration of various public transit in a cityscape. A light rail train moves through a suburban area at the top, while a tram, bus, cyclist, and pedestrians appear in the middle city scene. At the bottom, a high-speed train travels through an urban area with high-rise buildings and an observation tower.

Vision

By developing a Passenger Rail Master Plan, we are looking decades ahead and identifying concrete actions to build the optimal passenger rail system for the province. We will explore a variety of delivery options including public, private or a combination of both. The vision includes:

Icon of a commuter train.

Commuter rail

A commuter rail system for the Calgary area that connects surrounding communities and the Calgary International Airport to downtown.

Icon of an intercity rail

Regional rail lines

Passenger rail that runs between Calgary and Edmonton and the Rocky Mountain parks, and an inter-city line that runs between Calgary and Edmonton, with a local transit hub in Red Deer.

Icon of a government building with pillars in the front.

Crown corporation

A province-led agency to develop the infrastructure, oversee daily operations, develop a fare collection/booking system, keep up with system maintenance, and plan for future system expansion.

Icon of a light rail transit train.

Municipal-led LRT systems

LRT systems in Calgary and Edmonton that connect with the provincial passenger rail system.

Icon of a train stop with train tracks.

Multi-modal hubs

Provides links in major cities between commuter rail systems, regional rail routes and municipal-led mass transit systems.

Passenger Rail Master Plan

Alberta already has significant public mass transit systems in Calgary and Edmonton for the provincial passenger rail system to build upon. The Passenger Rail Master Plan will be a vital tool to guide the next steps in advancing Alberta’s passenger rail. The plan will include:

  • 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
  • a 15-year delivery plan which will provide options and recommendations to government
A map of Alberta showing proposed passenger rail routes. Regional rail lines connect major cities including Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, and Rocky Mountain Parks, with stops at Edmonton and Calgary International Airports. Commuter rail lines are shown in the Edmonton and Calgary areas, linking nearby towns such as Airdrie and Okotoks to the cities. Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines are highlighted within the Edmonton and Calgary metropolitan areas.

Timeline

The master plan and the 15-year delivery plan are expected to be completed by summer 2025, with the goal of informing government decisions in fall 2025 for Alberta’s Budget 2026 and future budgets.

As the master plan includes assessing the feasibility of passenger rail in the province, any timelines for implementing and building out passenger rail service would be determined in the future.  

 

  • Request for Expression of Interest

    Request for Expression of Interest for the Passenger Rail Master Plan issued

    April 2024
  • Request for Proposal

    Request for Proposal for Passenger Rail Master Plan development issued

    June 2024
  • Consultant work begins

    Consultant work on the Passenger Rail Master Plan begins

    July 2024
  • Stakeholder forum

    Passenger Rail Forum with rail stakeholders

    November 2024
  • Calgary study completion

    Calgary Airport Rail Connection study 

    Early 2025
  • Completion

    Passenger Rail Master Plan completed

    Summer 2025

Types of passenger rail

Passenger rail is a train consisting of one or more passenger cars used to transport and serve passengers.

tec commuter train ilustration

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.

tec intercity train ilustration

Regional (inter-city) rail

Provides inter-city passenger rail transport services beyond the limits of urban areas and can be traditional heavy-rail or high-speed services.

Tec Light rail illustration

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.