Province revisits Calgary-Edmonton high-speed rail link

The provincial government is taking another look at the idea of a high-speed rail link between Calgary and Edmonton.

Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Lyle Oberg plans to commission a study to find out if there is demand for such a service.

About two years ago, a study by the University of Calgary's Van Horne Institute recommended building a high-speed rail link. It said there would be demand for the line because it would be faster and more convenient than present methods of travel.

• LINK: Report on Calgary/Edmonton High Speed Rail by the Van Horne Institute. (2.45MB .pdf file)

Van Horne Institute head Peter Wallis, welcomed the news.

"Our numbers were quite conservative when we looked at the market," Wallis said. "I am expecting the study will demonstrate the numbers that we found were pretty sound and that there is a market for this type of service connecting Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton."

Building costs for a high-speed rail link have been estimated at as much as $5 billion.

• CBC CALGARY FROM OCT. 14, 2004: Private group looking at high-speed rail link

• CBC EDMONTON FROM OCT. 6, 2004 : Linking Edmonton-Calgary by rail makes sense: study

Because of the costs involved, Oberg says there must be public demand for the project as well as a significant reduction in travel time.

The Van Horne Institute study suggested the trip would take slightly more than two hours.