High-speed rail partnership to connect three Alberta cities receives provincial MOU

Major players in the construction and infrastructure development sectors have joined the effort to make high-speed rail in Alberta a reality.

On Thursday, EllisDon announced it has formed a partnership with AECOM to create Prairie Link, aiming to connect Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary via train.

The partnership has also received a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Alberta government on the estimated $9 billion capital project.

“The notion of high-speed rail — a proven technology around the world — connecting Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary in Alberta is not new, but we believe that its time has come,” Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, project director for Prairie Link and director with EllisDon Capital, said in a statement.

“We have built a team with both the capacity and faith in the future of our province to advance it in a meaningful way for Albertans.”

Indigenous engagement has already been started by Prairie Link, along with establishment of an advisory committee.

This isn’t the only high-speed connection between Calgary and Edmonton that is being developed.

A recent feasibility study of Transpod’s hyperloop system, which also has an MOU with the province, projected that tube-based transport would be able to make the 300km trip in 45 minutes.