Alberta to seek private bids for Calgary-Edmonton high-speed rail link
Posted September 28, 2026 2:44 pm.
Last Updated September 28, 2026 3:39 pm.
The Alberta government will begin seeking proposals from private companies this fall to build a high-speed passenger rail line between Calgary and Edmonton.
Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement Monday at Heritage Park in Calgary, outlining plans for a rail corridor connecting downtown Calgary and Edmonton while also serving Calgary International Airport, Edmonton International Airport, Red Deer and Airdrie.
“The Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton region is home to roughly 80 per cent of Alberta’s population,” said Smith. “That increasing demand is creating a greater need for modern transportation infrastructure to keep people moving.”
The province will launch a request for proposals (RFP) process seeking a project that would require minimal provincial funding. Alberta expects to select a successful proponent by April 2027.
Smith said the federal government has committed to referring the project corridor to its Major Projects Office and will work with Alberta once a private-sector partner is chosen. Any successful bid would also need to connect with existing passenger rail systems in both Calgary and Edmonton.
“I don’t think we could have been able to announce this without all three levels of government cooperating with each other,” said Smith, adding her government is “pleased that the federal government recognizes the significance of this opportunity.”
The proposed rail line is a key part of Alberta’s Passenger Rail Master Plan, the province’s long-term vision for expanding passenger rail service. According to the province, a high-speed rail line could cut travel times between Calgary and Edmonton to less than two hours.
Alberta first signalled its intention to pursue major passenger rail development nearly two years ago, citing rapid population growth and increasing congestion on provincial highways.
Passenger rail service in Alberta is currently limited largely to tourism-focused operations, including VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer, along with local light-rail transit systems in Calgary and Edmonton.
