[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

I'm guessing access issues would put a damper on any transit proof of concept as is. Could maybe restart some kind of tourist service though?

I can see a western themed train to Banff during stampede being popular, would be good publicity and help build public support for the expensive parts of the project.

I wonder how much it would take to add some elevators and upgrade the palliser platforms to current access and safety specs?

It could still be cheap and fast to get basic commuter rail going, less than five years if the will was there.

 

[outoftheice]

Quite the delay to the rail plan. I wonder if the premier is having difficulty selling it to cabinet?

Alberta’s passenger rail plan faces another delay after missed summer 2025 deadline

The province's goal to develop a 15-year passenger rail master plan has been delayed until later this year, according to a transportation official.

calgaryherald.com

 

[YYCguy]

Quite the delay to the rail plan. I wonder if the premier is having difficulty selling it to cabinet?

Alberta’s passenger rail plan faces another delay after missed summer 2025 deadline

The province's goal to develop a 15-year passenger rail master plan has been delayed until later this year, according to a transportation official.

calgaryherald.com

This is behind a paywall for me. What is the Cole’s Notes version please?

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

Pay-free link

Nothing of note really, but the delay isn't encouraging.. Seems like the scale and complexity of the endeavor wasn't understood?

In a statement to Postmedia, a department official with the ministry of transportation said the plan is expected to come later this year — months after it was anticipated. They said the province is being deliberate with the plan and will not be rushing it.

Obligatory reference...

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

Meanwhile,

Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the country has built and put into operation about 12,000 kilometers of HSR,

Adding 2400 km to the HSR network each year is pretty staggering!

AB should definitely outsource the project, it could be done in as little as 2 months!

 

[YYCguy]

AB should definitely outsource the project, it could be done in as little as 2 months!

Haha! For sure!

 

[Surrealplaces]

https://www.westernwheel.ca/the-latest/momentum-for-calgarybanff-rail-project-builds-11843682

 

[CalgaryTiger]

This could be the case of wanting to have something to announce versus just saying here's the plan, but we don't have any plan to implement the plan. Not that when it comes out, they'll announce anything substantial, but I assume they're moving money around in the budget to at least do a little something. They're priming Albertans for a bad news budget, holding on to this for some good news stories that a deeper look at a certain portion of the plan is being funded.

In summary, there's a bit of politics being played with this. I don't think any big decision will come until after the next Provincial election, which is 18-ish months away at the longest.