Alberta high-speed rail corridor launches bidding process this fall

Alberta is moving forward with high-speed rail connecting downtown Edmonton, Red Deer, and downtown Calgary — launching a request for proposals this fall and selecting a private-sector builder by April 2027.

The proposed corridor would include stops at Edmonton International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Airdrie. Trains would travel at speeds up to 320 km/h, cutting the trip between Calgary and Edmonton to about one hour and 45 minutes. The rail line would use new dedicated passenger tracks rather than existing routes.

Alberta expects the successful proponent to require minimal provincial government financial investment. The federal government has pledged to refer the corridor to its Major Projects Office and will work with Alberta once a private proponent is selected.

Premier Danielle Smith framed the project as essential infrastructure for a growing province: "Connecting Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton with high-speed rail would be a generational investment in Alberta's future. As our province continues to grow, we need to build the infrastructure that keeps people, businesses and our economy moving."

The corridor is home to roughly 80 per cent of Alberta's population and high-speed rail could reduce pressure on the QEII Highway.

The project is part of Alberta's broader 30-year passenger rail master plan, announced in June 2026, which also includes proposed service between Calgary and Banff and commuter links to Calgary suburbs. Alberta's passenger rail sector currently focuses largely on tourism operations like VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer, plus light-rail transit in Calgary and Edmonton.