News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 02, 2020
A Message to Our Readers
 10K     0 
News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 01, 2020
EarthCam Time-Lapse Documents Rafael Viñoly-Designed New Stanford Hospital Construction
 42K     0 
News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 01, 2020
Resort Town
 6K     0 

I also went to the Open House. Overall, not much more information than that which was already public. Still seems very much like a plan to make a plan. Nothing set in stone yet. Heard a lot of "I'm not an engineer but..." around the room so it would've been nice to have more technical members of the project team there.
  • One person I spoke to did discuss they are evaluating several ways to get rail into downtown Edmonton and coming into downtown (and crossing the river) from somewhere east of the High Level is a possibility they are considering which is interesting.
  • Feedback to date seems to have stronger support for a higher speed option to Calgary vs. a more conventional speed.
  • Didn't sound like too detailed of a discussion had been had with CPKC/CN yet.
  • At least initially, it sounded like they are hoping to use established rail corridors vs. building greenfield track. However, the full length of the existing CP ROW corridor would not be feasible for high speed rail due to geometry and some of the existing slopes.
Engagement slide boards can be found here in case you're interested: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/tec-passenger-rail-open-house-material.pdf
 
TAS said:
Was there any info about a YEG central station and where that would be located?
Click to expand...
Nothing close to firm, they're still evaluating. Based on the discussion I had, it would depend on where they could bring rail over the river (HLB area vs. farther east). Mentioned empty parking lots as a possibility (the Quarters area maybe?)
 
TAS said:
Was there any info about a YEG central station and where that would be located?
Click to expand...
For the south rail lines, it could be a phased approach of an Old Strathcona terminal and then a river crossing to a Downtown station. For the north rail lines on CN rights-of-way, I was chatting with them quite a bit about rebuilding the heavy rail corridor along the Northeast Capital Line and plopping a station by Epcor Tower. One representative even floated the idea of building a through station with an expensive tunnel to connect all the rail lines from east-to-west. Potentially even one unified central station. Again, they kept it vague. “Everything is being considered.”
 
The thing that would make that train way more attractive is definitely a central station where you can board different trains to go to different places. Ideally, Edmonton to Calgary express, Edmonton Valley and or Capital line LRT, via rail trans canada line. Essentially a mini version of what we can see throughout Europe or Japan.
 
Edmcowboy11 said:
The thing that would make that train way more attractive is definitely a central station where you can board different trains to go to different places. Ideally, Edmonton to Calgary express, Edmonton Valley and or Capital line LRT, via rail trans canada line. Essentially a mini version of what we can see throughout Europe or Japan.
Click to expand...
And if our government planners have any sense, please have it the central station close to a fairly central LRT station so it can integrate well with that too. No more train stations in the middle of nowhere please.
 
David A said:
And if our government planners have any sense, please have it the central station close to a fairly central LRT station so it can integrate well with that too. No more train stations in the middle of nowhere please.
Click to expand...

This decision is not up to the sense of government planners, but the pockets of Albertan taxpayers to fund the cost.

This also applies to things like connections with BC and MT (although US links are probably not a priority now).
 
David A said:
And if our government planners have any sense, please have it the central station close to a fairly central LRT station so it can integrate well with that too. No more train stations in the middle of nowhere please.
Click to expand...
Considering the enormous fuss they made over the Green Line station integration I'd hope they go through the same effort for a clean connection in Edmonton
 
Foolworm said:
This decision is not up to the sense of government planners, but the pockets of Albertan taxpayers to fund the cost.

This also applies to things like connections with BC and MT (although US links are probably not a priority now).
Click to expand...
Actually I am an Alberta taxpayer and I would love if it were my decision, but I am not delusional so I realize it is not. There will be a plan presented to us.

Somebody has to make the plans and recommendations, I assume that would be be those people who work for the provincial government in that area.
 
David A said:
Actually I am an Alberta taxpayer and I would love if it were my decision, but I am not delusional so I realize it is not. There will be a plan presented to us.

Somebody has to make the plans and recommendations, I assume that would be be those people who work for the provincial government in that area.
Click to expand...

And that's the thing, those planners make recommendations, not decisions. The decisions come from politicians, who are elected by citizens (not taxpayers, so I take that back).

I am also not delusional and realise politicians can act without / against recommendations. Green Line is the perfect example of decision first (yank funding), plan later (elevated option).
 
True, but the Province is the senior level of government. The will of Albertan voters trumped that of Calgarian voters in this case.

That said, the Passenger Rail Plan is a good idea and hope future Provincial governments continue to build on it -- albeit taking into account the recommendations of planners.
 
Yes, it was a Provincial decision, but I don't believe it was an issue that swayed votes much outside of Calgary.

I agree the passenger rail ideas being discussed are promising, although with such a long proposed time line its not very concrete.

However, it does have the potential to benefit much of Alberta, major cities as well as many areas outside them.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top