Alberta and the federal government are teaming up to move forward on a long-discussed high-speed rail line connecting Calgary and Edmonton via Red Deer. The province plans to launch a formal Request for Proposal process this fall, inviting private companies to submit plans for a downtown-to-downtown line that would also serve Alberta's two largest airports and the City of Airdrie, with a proponent expected to be selected by April 2027.

Ottawa is referring the project to its Major Projects Office, treating it as a transformative national initiative similar to the Toronto-Quebec City high-speed rail effort already underway. The two governments plan to set up a joint governance structure to guide planning, share information, and explore early steps like gauging market interest before construction decisions are made.

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

Alberta's Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, said the connection has consistently come up as a priority for Albertans throughout development of the province's Passenger Rail Master Plan. Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon added that high-speed rail could reshape how people move across the country while supporting Alberta's economic growth and regional connectivity.

The Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton corridor is home to roughly 80 per cent of Alberta's population and is considered one of the country's fastest-growing economic regions. A dedicated high-speed line, built on new tracks separate from existing freight and passenger routes, could carry trains at speeds up to 320 km/h and cut downtown-to-downtown travel time to about one hour and 45 minutes, while easing pressure on the heavily used QEII Highway.

As planning moves ahead, both governments say they'll consult with Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry groups, and the public.