Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants CTrain expansion, Calgary/Banff rail link
Posted Nov 15, 2022 5:21 pm.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling on the City of Calgary to expand CTrain lines to the airport and create a rail link between Calgary, Banff, and Canmore.
In an open letter sent by Smith to Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, she calls on the city to expand the LRT system.
“I know Calgary’s city council understands that developing Calgary’s public transit system will be critical to the socio-economic future of Calgary and its residents, and am very pleased to see the plans that council colleagues already have in place to expand the CTrain network,” Smith said.
The premier wants to see the city work with the province on expanding public transportation throughout Calgary and into the mountains. Smith says she’s open to working with private industry to create “a rail link between Calgary and Canmore/Banff.”
This morning, I sent a letter to #YYC Mayor @JyotiGondek to discuss expanding Calgary’s C-Train network to provide new service to the airport and also the creation of an an additional regional rail line to Banff.
Full details below #abpoli #ableg pic.twitter.com/EpgiRc9L6F
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) November 15, 2022
“Such a line would benefit Calgarians, Albertans, and all visitors to our province in accessing one of the world’s greatest natural wonders: our provincial and national mountain park system. It would also significantly boost international and domestic tourism while improving road safety and reducing strain on Highway 1 between Calgary and Banff as population growth and tourist traffic continue to grow,” Smith said.
Smith adds she’s looking at potentially using hydrogen-powered trains for the supposed Calgary/Banff line, “which would both reduce emissions and is aligned with our government’s vision to make Alberta a world leader in hydrogen technology research, development, and manufacturing.”
Gondek hasn’t responded to Smith publically but has retweeted the open letter.
