High Speed Rail

[muirsy]

Originally Posted by Map Maker

I agree with the thinking of starting to plan and build now before it becomes a necessity.
Is there anyone that disagrees hwy 2 was a bad investment for the province?
But I’m sure a lot of people were saying it was a waste of money back then.
Calgary Edmonton with red deer stop over has been a major transportation route for a millennium.
Train, freight, Powerlines, pipelines . Build the infrastructure to support it.

I just don't think our population density is anywhere near close to being able to support it. Just look at any train map in England for example - within 3 hours of London, there are dozens upon dozens of cities and towns with populations over 100k people.

I bet that train network moves a couple million people every day of the year.

Within 3 hours of Edmonton or Calgary, there's 1 (Red Deer).

Sure, it could be done - but who's going to fund (and keep paying for) it while it loses money waiting for the day Alberta sees multiple cities of 1 million + people?

I think building train lines in both Calgary and Edmonton that go to the airports is much more economically viable & useful at this point.

[Trochu]

To be clear, we aren't talking about a network and dozens of stations, we're talking a single rail with maybe 3 stations.

[Sundog57]

Way and more efficient to allow high speed bus
Even on Highway 2 - flashing lights and an escort, 140 kms/hr
Scalable
About the same utility as high speed rail in the winter

[Pekan]

Are there enough people travelling between the two cities who don't need a car at the other end? Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Sometimes I think Canadians just look at Europe and think, yeah, let's do that....

Calgary to Banff, doesn't even have to be high speed. That would see some use.

[JB_AOL]

Originally Posted by Pekan

Are there enough people travelling between the two cities who don't need a car at the other end? Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Sometimes I think Canadians just look at Europe and think, yeah, let's do that....

Calgary to Banff, doesn't even have to be high speed. That would see some use.

How's banff any different?.. I don't know many people that stay in banff townsite. Most people I know stay in banff, then drive to the mtns for hiking/sightseeing/etc. so same same.. although I do know a significant amount of people in my small circle who go to Edmonton every week for meetings. I'm sure they'd rather spend that time working (remotely) than driving, but then, yes, they would need a vehicle on the other end.

I think something like a high speed "ferry" style train, where u can load a vehicle on it, would make sense.. or like ELon's tunnel system but with a cart you load your vehicle on.

[Fradaburidi]

Originally Posted by Pekan

Sometimes I think Canadians just look at Europe and think, yeah, let's do that....

... but only if it's bad.