The Northern Star Magazine Online

Mind Blowing Stuff To Read
Menu
  • Home
  • Humor
  • WTF
  • Animals
  • Ron’s Rambles
  • Games/Sports
  • Will’s Thoughts
  • Beauty
  • Inspirational
  • Misc
  • Entertainment
  • Val’s Life Views
  • True or False
  • Lifestyles
  • Tech
  • Health
Home
General
Restarting The Calgary To Edmonton Passenger Rail Service

Restarting The Calgary To Edmonton Passenger Rail Service

I’ve been curious about the feasibility of getting the Calgary to Edmonton passenger rail service up and running once again. So I asked those on the forums at trains.com to see what information I could get.

Apparently it’s been a rumour that has been circulating since 1978. Speed of passenger trains would have to be kept at 39 miles an hour as converting to high speed would cost more than construction of the Fort MacMurray tar sands. With approximately 200 level crossings between Calgary and Edmonton, collisions with vehicles are inevitable. While most are accidents, there are some that are suicides, a hard thing for train crews to deal with. I was told that after two or three of these suicide crashes from the summer of 1985, the Federal Government agreed to discontinue passenger rail service due to the stress placed on rail employees and paying customers.

canadian pacific railway

Land conditions north of Calgary presented another problem as it was too soft to support a HSR route. At one time Airdrie, just north of Calgary, had the highest number of complaints against Canadian Pacific Railway. Residents kept insisting on having a commuter service to Calgary. With Calgary expanding the way it has, it’s made Airdire essentially a bedroom community of the big city. It could make commuter service more feasible now, much like the West Coast Express between Mission and Vancouver.

Passenger service between Calgary and Edmonton was discontinued for several other reasons. A big problem was aging equipment that barely met minimum standards by law. Plus passenger comforts was apparently quite bad, which wasn’t good for getting any return business. Then there is the divided highway between Calgary and Edmonton that hampered rail passenger service. One can drive between the two cities in three hours as opposed to four and a half hours by train.

Government cutbacks haven’t helped matters. Government bureaucracy sometimes moves at the same speed as a herd of turtles, so one can imagine when funding rail passenger service will happen.


Ron Murdock has lived and worked in Western Canada all his life, and will continue to do so until his last day on Planet Earth. He has a good number of interests and hobbies which include dogs, freight trains, baseball and astronomy. Ron wants to know what the truth is, and nothing but the truth, and will do what research it takes to find it. The best compliment he can get is when a person says his writing, or what he says, gets them seeking.

Prev Article
Next Article

Related Articles

True or False | Cracking Knuckles Causes Arthritis
False: There is no good evidence that cracking ones knuckles …
Cathie

True or False | Cracking Knuckles Causes Arthritis

Faceless People
Presenting The Enhanced Human Being By Ron Murdock I came …
Cathie

Presenting The Enhanced Human Being | By Ron Murdock

About The Author

Cathie

Stand Beside or Stand Aside T-Shirt

Dang Woman!

DANG WOMAN! a hilarious guide to unsuccessfully outwitting a woman :-)small dang woman ad Available in paperback and E-book

Check Out These Great Stories Too!

  • True or False? Swimming Pools Add A Chemical Compound To Reveal UrineTrue or False? Swimming Pools Add A Chemical Compound To Reveal Urine
  • Costco Prevents Gas Price Fixing In Prince GeorgeCostco Prevents Gas Price Fixing In Prince George
  • 4 Things To Consider Before Getting A Pet4 Things To Consider Before Getting A Pet
  • What Ever Happened To Good Old Fashion Beer Joints | By Steve WilsonWhat Ever Happened To Good Old Fashion Beer Joints | By Steve Wilson
  • 1984 By George Orwell Part 4 | By Ron Murdock1984 By George Orwell Part 4 | By Ron Murdock
  • The Enchanted Forest Is Found In Revelstoke British ColumbiaThe Enchanted Forest Is Found In Revelstoke British Columbia
  • Takers Economy | An Inquiry Into Illegal File Sharing | By Christopher StewartTakers Economy | An Inquiry Into Illegal File Sharing | By Christopher Stewart
  • 6 Rules To Turn Hope Into Reality6 Rules To Turn Hope Into Reality
  • Was The Stanley Cup Left In A Snowbank?Was The Stanley Cup Left In A Snowbank?
  • Lessons The Creator Teaches UsLessons The Creator Teaches Us

You Might Also Like

  • More UFO Sightings From Southeast B.C. | By Ron Murdock
  • Ghost Hunting Equipment: Essential Tools for Paranormal Investigations
  • Will’s Thoughts | Crazy Lady’s First Critter Christmas [PICTURES]
  • Personal Spy Planes Super Affordable | SpyHawk FPV
  • Explorer Witnesses Ancient Amazonian Putcha Dance

The Northern Star Magazine Online

Mind Blowing Stuff To Read
Copyright © 2025 The Northern Star Magazine Online
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy