By Railfan & Railroad Staff

BANFF, Alberta — The backers of a proposed passenger rail service between Calgary and Banff said it could be up and running by 2025. 

Earlier this year, the Government of Alberta and the Canada Infrastructure Bank announced signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study the prospect of building a dedicated passenger rail line along the Canadian Pacific Railway’s main line. Now, Liricon Capital Ltd., the owners of a ski area in Banff, said they’ve got the plan to do it by way of a public-private partnership. 

Banff last received regularly scheduled passenger rail service in 1990 when VIA Rail moved the Canadian from its historic Canadian Pacific route across western Canada to the Canadian National. Today, the Rocky Mountaineer operates seasonal tour trains from Vancouver to Banff. However, the only way to get from Calgary to Banff is either by bus or automobile. 

Liricon Capital calls for building a new rail line alongside CP’s main line to connect Calgary with Banff. Stations would be established at Calgary Airport, Calgary Downtown, Calgary Keith, Cochrane, Morley, Canmore and Banff. The new tracks and equipment would cost an estimated $1.5 billion and would be funded by private capital and the federal government. After that, Liricon Capital would ask Alberta to pay $30 million annually to help cover operational expenses.