The current state of Canada's railway network
Since its beginnings in 1836, Canada’s railway network has become an intricate network of almost 43,000 kilometres of track from coast-to-coast. It remains an important part of the nation’s identity and also an integral part of Canada’s day-to-day life.
Employing more than 60,000 Canadians, Canada’s rail transport industry generates approximately $10 billion per year.
The overwhelming majority of revenue, or 95%, comes from rail freight operations and approximately 5% from commuter, intercity and tourist passenger rail services in major urban centres, corridors, and regions.
Since its beginnings in 1836, Canada’s railway network has become an intricate network of almost 43,000 kilometres of track from coast-to-coast. It remains an important part of the nation’s identity and also an integral part of Canada’s day-to-day life.
Employing more than 60,000 Canadians, Canada’s rail transport industry generates approximately $10 billion per year.
The overwhelming majority of revenue, or 95%, comes from rail freight operations and approximately 5% from commuter, intercity and tourist passenger rail services in major urban centres, corridors, and regions.
In Western Canada, the long-discussed Calgary-Edmonton passenger link and another passenger route being proposed between Calgary Airport and Banff National Park (CABR) remain on the table.
The service will provide the capacity to meet demand for transportation from the Calgary Airport and downtown Calgary then on to Banff, as well as the capability of running an express service between Calgary Airport and downtown Calgary every 15 minutes. In addition to supporting the visitor economy, the airport link would support the transportation needs of the estimated 50,000 people who work at Calgary’s airport.
After advancing to the next phase of planning in July, the project now requires the Government of Alberta to commit further funding.
A project that would see a passenger rail link between Edmonton and Calgary also remains in the planning stage. Dubbed PrairieLink, the existing plan would allow passengers and freight to travel between the two cities at speeds up to 400 km/h.
With an estimated capital cost of $9 billion, the project will be among the largest transportation projects in Alberta’s history.
The service will provide the capacity to meet demand for transportation from the Calgary Airport and downtown Calgary then on to Banff, as well as the capability of running an express service between Calgary Airport and downtown Calgary every 15 minutes. In addition to supporting the visitor economy, the airport link would support the transportation needs of the estimated 50,000 people who work at Calgary’s airport.
After advancing to the next phase of planning in July, the project now requires the Government of Alberta to commit further funding.
A project that would see a passenger rail link between Edmonton and Calgary also remains in the planning stage. Dubbed PrairieLink, the existing plan would allow passengers and freight to travel between the two cities at speeds up to 400 km/h.
With an estimated capital cost of $9 billion, the project will be among the largest transportation projects in Alberta’s history.
The push for more passenger rail comes at a time when demand for commuter service has been on the rise in Canada for the last number of years, according to the Railway Association of Canada. In 2019, commuter railways in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec transported a record 101.9 million passengers, up 29.1% from the 2014-2018 average.
In the U.S., the passing of a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill late last year will see major development coming to America’s rail network.
The legislation invests $66 billion in additional rail funding, the largest investment in passenger rail in the U.S. in 50 years and aims to create safer, more efficient and climate-friendly alternatives for moving people and freight.
With so many projects in development across North America, and more on the way, companies will undoubtedly be dispatching workforce travel crews near and far. And as they do so, they’ll need to keep an eye on both the bottom line as well as the needs of their crews.
In the U.S., the passing of a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill late last year will see major development coming to America’s rail network.
The legislation invests $66 billion in additional rail funding, the largest investment in passenger rail in the U.S. in 50 years and aims to create safer, more efficient and climate-friendly alternatives for moving people and freight.
With so many projects in development across North America, and more on the way, companies will undoubtedly be dispatching workforce travel crews near and far. And as they do so, they’ll need to keep an eye on both the bottom line as well as the needs of their crews.
