[Northendzone]

I'd assume that we are talking about something a little more substaintial than a c-train car, as presumably passengers will have more baggage. I am not sure you would need to go all the way to a VIA rail car setup though, but i have not gone train shopping for quite a while now and am unsure what is out there.

if you were to run on existing freight train tracks, then those freight trains would have the right of way, so you could build sidings, but then you lengthen the trip time, as the banff fireball may have to wait up to 30 minutes for the freight train to clear (i beleive that you need to add some time to the train clearing as i don't beleive that freight trains run on a schedule and a frieght train and the fireball could potentially meet at a spot where there is no siding).

also, if you had a stop at the airport, then something in the city, then cochrane, morley , canmore - at say 20 minutes per stop - you are likely looking at a total trip time of 2 to 2.5 hrs (just to get to banff - never mind more time getting to whatever you want to see in banff) easily as i am allowing for 1 hr of moving time without any delays for a freight train.

plus what would the fireball run on from the airport to the whatever station - you would need to build track for that as well, unless there is some way to run something on the c-train track - but that would add another layer on the city system.

would you drive from your house in suburban calgary to the train station (at the airport or downtown) to then take this trip to go hiking for the day? or would you just go to banff in your car, where you can be in complete control of departure times?