Quote:
Originally Posted by GGG
No one decides where they travel based on the reliability of an airport connection in a first world country. Adding a train will not increase visitation by inspiring more confidence.
I also disagree with you that a significant portion of foreign visitors come to Banff via Bus then take day trips from there. I would argue you have car renters and brewsters bus tours that package the hotels and stops. The market of self put together excursions from Banff without personal transportation is quite limited.
For 600 million when can purchase about 1200 busses to ferry tourists
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You are actually just flat out wrong on these points. I live in Banff. Plenty of tourists come on their own without a car or as part of a tour. Many take the direct to Banff shuttle service from the airport to the town: The Banff Airporter. Would this replace the Banff Airporter? No, but having an option that goes from Banff to downtown Calgary would absolutely be used and is absolutely needed. There is currently no reliable way to get from Banff or Canmore to downtown Calgary conveniently without a car, and vice versa.
Also, Parks is now running shuttles from the train station to Moraine Lake, Minnewanka and other destinations in the summer. Furthermore, there are Brewster shuttles to Sunshine Meadows from town. There are ski shuttle to Norquay, Sunshine, and LL from the bus station which would likely be moved to the train station if this went ahead. You are just wrong that you can't get anywhere once you are in Banff.
Also, PLENTY of people come to Canmore and Banff and stay in the towns. The idea that people only use these places as jumping off points is ridiculous. Come walk around on a summer's day and tell me that people have no interest in Banff or Canmore as destinations in and of themselves. Both have plenty of available activities starting right in town.
One of the reasons this is so much better than buses is that buses have to use the already congested highway. You add the number of busses needed to make a dent in the car congestion and you have essentially reinvented the same problem. Having a train that takes visitors off the highway and with less busses and cars in both Banff and Canmore is a huge need.