[Boreal]

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2019...d-calgary.html

The study considered both rail and coach options, including the possibility of using the Banff train station currently owned by Jan and Adam Waterous of Liricon Capital. It concluded that year-round rail service would cost between $660 million and $680 million to implement, with operating costs of $13.4 million to $14.3 million per year.

Year-round bus service would cost between $8.1 million and $19.6 million to implement, and would cost $4.5 million to $5.8 million per year.

The study suggested “complementary strategies” to reduce congestion in the area, including enhancing transit infrastructure in the Bow Valley.

Jan and Adam Waterous of Liricon Capital, the leaseholder of the Banff train station, told CBC today they have secured close to $700 million in funding for the project. Passenger train service to Banff ceased in 1990 when Via Rail stopped its southern passenger service.

'It's not if, it's when': Feasibility study has Banff train station leaseholder on edge of her seat

"We believe so strongly that this would be good for all of the communities and all of our visitors to the national park. It's a very challenging and complicated project from a funding and administration perspective. Huge obstacles for CP Rail to even consider this. But we wouldn't be investing all of our time if we didn't think it was something that was very important for all of our communities, including Banff National Park."

She says that close to $700 million in funding, mostly private, is in place for the most part, but there is still lots of work to do.

A train or year-round bus from Calgary to Banff would be feasible but need subsidies: study

A joint study by Bow Valley municipalities has determined that year-round bus or passenger rail service between Calgary and Banff National Park is feasible, as long as other levels of government contribute money.

The study, commissioned by Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Improvement District 9 and Calgary, examined ways to reduce private vehicle congestion to and from, and within, the park.

"With more than 50 per cent of day visitors to Banff National Park coming from the Calgary region, mass transit is an obvious way to reduce the growing impacts of vehicle traffic," said Dave Schebek, chair of Improvement District 9, based in Lake Louise, in a news release.