Would you take the train from Banff to #YYC if rail service were revived?

[Otto-matic]

The Town of Banff is now attempting to revive passenger rail service in southern Alberta with a proposed route from Calgary to Lake Louise, using Canadian Pacific Railway’s existing tracks.

Town officials argue the new train would cut traffic congestion in the national park and surrounding area while boosting tourism. But there are concerns the bid will compete for scarce government funding with Calgary’s plans for LRT lines, which one councillor estimated would transport far more people.

“We would be thrilled to see something like that go ahead,” said Leslie Bruce, president and chief executive of Banff-Lake Louise Tourism. “We’re always trying to manage that fine balance between making it accessible in the park but trying to decrease congestion with road traffic.”

Last year, Banff welcomed five and a half million vehicles, which meant the road system was “beyond capacity” for nearly half of the peak summer period, the town wrote in its funding proposal. Increased congestion poses risks for emergency responders, erodes the visitor experience and produces unwelcome greenhouse gases, the proposal states.

I'd enjoy a nice rail trip out to Banff every now and then, drinking and taking in some of the scenery would be fantastic.

The rail route would make the trip far safer for those willing to leave their cars behind, while allowing Calgary and Banff to attract new tourism and international investment, the councillor said.

“If people knew they could come here and enjoy everything Calgary has to offer and enjoy one of the most spectacular train rides in the universe, out to Banff, and enjoy everything Banff has to offer, that would do a lot more than renting a car at the airport,” Carra said.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...ice-to-calgary

[GGG]

I wouldn't,

If you actually want to enjoy the park you need to do better than Banff and Lake Louise. The public transportation within the Park is not sufficient to go carless.

Until you get to a Grand Canyon, Zion, or Bryce level bus service within the park this type of thing is almost useless. The US park service has worked to introduce transit to Yellowstone but has found it impractical due to the size of the park. Banff is even bigger.

Even as a pure tourist you need to be able to hit Banff, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Ice Fields Parkway. So by the time you pay for the train to Banff and then a bus tour in Banff you would have been better off driving a car or booking a bus tour out of Calgary.

[Ducay]

I wouldn't, but I can imagine a large amount of tourists probably would. A rocky mountain rail trip is a big draw, and being able to go to Banff and Lake Louise would be great for them.

Not everyone wants to rent a car to hit other sites. There are plenty of tour options to go to those places once you're there. Sounds like a no brainer to me at first glance. Combines a tourist activity/tour with transportation to the mountains AND gets a few cars off the road.

Get a big player like Brewster to help support it and the logistics and you're set!

[Locke]

For tourists it might be great, I'd consider it as I generally enjoy rail travel and then pick up a rental car when I got there.

But its about time and cost.

If its a nice train and you can have a meal and a drink then its okay if its a bit slower and more expensive than driving yourself but if it costs a fortune and is a pain in the ass then no way.

Realistically a Calgarian can drive to Banff in an hour and a half for about $40 worth of fuel and a park pass and have a car when you're there, so they've got to offer something good.

[Regulator75]

Nope, I like to drive.

[Ozy_Flame]

This is one of those things that you would look at differently as a local than as a tourist.

If there was a classic Train experience up to Lake Louise, and I wasn't from this country, I would see that as one hell of a romantic getaway with my significant other.

[Fuzz]

For locals it would have to travel at 100km/h to make it a decent choice over driving. How fast can trains operate on that track? For tourists though, It's a great idea. The current options really aren't that great. But Banff has a decent transit system to get to hotels, and you don't really need a car in the town site.

[woob]

I'd go just for the experience, but wouldn't use it consistently as an alternative method for getting to Banff.

[Fuzz]

It could be sweet to use as a day trip to mountain biking in Canmore. No need for luggage, just your bike gear, out and back in a day...As long as it had a bar car for the trip home!

[pylon]

My favorite part of going to Banff is the drive/ride, depending on how many wheels I choose to put under me that day. However, I can see how your typical appliance driver or car less person might like this.

[Regulator75]

If I won a free pass, yes. Not paying for it though.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It could be sweet to use as a day trip to mountain biking in Canmore. No need for luggage, just your bike gear, out and back in a day...As long as it had a bar car for the trip home!

Judging by the comments and responses on twitter, the Bar car is in high demand. I'd probably use it every now and then, nothing like a nice relaxing train ride with some scotch/whisky and taking in a scenic route.

[Harry Lime]

It used to be that the cost of going by train was significantly less than going by car. I was a kid, but it only cost me $10 to take the train to Banff. If the price skyrockets to the point where taking a car is cheaper, then almost all local travel would be eliminated from the get go.

If it's cheap enough, hopping on the train and tooling around Banff for a day is at least as entertaining as going to Kensington or the Core for the day.

[bizaro86]

I would do it once for the experience. Like others have mentioned though, this is exactly the sort of thing that is awesome as a tourist.

I took the train from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, and it was a great day. We took a few short taxi rides when we were at Katoomba (sp?) rode the cable car/tramway, did a short hike, had fish and chips in a pub there, etc. If I had to rent a car and drive I never would have gone up there, even though it probably would have been cheaper.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by pylon

My favorite part of going to Banff is the drive/ride, depending on how many wheels I choose to put under me that day. However, I can see how your typical appliance driver or car less person might like this.

Some days, particularly long weekends, I hate that drive. So many morons. Especially truck drivers. They have no awareness of who is around them. It's a nice drive in the middle of the week, but it can be horrible un-enjoyable.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

If I was just going for a few days to spend in Banff with my girlfriend, I would definitely consider it.

Cost would be a factor. In my experience, albeit limited, trains can be very pricey. Like cruise ship pricey. If it was economical, then sure.

[dissentowner]

I would take the midnight train going anywhere.

[undercoverbrother]

Yeah, I might, if there was a shuttle to the hill.

I remember taking Brewster bus skiing when I was in high school, the trip was park of the appeal.

If the train had a nice meal/bar car and you could get dinner and drinks after a day a of skiing this might have a market.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

If I was just going for a few days to spend in Banff with my girlfriend, I would definitely consider it.

Cost would be a factor. In my experience, albeit limited, trains can be very pricey. Like cruise ship pricey. If it was economical, then sure.

Yeah, for me this is the biggest factor. If it was priced as an economical alternative to driving, to reduce traffic in the park, then great. If it's designed as a cash-grab semi-luxury experience for tourists, then no way.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Win win all around. I really don't see a downside.
-Revive iconic route
-reduce traffic on the highway
-amazing experience for tourists and locals alike
-increased potential for tourist money

Only question I have really is would it depart from the old station under the Calgary Tower?