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The Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is approximately 260 km long (about 3 hours by car), and is serviced by the Queen Elizabeth II Highway.* d$ m3 m/ z* E. X# w
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A study by the Van Horne Institute concluded that "high speed rail would bring significant benefits to the Calgary–Edmonton corridor and Alberta as a whole". The report also stated that the project would "generate between CAD $3.7 and $6.1 billion in quantifiable benefits". The study considered three options:: A3 A/ X6 f# f7 y! b
1 j" R/ A5 s6 p& S' `, {3 c1 ZUpgrade of an existing Canadian Pacific freight route to allow trains up to 240 km/h using Bombardier's JetTrain, costing approximately $1.8 billion. 9 q6 L; l/ {( s' q
A new dedicated passenger route, known as the "Green Field" route, also using the Jet Train, and costing approximately $2.2 billion. $ X) Z4 e) L: Z) V. n
An electrified version of the Green Field route, using TGV style trains running at 300 km/h, costing approximately $3.7 billion.
4 D6 c+ v: ~" J! k+ |5 @The report also found that there was little incremental benefit in running at 300 km/h rather than 240 km/h, and therefore recommended the first option.7 u! U, j3 M. M' a( U
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On September 22, 2006, the government of Alberta announced that it was deploying video cameras along a stretch of the Queen Elizabeth Highway to measure the number of cars that travel between the two cities.[6]
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The Calgary Herald announced on April 18, 2007, that the provincial government had purchased land in downtown Calgary for a possible station or terminal.[7] On April 7, 2011, Premier Stelmach said that the land being purchased for the new location of the Royal Alberta Museum could be used as the Edmonton terminal.[8]
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* l2 J: P$ G7 {2 g2 nIn 2011, Alberta premier Alison Redford said that the high speed rail is a priority for her. Saying "such an initiative could unite the province and send a message to Canada and the world about Alberta’s progress."[9]; u+ E5 f8 b9 Q c. }6 v n
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