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2: Quick Facts
 February 4, 2008 Re: Alberta Bullet Train Project Dear Claire: I am very happy to try and answer all of your questions about the proposed Alberta Bullet Train. 1. Will it actually be built? Yes, I believe it will be built. It is a question of time before the public support is great enough to enable our Government to proceed. 2. What is the infrastructure? The infrastructure will be: the stations, platforms, right of ways, rail bed, ties, rails, switches, overhead electric supply and related equipment, transformers, etc. Not to mention the actual electric trains themselves and other rolling stock required for maintenance. 3. Who will pay the 3-4 billion dollars? This is the "Biggest" question. It will likely be a partnership between the Provincial Government of Alberta and the following entities: Federal Government of Canada, Cities of Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, private enterprises such as Bombardier (potential supplier of the trains) and Engineering firms. This is a complex issue and will require many different participants who will share the responsibilities in order to come up with a viable solution. The Alberta Government has to take the lead since they will be setting policy for transportation in Alberta for the next 100 years or more. The first phase will connect over 2.2 million Albertans who will be able to take Public Transport from their homes to anywhere connected along the system. This gives access to 70% of all the people in Alberta which will only increase over time as more people move to our three major cities. Funding could come in part as a low interest loan from the Alberta Heritage Income Trust. This would make sense as this fund is set up to help later generations of Albertan's once our oil has run out. No doubt having a Provincial Rail system will enhance all our lives. 4. Who will pay to run it? The people who travel on the train will pay fees much like our C-Train here in Calgary. However, initially we may not have enough riders to cover the day to day costs of running the trains. We want the ticket prices low enough to encourage people to use the system and leave their cars, trucks at home. This means the Alberta Government will have to subsidize the actual cost for each rider during the first 15 to 20 years, until the population of Alberta grows enough so that the daily ridership increases to the point where the users pay for all daily operations. 5. How long will it take to build? It will take five years to build the first phase of the system from Calgary to Red Deer to Edmonton. It is important to note that this system would then be available to Albertans well into the next century. The second phase will likely be from Edmonton to Fort McMurray. 6. Where will the rail be? The rail track for the first phase will start in Calgary next to the CP tracks between 9th and 10th avenues downtown (3 stations) and follow on the west side of the number two highway north to Red Deer. The rail will pass to the west of Red Deer close to the by-pass route for the number two highway (1 station). It will continue north on the west side of the number two highway to Edmonton (two stations). 7. Where do you get workers to build and maintain it? Most of the workers will come from Alberta. There will be specialized requirements during the design phase and we will look for expertise around the world. The maintenance people will come from Alberta, since we have trained professionals right here in Calgary for Electric Trains. 8. Do you support it? Yes, I am a strong supporter of the Alberta Bullet Train system. I favor the ultra high speed system (330 km/h) called ICE 3 from Bombardier Transportation and Siemens. It is an electric train with overhead wires for the electric power, much the same as our C-Train. 9. How many cars will there be? The ICE 3 is a multiple unit train which means the traction equipment is distributed over the full length of the train. The extensive under floor electrical equipment allows more space available for passengers. A lounge in each of the two end cars gives passengers a clear view of track ahead and from behind the end car as well. The train concept is modular and permits the formation of 5 to 7 car units (up to 416 seated passengers). Up to 3 of these units can then be coupled up to each other for increased capacity. Sincerely,
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