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  • A2A Alaska to Alberta Railway Alaska Railroad to Connect to Lower 48 / CONUS

  • Discussion concerning the Alaska Railroad. Alaska Railways Website
Discussion concerning the Alaska Railroad. Alaska Railways Website

Moderator: GOLDEN-ARM

 #1504616  by DutchRailnut
 
chances of happening ................... not in our lifetime.
 #1512405  by Jeff Smith
 
DutchRailnut wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:08 pm chances of happening ................... not in our lifetime.
WRONG!

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... ion--57921
Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) and Alaska to Alberta Railway Development Corp. (A2A) have signed a master agreement of cooperation calling for the construction of a 1,500-mile connection between ARRC’s system and Canadian railroads that also would link to the lower 48 states.
...
Under the agreement’s terms, the two companies will cooperate in applying to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for a right-of-way guaranteed under state law for a rail connection to Canada.

In addition, they will develop a joint operating plan that will specify the new track needed to connect ARRC’s line to Canada, as well as identify work needed to upgrade existing rail facilities, bridges and track on the railroad's 512-mile mainline, which runs from Seward to North Pole.
...
http://www.a2arail.com/resources.html
 #1512556  by Gilbert B Norman
 
https://mustreadalaska.com/alaska-railr ... 1fHF-Po0fE

Fair Use:
.The Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Alaska to Alberta Railway Development Corporation signed a master agreement of cooperation to build a 1,500-mile connection between the Alaska Railroad and Canadian railroads that serve the Lower 48.

The agreement was announced after approval by the Alaska Railroad Corporation Board of Directors today.

The two railroad companies will cooperate in applying to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for a right-of-way guaranteed under state law for a rail connection to Canada. They will then develop a joint operating plan that will specify the new track needed to connect Alaska’s rail to Canada, and upgrades needed for rail facilities, bridges, and track on the Alaska Railroad’s line that runs from Seward to North Pole.

The entire project is expected to cost approximately $13 billion..
Is there some Product of Mines or Forests for which rail transportation will present a viable mode?

If rail transportation had a present or future need, the US Army would have built it as part of the Alcan Highway.

Crude moves by pipeline and vessel. No overland transport can begin to match the cost per ton mile of those two modes. Last time I checked, God doesn't assess user fees for the oceans.

This proposal makes MILW Lines West look like a smart move.
 #1512871  by Gilbert B Norman
 
Mr. Olesen, the maritime shipping industry could easily end up the weakest link in the global distribution system, if it's not there already.

The emission requirements resulting in use of more costly low sulphur fuel is just one more nail in the (sure hope not coffin - and any stakeholder in railroad industry affairs should hold same).

But despite these mandates, construction of 1500 miles of railroad - even if over mostly "unchallenging" terrain - could hardly be competitive with a right of way that God put there, and again, last time I checked, he doesn't charge user fees for such.
 #1553469  by bostontrainguy
 
buddydog wrote: Sun Sep 27, 2020 12:18 pm article in today's anchorage daily news: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2020/09 ... est-of-us/
Wow! This is actually going to happen?

President Donald Trump said late Friday that he expected to issue a permit for a rail line connecting Alaska and Canada . . . it is my honor to inform you that I will be issuing a Presidential Permit for the A2A Cross-Border Rail between Alaska & Canada. Congratulations to the people of Alaska & Canada! . . . the president tweeted Friday around 8 p.m. Alaska time.

I would have got really excited if he mentioned the Bering Strait tunnel to Russia and China but Covid-19 probably killed that idea.
 #1553482  by Gilbert B Norman
 
Likely the timing of such is to get Sen. Murkowski (wavering R-AK) in line for Amy's confirmation to the SCOTUS.

Hard to believe, but at a site "a mite bit" more pro-Amtrak than we are around here (and from which this author got kicked out), someone is actually suggesting a Seattle-Anchorage passenger train.

Actually, not the first suggestion of such. In a 1946 book authored by Journalist and Showman, Edward Hungerford , titled "A Railroad for Tomorrow" during the "giddy" postwar years of "we can do anything; we whupped those bad guys with no damage to our homeland", an ALCAN railroad was proposed by the author, which included passenger trains.

At one time, that book was "ex Libris"; darned if I know where it is today.
 #1553500  by Pensyfan19
 
Hereś what Trains.com has to say about it.

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2 ... -rail-link
President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Friday that he plans to issue a permit for a proposed railroad connecting Alaska to Canada, thereby allowing through rail service to the rest of the U.S. and Canada. The Anchorage Daily News said the tweet cited the influence of two members of Congress, Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, for the decision.
 #1553550  by bostontrainguy
 
pateljones wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:31 pm So the proposed route would not use the existing Dease Lake extension and the graded right of way beyond the existing tracks?
Doesn't look that way on the provided maps. Would probably make more sense however I seem to remember reading that there would be more difficult environmental and indigenous group opposition going that route. Must be a serious consideration since it looks to be many miles shorter going that way.

UPDATE: Just took a few minutes and followed the Dease Lake ROW on ZOOM maps. Wow, what a waste.
 #1554850  by bostontrainguy
 
This just might be the catalyst for Alberta to become the 51st state. The movement is growing and this just might put it over the edge if the Canadian government doesn't support it.

Mike Filip, the host of Alberta online radio show Americanuck Radio, has long been a supporter of Albertan statehood. Filip’s website recently published a flippant list of reasons why Alberta should join the United States, which included “no French language,” “more famous restaurant franchises,” “a tougher justice system,” “fewer refugees,” protection from the U.S. military, and the possibility of a NFL franchise.

I got a chuckle from that list but watch out Alberta if the Dems seriously try to make Puerto Rico a state. Is this the President's TRUMP card?