Interesting, isn’t it, that in looking at ways to reduce clogged traffic and parking woes in our mountain towns and the expulsion of pollutants into our Rocky Mountain air – which might all be considered high-tech problems – looking to the past may provide answers in the future.
In an age where almost anything dubbed high tech is embraced without question by the masses – cellphones, Internet, computers, wifi, electronic gimmickry in new vehicles, etc., Banff, Canmore and locations eastward are looking at the possibility of reviving rail travel.
Yes, rather than people piling into their vehicles in Calgary and racing westward to enjoy a slice of the mountain life, the future could witness a return to a somewhat more sedate, golden age of travel; on the rails.
Laying down a new rail line would cost in the billions of dollars, we’re guessing (if a right of way could be gained), so we assume a working relationship with CP Rail would be critical in running a passenger service on its tracks. We doubt CP would want to hold up freight trains carrying many thousands of tons of product to west coast ports in favour of, say, a six-car passenger train, so we imagine extra sidings would also need to be constructed.
Picture it, though … with suitable connections in Calgary to the C-Train operation, a passenger train commuter or visitor could transition from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cowtown, or the airport, through a city of a million people, then head westward through scenic prairie and foothills landscapes before finally entering our Rocky Mountain ranges.
Creating a short haul passenger rail experience wouldn’t be cheap, of course, but then what is? But rail service could add a whole different experience for the local tourism sector. Like generations of First Nations people, and CP Rail workers William and Tom McCardell, and their partner Frank McCabe, who ‘discovered’ the Cave and Basin in Banff, millions of visitors could find their way westward to discover the Bow Valley while taking in the scenery en route.
With Banff and Canmore municipal governments exploring ways for people to explore communities on foot and on bikes, while increasing transit service, adding rail travel makes sense and we look forward to the results of a rail study.
Duh …
We had to chuckle at the results of a wildlife encounter study that found about half the incidents were a result of inappropriate or stupid human behaviour (page 4).
No kidding.
Here in the RMO newsroom, we are regularly perplexed by people who stop on the highway to try and feed bears, walk their dogs (food) offleash in the backcountry, even in town, refuse to properly store food in recreational vehicles and backcountry campgrounds or backyards, construction sites, etc.
It’s somewhat less ridiculous when those from outside the valley make these errors, possibly never having had any experience with wildlife, but locals also regularly ignore the now standard mantra of ‘make noise, carry bear spray, travel in groups,’ etc.
Unfortunately, with tourism on the rise locally, and with no end in sight, human/wildlife encounters will likely continue to increase as people continue to ignore warnings.
Locals, of course, should know better and, along with municipal, provincial and federal campaigns, should pass along proper messages of living with wildlife to visitors.
