Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail

What Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail does

Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail (Friends of CABR) is an independent, non-profit advocacy organization based in Alberta, Canada, that promotes the construction of the Calgary Airport–Downtown–Bow Valley–Banff passenger rail project. The organization is led by a five-person board including Founding Member and Executive Director Bruce Graham, Founding Member Shannon Foster, and Directors Randy Williams, Brad Pierce, and Dave McElhanney; its activities are centered on stakeholder engagement, public awareness, media relations, and grassroots advocacy encouraging the Government of Alberta to advance the project from the Design Phase into Construction. The organization itself is not a commercial entity and does not generate revenue; its remit is communication and political mobilization rather than rail operations.

The CABR project being advocated is a 150-kilometer, seven-station passenger rail connection from Calgary International Airport through downtown Calgary, Calgary West (Keith), Cochrane, Stoney Nakoda Nations, and Canmore to Banff, intended to be North America's first hydrogen-powered, zero-emission passenger rail service. The technical approach is brownfield, built within the existing CPKC Rail corridor at roughly $10 million/km versus $200 million/km for greenfield urban rail, with dedicated passenger track, a hydrogen refueling depot on airport lands, and wildlife-warning systems developed from University of Alberta research. The project is structured as a public-private partnership led by Liricon Capital Ltd. (the family holding company of Banff residents Jan and Adam Waterous) and Plenary Americas (owned by CDPQ), with the Canada Infrastructure Bank committed to fund up to 50% of capital at 1% interest over 50 years on a project-risk basis with no recourse to Alberta taxpayers, and the Province of Alberta capping performance payments at $30 million per year for 50 years.

The business model of the rail venture (as opposed to the nonprofit) is anchored on a Swiss-style multi-class fare structure that cross-subsidizes discounted Alberta-resident fares with premium fares from out-of-region and international visitors, supplemented by provincial performance payments and a projected $30 million per year operational surplus. Capital costs are estimated at $1.5–2.5+ billion depending on scope, with a Mott MacDonald economic impact assessment projecting 11M+ passengers annually by 2035 with appropriate policy incentives, a 2.8x conservative benefit-cost ratio, 6.9x economic return on Government of Alberta investment, 9,880 construction job-years, 22,500 long-term jobs, and $6.4 billion in gross value added. Customer segments span Bow Valley commuters, Alberta residents, international tourists, airlines (Air Canada, WestJet), the Calgary Airport Authority, and major tourism operators (Fairmont, Banff Lodging Co., Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts), with strong cross-stakeholder support from the Bow Valley Corridor Alliance, Building Trades of Alberta, all six major Canadian banks, and Parks Canada.

Name

Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail

Legal name

Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail

Website

https://friendsofcabr.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail is an Alberta-based non-profit advocacy organization promoting construction of a proposed 150-kilometer hydrogen-powered passenger rail line connecting Calgary International Airport, downtown Calgary, and Banff National Park for residents, commuters, and tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Infrastructure Advocacy

NAICS

Commuter Rail Systems (485112), Rail Transportation (4821)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTLAJADAJ

Rail Stations & Rail-Adjacent Infrastructure Interfaces (Platforms, Access, Depot Connections)

Transportation & Logistics/Transportation Infrastructure & Operations (Roads, Rail Networks, Traffic Management)/Rail Network Infrastructure Management (Track, Signaling, Electrification)

Keywords

• Passenger rail advocacy
• Public-private partnership
• Transit infrastructure planning
• Hydrogen-powered rail
• Nonprofit transportation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fare Revenue: Multi-tiered fare structure with economy, premium economy, and first-class service. Alberta residents pay lower rates: Calgary Airport to downtown Calgary for $10, downtown Calgary to Banff for $20 (2021 dollars). Out-of-region visitors charged premium fares. With policy incentives, could carry over 11 million passengers per year by 2035.
2. Government Performance Payments: Province of Alberta makes annual performance payments capped at $30 million per year for 50 years. Payments only made if train operates and meets service standards. Payments can be reduced or eliminated if ridership exceeds projections or Parks Canada adopts policies encouraging transit use over personal vehicles.
3. Ticket Revenue Surplus: Projected $30 million/year surplus above operating costs and maintenance, contributing to capital repayment. Alberta residents use economy service subsidized by premium fares from out-of-province visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail is an independent non-profit advocacy organization that promotes the construction of the Calgary Airport–Banff Rail (CABR), a proposed 150-kilometer hydrogen-powered passenger rail service connecting Calgary International Airport to Banff National Park via seven planned stops. The organization provides transparent project information, builds community awareness, and advocates for government approval of the design and construction phases of the rail project.

Product overview

Friends of CABR is an independent non-profit advocacy organization (not a product company) that promotes the Calgary Airport–Banff Rail (CABR) project—a proposed hydrogen-powered passenger rail service spanning approximately 150 kilometers from Calgary International Airport to Banff National Park. The organization's primary function is to provide transparent information, build community awareness, and advocate for government approval of the rail project. The core product being promoted is the CABR rail service, which includes seven planned stops along the route serving both commuter and tourism needs. The project is structured as a public-private-partnership (P3) led by Liricon Capital and Plenary Americas, with support from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Calgary Airport – Banff Rail (CABR) A proposed 150-kilometer hydrogen-powered passenger rail service connecting Calgary International Airport to Banff National Park, with stops at Downtown Calgary, Calgary West (Keith), Cochrane, Stoney Nakoda Nations, Canmore, and Banff. Designed to be North America's first hydrogen-powered zero-emissions passenger rail system.
• Eco-Transit Hub at Banff Train Station An integrated multimodal transportation hub at the historic Banff Train Station, developed by Liricon Capital, featuring intercept parking and connections to various transit options to support the CABR project.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 11 million passengers per year by 2035 (versus ~2M in conservative base case)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Plenary AmericascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Co-development partner selected through competitive process from 30+ Canadian and international developers. Largest dedicated P3 developer in North America with 55+ P3 projects. Owned by CDPQ managing $390+ billion in assets. Brings expertise spanning legal, finance, technical oversight, project delivery, and back-office services.
• Liricon Capital Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily holding company of Banff locals Jan and Adam Waterous. Owns long-term lease of historic Banff Train Station and 32 acres of surrounding land, plus Mt. Norquay Ski and Sightseeing Resort. Facilitated CABR planning and stakeholder support for over five years. Negotiated MOU with CP Rail.
• CPKC Rail (Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU to lease 25-foot wide strip of land stretching approximately 90 miles from Calgary Airport to Banff Train Station. Provides dedicated passenger rail tracks within existing rail corridor. Freight railroad typically averse to sharing alignment; arrangement testament to trust built through 100+ meetings over five years. MOU renewed October 27, 2023.
• Calgary Airport Authority (YYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU to advance CABR and integrate with existing and potential future transit systems. Four stations proposed on YYC lands forming multi-modal transit hub supporting airport's 'airport city' vision. CABR to provide free people-mover connecting stations.
• City of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU focused on station location to provide optimum integration with existing and planned transit systems. City leading Airport Connection Study examining optimal rail connection between downtown Calgary and airport.
• Bow Valley Corridor AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of Calgary, Cochrane, Canmore, and Banff municipalities plus First Nations and Improvement District 9. Strong supporter of CABR; partnered since 2018 to commission feasibility studies. Mayors sent January 2022 letter indicating support and willingness to invest in local transit integration.
• Stoney Nakoda NationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal consultation pending during Design Phase. Potential station on reserve could anchor Indigenous Cultural Tourism Centre. Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation indicated interest in helping finance Indigenous investments. Stop in Morley creates potential for economic reconciliation.
• Prairie Link (Edmonton-Calgary High Speed Rail)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for operations integration. CABR and HSR will share Calgary Airport to Downtown segment. Projects are complementary, not competitive. HSR will enhance CABR's long-term economics and add riders; CABR reduces HSR's capital costs.
• AlstommajorTechnology or IntegrationHydrogen rolling stock provider meetings and site visits. Global pioneer of hydrogen rail technology: Coradia iLint unveiled 2016, in passenger service since 2018 in Germany. Over 200,000 km completed. Firmly believes Alberta can become flag-bearer of hydrogen trains.
• TC EnergymajorTechnology or IntegrationLeading energy infrastructure company headquartered in Calgary. Investigating hydrogen supply solutions for CABR. Crossfield Hydrogen Project offers production pathway to service CABR demand. Positioned to help transform Alberta's hydrogen economy.
• Air CanadamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor airline support for integrating CABR schedules. Evaluating network opportunities and commercial opportunities to facilitate transfer passengers. Keen to sell tickets all the way to Banff National Park.
• WestJetmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor airline support for integrating CABR schedules. Excited by 10-minute commute between airport and downtown, fastest in North America. Rail segment would reduce car traffic to mountains.
• Mott MacDonaldmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorld-leading mass transit ridership and revenue consultants. Conducted economic impact assessment showing 2.8x Benefit Cost Ratio and 6.9x return on Government of Alberta investment.
• SteermajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of world's leading mass transit ridership and revenue consultants. Commissioned to review existing forecasts and undertake full investment grade study. Report projects 11M+ passengers annually with appropriate policy incentives.
• Parks CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant stakeholder given project traverses Banff National Park. Released 10-year strategy citing need for mass transit solutions. Can adopt policies (gate fees, parking charges) to encourage transit use over vehicles, potentially eliminating provincial financial contribution.
• Building Trades Unions and Building Trades of AlbertamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed January 2026 to advance Calgary-Banff Passenger Rail. Represents major building trades unions supporting project with labor and expertise for construction phase.
• Tourism Calgary, Calgary Hotel Association, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Municipal Land CorporationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Calgary tourism stakeholders seeing opportunity to integrate CABR into guests' Calgary travel experience. CMLC's BMO Convention Centre sees CABR as connecting $1.5B public infrastructure investment within 4-block radius.
• Banff Hospitality BusinessesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSix large hospitality businesses representing 70% of hotel rooms and 70% of food and beverage locations in Banff have expressed desire to create CABR-based tourist packages combining train travel, accommodations, and dining.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VIA Rail Canada: Canada's national passenger rail operator, providing intercity passenger rail across Canada including routes through the Rockies. CABR would operate as a complementary commuter/regional passenger rail service in the same country with similar regulatory and stakeholder dynamics (federal/provincial funding, Indigenous consultation).
• Rocky Mountaineer: Luxury tourist rail operator running sightseeing routes between Vancouver, the Rockies, and Banff/Jasper. Operates in the same Banff corridor CABR targets, with a similar premium-fare positioning for international visitors and shared hotel/tourism distribution partners (Fairmont, etc.).
• Brightline (Florida / Brightline West): Privately funded intercity passenger rail in Florida (Miami-Orlando) and now Las Vegas-LA. Closest comparable on P3 financing model, private-sector-led construction, premium/resident fare segmentation, and integration with airport terminals.

Emerging players

• Prairie Link (Edmonton-Calgary High Speed Rail): Proposed Edmonton-Calgary HSR with an MOU to share CABR's Calgary Airport-Downtown segment. Comparable as a Canadian emerging rail P3 at a similar pre-construction stage with shared infrastructure dependencies.

Broad incumbents

• Amtrak: US national passenger rail operator with similar corridor economics (state-supported routes, airport connections, tourism-heavy ridership such as the Coast Starlight and Empire Builder). Operates at much larger scale but faces similar capital-cost and political-risk dynamics.
• Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC): Freight railroad that owns the corridor within which CABR will operate and is a strategic MOU partner. Comparable as the existing rail infrastructure provider along the Calgary-Banff route and a key enabler (or blocker) of the project.
• Keolis: Global passenger rail and transit operator (and a Via Rail maintenance partner). Comparable as a potential operations contractor for CABR and as an experienced operator of hydrogen and electrified passenger rail internationally.

Others

• Alstom: Hydrogen rolling stock OEM (Coradia iLint) and active CABR technology partner. Comparable as a supplier whose technology choice would determine CABR's hydrogen feasibility and lifecycle costs.

Regional players

• TransLink (Metro Vancouver): Regional transit authority in British Columbia operating SkyTrain, West Coast Express commuter rail, and bus. Comparable as a Canadian regional rail operator integrating airport service, urban transit, and intercity connections.
• Calgary Transit: Municipal operator of Calgary's LRT (CTrain) and bus network with which CABR will integrate at the Downtown and Calgary West stations. Comparable on regional commuter rail operations and fare integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail