President Donald Trump has congratulated “the people of Canada” after pledging to issue a permit for a cross-border railway between Alaska and Alberta.
The A2A line, which would be over 2,500 kilometres in length, is a private project designed to bring Northern Alberta’s resource wealth to a global market via Anchorage.
It would also link Alaska to the rest of the North American rail system and make it easier for Yukon to trade its mineral wealth in international markets.
But it comes with a big price tag – estimated at over $20 billion.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is reportedly glad about the A2A permit.
Based on the strong recommendation of @SenDanSullivan and @repdonyoung of the Great State of Alaska, 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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2020
Before it goes ahead, however, the project will need to win regulatory approval in both Canada and the US.
A2A has claimed that the railway would create 18,000 jobs in Canada and bring $60 billion into the national economy.
The project’s founder, Sean McCoshen, said in his most recent update – in July – that the line was continuing to “gather momentum.”
He added: "Combining that with our progress on completing our feasibility study, it is safe to say that A2A Rail has advanced well beyond the early idea first investigated by the Van Horne institute, into a mature infrastructure project only months away from breaking ground.”
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