The A2A railway will be a modern, safe, and efficient way to transport a wide range of bulk commodities including grain, ore, and other resources, in addition to containerized goods and passengers. The proposed route connects Alaska’s deep-water ports and the existing Alaska Railroad network to Canadian railroads through northern Alberta. Construction is anticipated to be complete by 2025, with the railway being fully operational in 2026. Soft construction is ready to commence this year.

The A2A border crossing, which will be located between Alaska and Yukon, provides a long-sought “missing link” between Alaska and the North American railway system, ensuring free flow of freight from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska. This rail link will be the anchor tenant of a major northern development corridor; the purpose of which is to facilitate economic development, rural household service provision, and other opportunities to the communities in this isolated region. The presidential permit was signed following advice from the U. S. Department of State that the A2A railway was in the best foreign policy interest of the United States.

The Presidential Border Crossing Permit is required of all United States/Canada cross-border infrastructure projects. The issuance of the presidential permit is a significant achievement that acts to remove uncertainty, facilitating the continued development of engineering, business partnerships, financing, Indigenous relationships and environmental permitting.

The railway will benefit the economic development of both the United States and Canada ensuring, for the rest of this century and beyond, a collective future whereby both Nations can play a significant role in growing trade with Asia and together for a more prosperous future.

A2A Rail will now intensify efforts to move forward with the following groups:

• Indigenous Peoples along the rail corridor. A2A will provide significant opportunities for employment, procurement, business development and equity in the new railway. Indigenous Peoples are an essential partner in making this project a success. The A2A team will now intensify our ongoing discussions with the Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada.
• Shippers. A2A can offer a new, safe and efficient rail infrastructure to facilitate expanded production and more competitive transport of a variety of goods and resources. The ‘common carrier’ railway will move commodities, goods, and people through northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Yukon to Alaskan ports, shortening end-to-end shipping times between North America and Asia by as much as 2-4 days.
• National and regional permitting agencies in the United States and Canada, A2A will begin environmental impact assessments necessary in both countries to determine the most sustainable way to build and operate this railroad. This decision builds upon a crucial agreement made last summer with the Alaska Railroad to acquire and lease to A2A much of the required right-of-way for the U.S. portion of the route.

-via Press Release