MONTREAL — The Canadian government announced on Wednesday the launch of a significant initiative to establish a high-speed rail system connecting Quebec City with Toronto.
This ambitious rail project will be fully electric and cover an estimated 1,000 kilometers (622 miles), with the potential to reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour (187 mph). The planned stations along the route will include major cities such as Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that the government is allocating CAD 3.9 billion (USD 2.74 billion) over a six-year period beginning in the 2024-25 fiscal year. This funding will help finalize essential details, including the precise locations of the stations and the exact path of the rail line, before construction begins. Officials have stated that it’s too early to provide an accurate estimate of the entire project’s cost or completion timeline.
Trudeau expressed optimism about the project, stating, “A reliable, efficient high-speed rail network will be a game changer for Canadians.” The rail service, which will be branded as Alto, promises to reduce travel time from Montreal to Toronto to just three hours. The announcement comes after extensive discussions and studies aimed at enhancing commuter rail services across central Canada.
Currently, passenger trains share tracks with freight services, which limits the frequency of train schedules and can lead to delays. The proposed high-speed train network is set to be Canada’s largest infrastructure initiative to date, according to Trudeau.
Despite ongoing uncertainties regarding the future of the Liberal Party’s governance, Trudeau made this commitment. He announced his resignation as party leader and prime minister on January 6, with plans for the Liberals to elect a new leader on March 9. All opposition parties have expressed intentions to challenge the Liberal minority government with a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes on March 24.
Trudeau remains optimistic about the rail project proceeding, regardless of the outcome of the next election. “High-speed rail in this country was always going to be a project that would take long enough to build that it would cover multiple governments,” he noted, emphasizing the necessity of a government’s commitment to maintain progress.
Martin Imbleau, the president and CEO of Alto, highlighted the importance of providing sustainable alternatives to car and air travel in Canada. “A high-speed rail network is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” he asserted, referring to the increasing congestion on highways and overcrowded airports. He described the current state of intercity travel as both frustrating and unsustainable.
The government has chosen a consortium named Cadence to collaborate in the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of this monumental rail project.
