Canada to Develop High-Speed Rail in Toronto-Quebec City Corridor

The Canadian government has confirmed plans to develop a high-speed rail network connecting major cities in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor.

The project, named Alto, will cover approximately 1,000 kilometres and is expected to reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. The route will include stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City.

Once operational, the service is projected to cut existing travel times in half. For example, a journey between Montréal and Toronto is anticipated to take approximately three hours.

The project is designed to improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and provide a more efficient transport option for the region’s 18 million residents.

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada said:

Canada is getting high-speed rail. Today's announcement of Alto, a high-speed rail system between Toronto and Quebec City, will transform our economy – drastically shortening commute times for millions of Canadians, turbocharging economic growth, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, improving productivity, and reducing emissions. Montréal to Toronto in three hours – you can't beat that.

As the largest infrastructure project in Canada’s history, the high-speed rail network is expected to contribute significantly to economic growth. Estimates suggest it could increase GDP by up to 35 billion CAD annually. Additionally, the construction phase is forecasted to generate over 51,000 jobs. The government has also highlighted the potential for long-term benefits, including enhanced productivity and increased market access for businesses.

The rail network will be electrified to align with Canada’s climate objectives, offering a lower-emission alternative to road and air travel.

Cadence, a consortium of international firms with expertise in large-scale transportation projects, has been selected to co-design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the high-speed rail system. The next steps will involve detailed design planning, Indigenous consultations, land acquisition, and environmental assessments.

Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alto said:

I'm firmly convinced that the way a project is developed is as crucial as the project itself. Which is why we are developing it now, in collaboration with Cadence, relying on the best practices of the industry. We have assembled a unique group of talents, combining the know-how of a federal Crown corporation with the experience of a consortium of world-class private partners. Together, we will build a project that will surpass the highest expectations of Canadians.

The federal government has allocated 3.9 billion CAD for the initial co-development phase of the project, spanning six years from 2024-25. This follows an earlier investment of 371.8 million CAD outlined in Budget 2024.

The procurement process has been managed through a series of competitive evaluations, with three global consortiums submitting final proposals in 2024. A newly created Crown corporation, VIA HFR—now known as Alto—will oversee the project’s implementation.