Canada is is set to get high-speed rail in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor.
Federal officials say the stretch is “a megaregion”, home to 18-million people, 40 per cent of Canada’s GDP, over 700,000 students and more than 30 colleges and universities.
Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today, February 19, 2025, announced that Canada is developing a high-speed rail network in the corridor.
Federal officials say this transformative rail network will span approximately 1,000 km and reach speeds of up to 300 km/hour, with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City.
Once operational, current travel times will be slashed in half – getting passengers from Montréal to Toronto in three hours.
The official name of this high-speed rail service will be Alto.
“Canada is getting high-speed rail,” the Prime Minister stated, in a media release.
“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 Canada’s largest ever infrastructure project, high-speed rail will turbocharge the Canadian economy – boosting GDP by up to $35-billion annually, creating over 51,000 good-paying jobs during construction, and unlocking enhanced productivity for decades to come, Federal officials say.
“I’m firmly convinced that the way a project is developed is as crucial as the project itself,” stated Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alto, in a media release.
“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.”
By connecting economic hubs at rapid speed, businesses will have more markets to sell to and workers will have more job opportunities, Federal officials say.
Electrified, high-speed rail will also help Canada reduce its emissions and meet its climate targets.
By giving travellers an efficient and reliable option to get around, Canadians will save time when they travel, boost tourism, connect communities, and spur affordable housing development across the region.
Cadence has been carefully selected to not only co-design and build, but also to finance, operate, and maintain this project.
Cadence is a consortium of world-renowned companies with expertise and know-how in the design, development, and operation of large-scale transportation infrastructure. Cadence will collaborate and support Alto as work begins on detailed design, Indigenous consultations, land acquisition, and the environmental assessments necessary to enable construction.
This decision is the result of years of careful deliberations and de-risking, as well as meaningful investment from the Government of Canada, Federal officials added.
Canada is the ninth-largest economy in the world and Canadians deserve the best transportation options. We have world-class talent, critical minerals, natural resources, a dynamic technology ecosystem, and an ambition to grow. High-speed rail in our most populated corridor is our ambition in action. Alongside investing in high-speed rail, we are also creating more jobs with bigger paycheques, fast-tracking new affordable homes, and protecting Canadian interests.
In November 2022, the Government of Canada created a Crown corporation, VIA HFR (now Alto), to provide oversight of this project.
Alto and Cadence will be signing a contract setting out the terms of the next phase of the project – its co-development, Federal officials added.
