Canada selects Ottawa-Montreal as first segment of future high-speed rail line

Transport Canada last week announced that the first segment of the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridor will be established between Ottawa, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec.

In February, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will support the development of a 621-mile electrified HSR corridor between Toronto and Quebec City. If fully developed, the service will slash passenger-rail travel times on VIA Rail Canada Inc. in half to just three hours.

Alto is the contracting authority leading the development, implementation and oversight of the HSR corridor project on behalf of the Canadian government. Alto is also the name and branding of the future rail system. Cadence was selected as the project's design, build, financing, operation and management partner.

Construction on the 124-mile Ottawa-Montreal Alto segment is slated to begin in 2029, Transport Canada officials said in a press release. The pre-procurement process will start in 2026.

Next month, Alto officials will begin a three-month consultation process during which Canadians can provide feedback on the proposed HSR segment. The feedback will help determine the preferred track alignment and station locations, Transport Canada officials said. 

Alto officials also are communicating with Indigenous communities, municipalities and public institutions on the design, environmental studies, construction and long-term operation of the system.