Canadian government announces plans for high speed rail

[marmar]

MONTREAL — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to build a high speed rail line linking Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, calling it “the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history.”

The 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) system, to be known as Alto, will have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph), with intermediate stops in Peterborough and Ottawa, Ontario, and Laval and Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The government has pledged Ca$3.9 billion ($2.74 billion U.S.) for design and development over the next six years.

Construction is not expected to begin until the design phase is complete, which could take four to five years. The CBC reports that construction funds will not be allocated until the end of the design period, which means a future government could modify or cancel the project. Canada will hold a federal election no later than Oct. 20 of this year; the latest CBC poll shows the Conservative Party with a significant but decreasing lead over Trudeau’s Liberal Party. Trudeau has already announced plans to step down as head of the Liberals; they will choose a new leader in March.

“Obviously, future governments will make their determinations about how they invest,” Trudeau said at press conference today (Feb. 19, 2025) in Montreal. “But this investment in Canadians, which starts right now, is going to be very difficult to turn back on.“ .............................(more)

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/canadian-government-announces-high-speed-rail-project/