Ottawa– In a landmark announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed plans for Canada’s first high-speed rail network, “Alto,” set to transform travel in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor. Spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers and reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, the electrified rail line promises to cut travel times in half, making the journey from Montreal to Toronto just three hours.
The new rail service will feature stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City, providing a fast and efficient alternative to air and road travel. As the largest infrastructure project in Canada’s history, the initiative is expected to generate substantial economic benefits, including a projected $35 billion annual boost to GDP and the creation of over 51,000 jobs during construction.
“This is an investment in our future,” said Prime Minister Trudeau. “High-speed rail will connect communities, grow our economy, and help us meet our climate targets. It’s about believing in Canada’s potential.”
The project will be designed, built, financed, operated, and maintained by Cadence, a consortium of globally recognized companies with expertise in large-scale transportation infrastructure. Cadence will begin work on detailed design, Indigenous consultations, land acquisition, and environmental assessments to enable construction.
Beyond reducing travel times, the high-speed rail network aims to drive economic development by expanding market access for businesses, improving job opportunities, and encouraging affordable housing development along the corridor. Additionally, the electrified system will support Canada’s climate goals by cutting transportation-related emissions.
With this announcement, Canada joins other global leaders in high-speed rail technology, marking a bold step towards modernizing its transportation network. As planning progresses, further details regarding the project timeline and funding commitments are expected to be released.
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