Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the construction of Canada’s first high-speed rail network.
The project will connect major Canadian cities, including Toronto and Montreal, at speeds of up to 300 km/h. This will reduce travel time between the two cities by two hours compared to VIA Rail, making the journey possible in just over three hours.
The official name of the high-speed rail system is “ALTO.”
The name “ALTO” is derived from a word meaning “higher,” reflecting the project’s goal of offering Canadians a faster, more comfortable, and higher-standard travel experience. Additionally, it was chosen as a word that is compatible with both of Canada’s official languages, English and French.
The high-speed rail project is build set to begin this fiscal year.
A priority consortium, Cadence, has already been selected to lead the project. The consortium is a joint venture composed of CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, Keolis, Systra, Air Canada, and SNCF Voyageurs.
The new high-speed rail network will run from Toronto to Quebec City, passing through Ottawa and Montreal.
Travel Time Comparison
| Route | Current Travel Time | High-Speed Rail Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto – Ottawa | 4h 26m | 2h 9m |
| Toronto – Montreal | 5h 30m | 3h 7m |
| Ottawa – Montreal | 1h 59m | 58m |
| Montreal – Quebec City | 3h 17m | 1h 29m |
