FAQs

Alto will be the country’s first high-speed rail network that will run at speeds of 300 km/h or more to efficiently connect major cities in the Toronto–Québec City corridor. 

The network of nearly 1,000 kilometres of dedicated railway tracks will enable travellers to easily reach Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières and Québec City, serving a population base of over 18 million people, or nearly half of Canada’s population.

Alto will cut travel time between major cities in half. It will make travel easier and more flexible. Its intermodal design will allow for smoother connections between different modes of transportation (local and commuter networks, active modes of transportation and international airports), giving travellers more options to get to their destinations, reducing stress and improving the way Canadians travel across the country.

Absolutely. Alto’s goal is to provide an accessible and competitive alternative to driving and flying. 

Although it’s too early to confirm exact pricing, fares will be designed to be affordable for a wide range of passengers, in line with international best practices. 

One of the project’s goals under the government-mandated initiative is to make services much more accessible and affordable.

At this stage, preliminary estimates are used solely to inform activity planning and do not represent a final project budget.

According to international guidelines, high-level assumptions for a high-speed rail solution between Québec City and Toronto range from $60 billion to $90 billion. These estimates will be refined throughout the development phase and once regulatory approvals have been obtained.

This project represents a responsible investment, as its costs are expected to be offset by high revenue potential and the need to modernize Canada’s intercity passenger rail services. In addition, the public-private partnership will ensure that investments, risks and benefits are shared with the private sector.

The Government of Canada has committed $3.9 billion over six years to support the development of the High-Speed Rail Network, in partnership with Cadence. Additional funding of $368.3 million has also been provided by the government for Alto’s operations as a federal Crown corporation.

Long-term financing is expected to combine private investment, fare revenue and targeted public funding. The private partner will also assume some construction and operating risks.

Alto is committed to delivering a financially responsible project.

Cadence is a Canadian-led multinational team of leading transportation and infrastructure companies, including CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, SYSTRA Canada, Keolis Canada, SNCF Voyageurs and Air Canada. During the development and pre-construction phase, Cadence is working closely with Alto to refine the project’s design, scope and technical specifications. 

Under the public-private partnership model, Cadence will also share responsibilities and risks related to the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the high-speed rail network project, ensuring clear accountability and a long-term commitment.

Ottawa–Montréal was selected because it is the shortest and most technically simple segment. It offers the quickest route to getting shovels in the ground and trains on the tracks. This approach also allows us to mobilize construction teams in both provinces, paving the way to build the next segments almost simultaneously. The shorter distance and simpler construction also mean Canadians will see benefits sooner, while connecting two key cities and serving both Ontario and Québec from the outset.

It’s too early to confirm a launch date yet. Construction is expected to start in 2029–2030, and is anticipated to take between seven to eight years.

Before operations begin, several major steps must be completed. The current focus is on accelerating the planning, design, and regulatory approvals phase so that construction can begin in four years instead of eight. As the project progresses through the development and preconstruction phase, an accurate schedule will be finalized, including the specific timeline for when the first segment becomes operational.

At this stage of project planning, it’s too early to confirm specific construction dates for the following segments.

Progress will continue in every region between Toronto and Québec City, including collaborative work to identify station locations, design city access routes, and integrate the High-Speed Rail network with existing urban transportation systems.

Alto’s current mandate focuses on developing a high-speed rail network between Ontario and Québec, which includes stations in seven cities: Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières and Québec City.

The Government of Canada has asked Alto to assess the feasibility of extending the high-speed rail network to Windsor. Any expansion beyond the current scope requires further study and analysis.

Yes. High-speed rail is one of the safest modes of transportation. 

Alto will make no compromises on safety, integrating proven technologies and global best practices to ensure the system is safe.

Trains will be equipped with robust safety systems and year-round maintenance protocols to ensure safe travel in all conditions.

The network will be entirely separated from roads and existing rails. Access will be strictly controlled to avoid any risk of collisions with cars, pedestrians or animals. Advanced surveillance and intrusion detection systems will prevent any unauthorized entry.

Yes. The High-Speed Rail Network will be designed to operate safely and reliably in all weather conditions, including extreme cold and snow. 

Countries such as Finland, Japan and Sweden successfully operate high-speed electric rail networks in climates similar to Canada’s.

Alto will incorporate proven cold-weather technologies, along with operational procedures, inspections and maintenance protocols designed to ensure safe, reliable performance year-round, including during harsh winters and heat waves.

Our primary objective is to deliver a service that is fast, frequent, and reliable. To achieve this, we need dedicated tracks. Alto will operate on a primarily dedicated right of way with mostly electrified tracks to minimize interference from other train traffic.

In a high-speed rail context, there are no level crossings for safety reasons; the track must be fenced off along its entire length on both sides to prevent any intrusion by people, animals or vehicles. Grade separations can be built to give access to the other side of the track in some cases. When grade separations cannot be applied, reasonable access to properties will be maintained, though it may involve indirect routes or detours.

Yes. Each segment of the high-speed rail network will be subject to the requirements of the Impact Assessment Act, which requires that potential environmental, social, economic and health impacts be considered during project planning.

The potential impacts on ecosystems, plants and wildlife will be determined through field studies conducted as part of the impact assessment process.

Alto is committed to minimizing environmental impacts through appropriate mitigation and compensation measures.

Alto is aware that the project can generate noise and vibrations during the construction and operation phases.

The engineering teams at Alto and its partner Cadence will implement mitigation measures that meet or exceed regulations, and work with communities to mitigate potential impacts along the future rail corridor.

Citizens, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-governmental organizations will have a number of opportunities to contribute to the project, from route and station design to the identification of local priorities, benefits and mitigation measures.

The consultation process includes public information meetings, virtual information sessions, focused discussions and an online consultation platform.

Alto is working closely with municipal governments to maximize the benefits of the high-speed rail network for communities. This collaboration aims to ensure optimal connectivity with existing transportation networks and seamless integration with land use planning and development densities.

As part of Alto’s community engagement and consultation approach, Indigenous knowledge will be actively sought and considered into impact assessments, route planning, and decision-making frameworks.

The High-Speed Rail Network project is expected to generate significant economic benefits in three key areas:

• Direct socioeconomic benefits: Up to $55.5 billion over 60 years for travellers and communities, including time savings, environmental benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and savings on personal vehicle costs.
• Short-term economic stimulus: Over 50,000 jobs supported during construction and up to $86 billion in revenue.
• Long-term productivity gains: Annual increase of between $24.5 billion and $35 billion (equivalent to 1.1% of Canada’s GDP).

The high-speed rail network will generate significant economic, environmental and social benefits for the entire country, while stimulating job creation, productivity and interprovincial trade.

The short-term economic benefits from project spending will support over 50,000 jobs during construction.

Guided by the Government’s intent to Buy Canadian, Alto will seek to leverage domestic capabilities by sourcing key components of the future rail network from Canadian suppliers to the greatest extent possible.

To learn more about the high-speed rail network project, visit Alto’s website: https://www.altotrain.ca/en (external links).

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email your request to questions@altotrain.ca.

For media enquiries, please contact our Media Relations team at media@hfr-tgf.ca (external links) or by phone at 514-819-4172.