Friday, March 21, 2025
The Government of Canada announced that the Cadence consortium has been selected to design the Toronto-Québec City High-Speed Rail Network with Alto (formerly VIA HFR), and also confirmed funding for the development phase.
The rail network will span approximately 1,000 km and reach speeds of up to 300 km/hour, with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City. Once operational, current travel times will be slashed in half – getting from Montréal to Toronto in three hours.
“Canada is getting high-speed rail. Today’s announcement of Alto, a high-speed rail system between Toronto and Quebec City, will transform our economy – drastically shortening commute times for millions of Canadians, turbocharging economic growth, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, improving productivity, and reducing emissions. Montréal to Toronto in three hours – you can’t beat that,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Canada’s investment in the co-development phase of the project represents $3.9 billion over six years, starting in 2024-25. This is in addition to the $371.8 million that was provided in Budget 2024.
Cadence is an alliance of Canadian and international private partners, including CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, SYSTRA Canada, Keolis Canada, Air Canada and SNCF Voyageurs. Cadence was selected through a rigorous tendering process to develop the project with Alto, and ensure its construction and subsequent phases. From the early stages of the project development, this collaborative approach will ensure that the power of private-sector innovation and execution is combined with our public service mission, to promote quality, performance, transparency, and effective risk and cost control.
“This landmark project is set to revolutionize mobility in Canada for future generations. The Cadence consortium’s unparalleled expertise, synergy, and successful track record offer Alto, the Crown corporation with which we will develop this project, a trusted partner to bring this visionary project to life at the best possible cost. We thank everyone involved in the development of the proposal for their trust and professionalism over the last year. We look forward to working together to design, develop and deploy this fundamental project for all Canadians,” said Jean-Marc Arbaud, president and CEO of CDPQ Infra.
Cadence has been carefully selected to not only co-design and build, but also to finance, operate, and maintain this project. Cadence is a consortium of world-renowned companies with expertise and know-how in the design, development, and operation of large-scale transportation infrastructure. Cadence will collaborate and support Alto as work begins on detailed design, Indigenous consultations, land acquisition, and the environmental assessments necessary to enable construction.
“I’m firmly convinced that the way a project is developed is as crucial as the project itself. Which is why we are developing it now, in collaboration with Cadence and relying on the best practices of the industry. We have assembled a unique group of talents, combining the know-how of a federal Crown corporation with the experience of a consortium of world-class private partners. Together, we will build a project that will surpass the highest expectations of Canadians,” said Martin Imbeau, president and CEO, Alto.
“Today’s announcement will put passengers first, with dedicated tracks between Toronto and Quebec City passing through Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, and Trois-Rivières. This will cut train travel times in half. It will promote growth in regional economies and reduce emissions at the same time. It’s a nation-building project we can all be proud of,” said Anita Anand, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade.
Featured image: (Government of Canada)
