Canada 'seriously' considering high-speed rail link between Toronto and Quebec City: minister

The federal government is "seriously" considering building Canada's first high-speed rail link between Quebec City and Toronto, according to Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

Back in 2021, Ottawa announced plans for a "high-frequency" (HFR) rail corridor with stops in key cities, including Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Laval, and Quebec City, at an estimated cost of between $6 billion and $12 billion.

Last year, the government identified three qualified bidders for the project. A spokesperson for VIA HFR, the VIA Rail subsidiary managing the project, stated that the bidders were asked to submit proposals for two options: a conventional rail system with trains reaching speeds of 200 km/h, and a high-speed rail system similar to European trains.

Speaking on Monday, Duclos confirmed that the government would soon select a winning bidder and provide more details on the rail corridor. His comments followed a report by the Toronto Star that suggested the federal cabinet is considering high-speed rail for the corridor, which would exceed speeds of 200 km/h.

Duclos explained that even with high-frequency trains, the system could still reach impressive speeds. "The next step is to go to a high-speed train, and that's an option which is being seriously considered," he said.

Currently, VIA Rail trains operate at speeds between 60 and 120 km/h, depending on the rail segment, as they share tracks with freight trains. The new system would have its own dedicated tracks, reducing travel times significantly.

"This would be a transformative project for Canadians, connecting nearly half of the country's population," Duclos noted, referring to the approximately 18 million people living along the Quebec City to Toronto corridor.

However, Duclos acknowledged that it will be a while before the project becomes operational. One estimate suggests it may not be ready until the mid-2030s.

The project would be developed in phases and would require federal environmental impact assessments and other regulatory reviews before a final decision on investment is made.

Canada remains the only G7 country without high-speed rail. During the 2011 election, both Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP leader Jack Layton promised to pursue the megaproject.

VIA HFR has indicated since the summer that it is moving toward the high-speed model seen in much of Europe. "Our project started as a high-frequency rail project, but it has evolved significantly," said VIA HFR CEO Martin Imbleau. "Now, we are focused on both speed and frequency, with speed meaning kilometres per hour and total travel time."

The 1,000-plus kilometre corridor would be largely electrified, offering a low-emission travel option that could reduce the number of cars on the road. It would pass through Ottawa and Montreal, with potential expansion to London and Windsor under consideration.