2025 in High-Speed Rail: A Year of Progress

2025 was the year momentum met vision at Alto. What once felt like a bold ambition is now a tangible reality in motion. Our team made meaningful strides toward delivering a high-speed rail network — a project for generations to come. And this is just the beginning.

Green light for Alto (February)

We kicked off the year with a landmark announcement from now-former Prime Minister Trudeau: full federal support for the project, a private partner, Cadence, and a clear commitment to high-speed rail. This pivotal decision amplified the project’s potential and set the stage for everything that followed. We proudly unveiled our new identity, Alto — a name that captures our ambition to elevate how Canadians move, connect, and experience their country. With the funding for the development of the project secured, we hit the ground running.

A strong partnership (March)

Signature of the contract followed one month later, another significant milestone for Canada’s first high-speed rail project. Cadence joined our ranks as our private partner, bringing world-class expertise to the table. We united teams across regions and disciplines, and aligned around a shared purpose.

A transformative strategy (September)

On September 11, the Government of Canada recognized Alto as a transformative strategy for the country. A public commitment to accelerate the development and pre-construction phase, and begin construction years ahead of schedule.

First thing first: Joining two provinces together (December)

We also announced the first network segment to be built, located at the heart: Montréal–Ottawa.

This segment was selected for its strategic importance and its ability to deliver early, tangible benefits, while also helping us build the expertise required to expand the network efficiently in both directions at the same time. While this begins, work on other segments of the network will continue in parallel to determine station locations, define access routes to cities, and integrate the Alto network with existing urban transportation systems.

Montréal–Ottawa will serve as the foundation for development, regulatory approvals and preconstruction.

As the meeting point of Ontario and Québec, this segment also reflects a long-standing vision: connecting our two regions, strengthening ties, and building a nation that moves forward together.

Behind the scenes: Where the real progress happens (...Meanwhile...)

Our teams made steady progress behind the scenes. We advanced design work, conducted field studies, and continued to engage with communities and stakeholders along the Corridor. We pursue conversations and consultations with Indigenous communities, which is at the cornerstone of our commitment to ensure a meaningful participation to the project.  Every step brought us closer to a high-speed rail network, although we are still at the early stages of this important Canadian transportation project.

Measuring our progress

Over the past 18 months, public opinion research has shown strong and steady support for the project, with around 70% of Canadians backing it. This is a powerful signal that people truly want to see it move forward.

Each quarter, we survey 1,000 residents in Quebec and Ontario. The results have been remarkably consistent: in our most recent survey, conducted in late November 2025, nearly three out of four respondents (73%) expressed support. Even more encouraging, almost one in three (31%) said they “very much” support the project.

Open houses and virtual info sessions: Join us to learn more about Alto (Coming in 2026)

Looking ahead, we’re preparing to meet thousands of you across Ontario and Quebec — on the ground, in conversation, and with purpose. We want to share the vision with you and present you what Alto will be. And, most importantly, we want to hear from you, to understand any considerations, questions or concerns you may have.

2026 will be a pivotal year for Alto. Building on the first wave of consultations, we’ll refine the high-speed rail corridor — shaping a route that reflects local considerations and priorities. We’ll continue preparing for the federal Impact Assessment, a vital process that will guide how we understand and responsibly manage the project’s impacts. And we’ll   stay on track to make sure construction begins in 2029 or 2030.

Together, we share one goal: to bring high-speed rail to Canada — quickly, responsibly, and with Canadians in mind.

The steps we take today will pave the way for tomorrow’s connections. Let’s keep building, together.

Stay with us as we move into a transformative 2026 — and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.