Alto and Cadence Partnership: Building the Train We Need Together

Published on November 3, 2025

About Alto

Behind any major national project lies a vision.

The one guiding the Alto high-speed rail project is to connect major cities in central Canada—including Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa and Québec City—with a new network that’s faster, more sustainable, and more reliable than existing modes of transportation. We’re working to make this vision a reality.

A collaborative approach guides the development of this future high-speed rail network, with the federal government opting for a public-private partnership (P3) approach. The Alto team works with Cadence, a group of Canadian and international companies selected through an open and competitive bidding process.

Would you like to understand who does what in this major project? Read on to learn more.

Alto: the Crown corporation at the helm of the project

Our role as a Crown corporation is to pilot and deliver Canada’s first high-speed rail project—easy enough to explain, yet infinitely complex to fulfill!

Our team is responsible for driving the overall vision, while consistently making sure that the planned network meets the long-term needs and interests of Canadians. This includes ensuring that the project contributes to Canada’s climate, mobility, and regional development objectives, while complying with federal regulations.

Cadence: world-class expertise serving Alto

Cadence is comprised of companies known worldwide for their expertise in the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of complex, large-scale rail infrastructure. This team comprises the following companies:

CDPQ Infra: The infrastructure subsidiary of the Caisse specializing in the long-term investment in and management of public infrastructure
AtkinsRéalis: An engineering and nuclear energy services organization operating offices around the world
SYSTRA Canada: A rail transportation and engineering specialist involved in designing more than half of the world’s high-speed rail systems
Keolis Canada: A seasoned multimodal transit operator active across North America
SNCF Voyageurs: France’s national railway corporation, boasting decades of experience in high-speed and regional passenger transportation in France and Europe
Air Canada: Canada’s flagship airline, providing expertise in logistics, network, and connectivity.

Cadence’s expertise will be leveraged throughout the project.

Alto and Cadence: Complementary roles

Whether a given project component is managed by one partner or another, we make sure that we collaborate on every aspect of the project.

Alto is responsible for overall project planning, public consultations, stakeholder (municipalities, Indigenous communities, and government partners) and Indigenous group engagement, environmental and regulatory compliance, as well as the supervision of the work performed by its partner.

Cadence works with Alto on route definition, preliminary and detailed network design, and technical specification development. In the long term, Cadence will manage the network’s construction and operation.

Our shared commitment: Collaboration and transparency every step of the way

The core benefit a public-private partnership is that it leverages the expertise and efficiency of the private sector, while leveraging public oversight to ensure specific national objectives are met.

And there are many with a project of Alto’s scope, covering such factors as mobility, the environment, economic development, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Engaging with and consulting the public paves the way to achieving these goals.

The project’s seven objectives;

1. Significantly increase intercity train traffic.

2. Make long-distance travel safe.

3. Improve the passenger experience along the Corridor.

4. Minimize costs to taxpayers.

5. Generate significant environmental benefits to support the Government of Canada’s commitment to carbon neutrality.

6. Contribute positively to the Government of Canada’s commitment to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

7. Significantly increase the accessible and affordable service offering.

Our commitment to serving the public’s interest is also reflected in key elements of our partnership with Cadence, namely strong governance, clear commitments to transparency, and risk sharing between the government and the private sector.

Follow our progress

The project is currently in its development phase, which is expected to take five years to complete. With the government’s approval, construction can then begin gradually, as the network will be completed sequentially.

Building a new link bond between our communities means building trust with you. That trust is based on clear communication. Here are a few ways you can stay informed or make your voice heard: