Published on March 20, 2026
Alto is developing an intercity high-speed rail network that will provide fast, frequent, and reliable service between major cities along the Toronto-Québec City corridor. Designed to meet the growing demand for a sustainable transportation option in Canada’s busiest corridor, this project will transform mobility across the country.
The future network will span approximately 1,000 km of primarily dedicated and electrified tracks, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to cars or planes.
Alto relies on rigorous scientific data and in-depth knowledge of the land to build a network of this scale.
Field Studies
Since 2020, our team has been working on a critical part of the high-speed rail project: field studies. In 2026, our field studies will not only take place on public land, but also on private properties, always with the prior agreement of the owners.
The goal of these studies is to gain a detailed understanding of the land surrounding the future network will be built. The better we understand the terrain, the better we can anticipate the project’s impacts and plan how to mitigate them.
Biologists, engineers, and other environmental specialists will be deployed in the study area of the first segment of the network, between Montréal and Ottawa. They will study soil conditions, lakes and rivers, wetlands, wildlife, and plant life baseline conditions. They will also assess potential noise and vibration impacts on communities.
This work will establish baseline environmental conditions to help decision-makers prior to the project, anticipate potential impacts, and identify measures, if necessary. These are essential benchmarks to inform the rigorous federal impact assessment process.
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Our Commitment: Rigour and Transparency
At Alto, our decisions are based on accurate and reliable scientific data. To obtain this data, our teams use proven methods that comply with government guidelines and industry best practices.
In some cases, we will need to work with property owners to conduct sampling on their land. This process is transparent and fully respects property rights. Alto will contact certain property owners to request access to their land for study purposes.
Participation is entirely voluntary: owners may accept or decline. Those who agree to welcome our teams will be compensated financially.
Alto is requesting access to my property. What does that mean?
A request for access to your property does not mean Alto intends to acquire your property that the train will necessarily pass through this place. Sites are selected to represent the variety of environments along the future network and do not necessarily reflect the final route, which has not yet been determined. A permission to enter simply allows our teams to carry out short-term, low-impact studies, in coordination with and with prior notice to property owners.
Participation is voluntary, and financial compensation is provided.
Once the field studies are complete, the collected information will be made available to the public, in accordance with privacy laws.
Sustainable Development: From Design to Operation
Our team is committed to minimizing the ecological footprint of the high-speed rail project. This includes implementing measures to protect natural habitats and reduce impacts on communities near the future network.
The project will undergo a federal impact assessment, a rigorous process examining its effects on both the environment and communities. Public and Indigenous consultations will be part of this process.
Once operational, the high-speed rail system will sustainably reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector—the second-largest emitter in Canada.
By providing a fast, low-carbon electric train option, Alto will contribute to Canada’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
To stay informed about the project’s progress:
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