Where are we now?
Field studies are ongoing
The 2026 field studies program builds on the preliminary work carried out over the past few years and aims to collect data to document current conditions within the central segment of the study corridor, between Ottawa and Montréal, on both public and private properties.
Key environmental, economic, and social elements being studied include:
- aquatic wildlife and its habitats
- watercourses
- noise and vibration levels
- terrestrial ecology
- the human environment
- soil and subsurface conditions
Conducted in collaboration with Indigenous communities, these studies help establish a reliable baseline that is essential to the design of a sustainable project aimed at protecting communities and sensitive ecosystems. They also represent a key step in assessing the project’s potential effects and, where appropriate, defining measures to avoid, reduce, or offset impacts, while maximizing benefits for communities.
Strong participation in our public consultation
Between January and April 2026, more than 10,000 people took part in Alto’s initial round of public consultation focused on the study corridor between Toronto and Québec City.
The project is advancing on multiple fronts
Our teams are continuing technical design work, with a focus on tracks, stations, and supporting infrastructure, in collaboration with municipalities along the study corridor.
Following a preliminary analysis of technical, environmental, social, and financial considerations, as well as the significant feedback gathered during the consultation on the study corridor, the team is working to refine the corridor for the central segment between Ottawa and Montréal.
In addition, several collaboration agreements have been concluded with Indigenous communities, marking a key step in building strong, long-term partnerships.
What's coming up?
Public consultation on the central segment – Ottawa–Montréal
By the end of the year, Alto will launch a second public consultation process focused on a more refined corridor for the project’s central segment between Ottawa and Montréal. Additional consultation phases will be planned in the coming years for the other project segments.
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Impact assessment for the project’s central segment
Following public consultation activities, the central segment between Ottawa and Montréal will be subject to an environmental impact assessment, taking into account technical constraints, environmental considerations, social acceptability, and factors related to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Approval to begin construction
Engineering, procurement, and property acquisition teams are continuing their efforts to obtain Government of Canada approval to begin construction of the network. The central segment connecting Ottawa, Laval, and Montréal will be the first to be built.
The project will be carried out using a phased approach. Construction of different segments will begin at short intervals, and proceed in parallel, ultimately connecting to form an integrated network.
The central segment connecting Ottawa, Laval, and Montréal has been prioritized due to its ability to deliver tangible benefits from the early stages. This approach will also help mobilize teams across both provinces and build the expertise needed to efficiently expand the network in both directions.
Project milestones
Alto conducted 73 meetings with 29 Indigenous communities along the study corridor between Toronto and Québec City.
Over a 100‑day period, Alto conducted a large-scale public consultation across the 1,000 km study corridor between Toronto and Québec City, including more than 20 open house events, 10 virtual sessions, over 30 stakeholder roundtables, and a dedicated online consultation platform.
Public feedback plays a key role in informing the ongoing technical and environmental analyses during the project’s development and pre-construction phase. It also helps guide Alto’s decision-making, particularly in refining the study corridor. Learn more.
On December 12, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, joined by Alto President & CEO Martin Imbleau, announced that the first segment of the High-Speed Rail Network will run between Ottawa and Montreal.
They also announced the a comprehensive three-month consultation process beginning in January 2026.
On September 11, the Government of Canada identified Alto as a transformative strategy that will receive support in order to accelerate development and begin construction years ahead of schedule. Read Alto’s press release.
This affirms Alto's strategic importance to the country's future and the major benefits the project will bring.
Alto and Cadence, the chosen developer, reached a key milestone with a signed contract, marking the start of the development and pre-construction phase for the project. The agreement was a major step forward in enhancing national mobility.
The Government of Canada announced Cadence as the selected private developer partner that will work with Alto to develop and deliver on this ambitious project.
The Government also confirmed the funding for the development and pre-construction phase.
The response from stakeholders has been building steadily. Over the past few months, organizations along the Corridor have publicly endorsed the project: Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Consider Canada, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, Alliance touristique du Québec, Ottawa Board of Trade, The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal, Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec, Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Trois-Rivières.
Three consortiums pre-qualified in the fall of 2023 (bidding teams) submitted their proposals. The bids were then evaluated to determine which private developer partner would be chosen.
Alto (previously known as High-Frequency Rail project) organized and hosted collaborative planning workshops for the 2024 field study program with Ontario Indigenous Nations.
The 2024 Field Study program was launched and ran from April to December. It provided key environmental data to guide project decisions and protection measures. The project team also engaged Indigenous communities along the Corridor on the subject of environmental impact in order to gather feedback that will help shape project plans.
On March 19, our CEO Martin Imbleau shared the vision for the Québec City–Toronto High-Frequency Rail project with the The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Québec (CCIQ).
On February 20, our CEO presented the evolving High-Frequency Rail project to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal (CCMM), by then backed by a new federal Crown corporation. Introductory meetings between Indigenous Nations and bidders occurred from February 19 to 27 in Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
In early December, the project team hosted collaborative planning workshops for the 2024 Field Study program with Québec Indigenous Nations. The workshops took place in Montréal, Québec.
Our CEO Martin Imbleau highlighted the transformative impact of the Toronto–Québec City rail project. He presented its benefits at the Mayor’s Breakfast in Peterborough, the Rail Symposium on Safety & Climate Resiliency, and the NRD23 conference. He also met with Perrin Beatty, CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the project's role in elevating transportation in Canada and driving economic growth.
On October 13, the Government of Canada issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a private-sector partner to co-develop the project before making a final investment decision.
On July 31, the Board of Directors announced Martin Imbleau as the new CEO after a global search. He officially assumed the role on September 8.
Between April and November, the project team conducted a series of preliminary field studies for the project.
On March 30, Alto’s Chair, Rob Prichard, addressed the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Transportation Symposium, highlighting the project's vision, necessity, and upcoming developments.
On February 17, the Government of Canada launched a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), closing on April 24, 2023.
By July 20, three bidding teams were selected to compete for a partnership to refine the project in 2024. Learn More.
On February 23, Alto met with Mayors Shawn Pankow (Smiths Falls) and Genevieve Lajoie (Casselman) to share updates on the Toronto–Québec City rail project, designed to offer fast, frequent, and reliable service.
In December, the Minister of Transport established VIA HFR, a VIA Rail subsidiary, to advance High Frequency Rail, appointing three board members. The organization then expanded its expertise by appointing three professionals who would focus on project planning.
On March 9, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) for the High Frequency Rail project (now known as the Alto High-Speed Rail Network), which was published on March 10 by Public Services and Procurement Canada.
This announcement launched the procurement phase, including a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and a Request for Proposals (RFP).
With the REOI, the Government of Canada gathered input from the private sector on the design and management of the project, as well as on collaborative co-development possibilities. The Government of Canada reviewed all responses and provided an update to the market on October 31, 2022. The information informed the next steps in the procurement process.
On July 6, the Government of Canada announced that the first steps of the procurement process to build a new train service from Toronto to Québec City would soon be underway.
These steps included:
- Engaging Indigenous Peoples and communities to obtain feedback on the project.
Engaging with the private sector to determine capacity and seek perspectives on the best possible delivery model. The Government of Canada was planning to finalize the delivery model and launch the process to select a private partner.
Accelerating dialogue with partner railways to negotiate dedicated routes and, where necessary, shared access in and out of city centres.
In 2019, the Government of Canada granted funding for and established a Joint Project Office (JPO) between the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and VIA Rail to conduct de-risking, due diligence, pre-procurement and planning activities; to explore and analyze operating models; and to develop evidence-based procurement and financing options for the project. The JPO oversaw the project through to the end of 2021.
In 2020, the project team conducted the first series of preliminary field studies for the project, including studies on noise and vibration, fish and fish habitat, wildlife tracking, air quality and water.
VIA Rail put forward the concept of a new rail line between Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City.