A group of political leaders from both sides of the border is urging the Canadian government to prioritize enhancing passenger rail service in southwestern Ontario and allocate budget funds to support it.
This plan includes upgrades to tracks, improvements to stations, and a shared border security facility aimed at reinstating passenger service between Detroit and Windsor, which has been absent for nearly 50 years.
“This affects the whole network of communities, universities, businesses, and commerce in a region that ranks among the largest economic areas globally,” stated London Mayor Josh Morgan on Tuesday during a press conference at London city hall.
“The seamless movement of people, businesses, and academics across different locations in that region is essential for our region’s success and growth.”
Morgan was joined by the mayors of Brantford and Windsor, a Michigan state senator, along with representatives from Detroit City Hall, the Detroit Transportation Corporation, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
“When you see so many diverse voices united on an issue like this, it signals we have a strong case to advocate effectively,” he added.
The group’s message emphasized that faster, more frequent, and reliable rail service-often referred to as high-performance rail-would enhance economic competitiveness while boosting mobility, tourism, and trade.
This would also connect Alto-the planned federal high-speed rail project linking Quebec City to Toronto-with Amtrak’s investments between Chicago and Detroit.
Other coalition members include mayors from Chatham-Kent, Oakville, and Woodstock. Toronto’s deputy mayor participated as well as officials from Mayor Olivia Chow’s office alongside representatives from VIA Rail and the Council on Foreign Relations.
One of VIA Rail’s new modern trains rolls into its London, Ont., station in July of 2023. (Colin Butler/)
The coalition believes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration should commit to enhancing the passenger rail corridor between Toronto and Windsor by improving existing infrastructure while adding capacity through legislative action prioritizing passenger trains.
Currently, VIA trains primarily operate on tracks owned by CN Rail but often have to stop for freight trains resulting in delays. Last year only 35 percent of VIA trains were punctual-a drop from 51 percent in 2024 and down from 71 percent ten years ago.
Challenges such as aging tracks and signals along with speed restrictions set by CN also prevent VIA’s newer fleet from reaching its maximum speeds of 200 km/h.
Past efforts aimed at boosting passenger rail services in southwestern Ontario have faltered including a proposed provincial high-speed rail initiative by Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals that was expected to launch by 2025 but was canceled by Premier Doug Ford.
Despite this history of setbacks Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens expressed optimism about realizing this vision partly due to the Alto project.
“Alto has a different tone; it’s much more focused than previous high-speed rail plans,” he remarked. “Starting with one section first allows us to establish it before making further improvements.”![]()
A VIA Rail map released in November 2023 showing how cross-border service would operate between Detroit and Windsor. (VIA Rail)
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Efforts to restore cross-border service gained traction several years back. Canada needs to invest millions into constructing a necessary Canada Border Services Agency facility at VIA’s Windsor station-a plan already proposed according to Dilkens.
“Michigan has allocated $43 million for this initiative,” he said. “We’re ready once our federal government approves funding worth $46 million on our side.” Travelers going from Toronto to Detroit would get off at Windsor via VIA pass through the new customs facility then board Amtrak which takes them under the Detroit River through an existing tunnel managed by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The route will extend Amtrak’s Wolverine service up until Windsor carrying passengers first toward Michigan Central Station before heading onward towards Chicago. The last time there was passenger service between Detroit and Windsor was back in 1979. This international link would maximize investments already made into Amtrak’s system connecting Chicago with Detroit according Republican state senator Roger Victory who represents Michigan’s 31st district.![]()
Roger Victory speaks with reporters at London city hall on June 18 ,2026.( Matthew Trevithick / CBC )
It presents significant economic prospects for our state since nearly twenty million residents live within Quebec City-Windsor corridor.
“I call that opportunity huge , ” said Victory. “ Twenty million. Let ’ s get connectivity established ; it excites me even more.”
The coalition ’ s vision hinges on collaboration with CN Rail , CPKC , plus Essex Terminal Railway.<
“They’ve been approached , ” mentioned Dilkens. “ There seems plenty enthusiasm because that tunnel beneath Detroit River remains vacant most days … It just necessitates sufficient investment matching what Michigan has set aside already.”
In their statement CPKC noted they weren’t familiar yet with proposals regarding Toronto-Windsor corridor though acknowledged an agreement reached back in year twenty-two allowing Amtrak access through tunnels.
A request sent out seeking comment from CN Railway went unanswered prior publishing time.<
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“Alto has a different tone; it’s much more focused than previous high-speed rail plans,” he remarked. “Starting with one section first allows us to establish it before making further improvements.”
“Michigan has allocated $43 million for this initiative,” he said. “We’re ready once our federal government approves funding worth $46 million on our side.” Travelers going from Toronto to Detroit would get off at Windsor via VIA pass through the new customs facility then board Amtrak which takes them under the Detroit River through an existing tunnel managed by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The route will extend Amtrak’s Wolverine service up until Windsor carrying passengers first toward Michigan Central Station before heading onward towards Chicago. The last time there was passenger service between Detroit and Windsor was back in 1979. This international link would maximize investments already made into Amtrak’s system connecting Chicago with Detroit according Republican state senator Roger Victory who represents Michigan’s 31st district.
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