The group responsible for launching Canada’s first high-speed train service along the Toronto-Quebec City route will be in Pickering on Thursday. This is part of a series of open houses and online sessions aimed at discussing a service that could draw up to 24 million riders annually by 2055.
Alto, the crown corporation in charge of constructing the high-speed rail line, will set up at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m. on Thursday. Residents are invited to connect with the Alto team, share their thoughts, and help shape the future of this rail network.
Alto previously held an event at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto on February 4 and 5, which saw nearly 200 attendees during its first afternoon session. The team is also scheduled to visit Scarborough on Tuesday and Markham on Wednesday, as part of 26 open houses and up to 10 virtual sessions designed for public feedback on the project.
Peter Paz, Alto’s senior director for public and government relations in Ontario, mentioned that there has been an “incredible response,” noting that many people are enthusiastic about the initiative while some express doubts regarding costs ($3.9 billion in federal funding has been committed), as well as concerns about its starting location in Toronto.
“Union is our preferred location; 300,000 people go through Union Station every day,” Paz stated. “But we recognize there are challenges-constructability issues and congestion-so if we can’t use Union, we’re aiming for a site as close to it as possible.”
The study corridor’s width of ten kilometers has raised some questions, but Paz emphasized they want to gather public feedback on environmental aspects like floodplains and landmarks before narrowing down the rail path corridor.
Unlike traditional rail services such as VIA Rail or GO train lines, high-speed trains can reach speeds of up to 315 kilometers per hour and must travel along straight routes.
“The launch of public consultations is an important milestone for the Alto High-Speed Rail project. By engaging Canadians early, and by working in partnership with Indigenous communities, we are ensuring this project is shaped by local knowledge, environmental responsibility, and shared priorities,” said federal Transport Minister Steven Mac Kinnon. “This work will help lay the foundation for a modern transportation network that creates good jobs, supports economic growth, strengthens regional connections, and delivers lasting benefits for communities along the corridor.”
The discussions started through these public consultations will continue as Alto progresses with the project alongside Indigenous communities, municipalities, and public institutions while considering “diverse realities” from both rural and urban areas including landowners and farmers.
The insights gathered during these consultations will influence how the rail network’s alignment takes shape which will be defined later in 2026. A second round of consultations will then follow to review and refine this proposed alignment.
This project aims to have stations in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Québec City connecting millions who live along Canada’s most populated corridor-home to half of the country’s residents.
The high-speed line represents Canada’s largest public infrastructure endeavor in recent years.
Construction on its first segment from Ottawa to Montreal is expected to begin around 2029 or 2030. There’ll be a phased construction strategy meaning work on other sections might commence even before finishing this initial segment; however, the final completion date remains unknown.
You can find more details about these public consultations at a dedicated consultation portal – Shaping the Canada of tomorrow with high-speed rail | Alto Project – which includes a complete schedule of open houses across Ontarioand Quebec through March as well as an interactive map detailingthe rail corridor.
With files from Karen Longwell
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Unlike traditional rail services such as VIA Rail or GO train lines, high-speed trains can reach speeds of up to 315 kilometers per hour and must travel along straight routes.
“The launch of public consultations is an important milestone for the Alto High-Speed Rail project. By engaging Canadians early, and by working in partnership with Indigenous communities, we are ensuring this project is shaped by local knowledge, environmental responsibility, and shared priorities,” said federal Transport Minister Steven Mac Kinnon. “This work will help lay the foundation for a modern transportation network that creates good jobs, supports economic growth, strengthens regional connections, and delivers lasting benefits for communities along the corridor.”
The discussions started through these public consultations will continue as Alto progresses with the project alongside Indigenous communities, municipalities, and public institutions while considering “diverse realities” from both rural and urban areas including landowners and farmers.
The insights gathered during these consultations will influence how the rail network’s alignment takes shape which will be defined later in 2026. A second round of consultations will then follow to review and refine this proposed alignment.
This project aims to have stations in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Québec City connecting millions who live along Canada’s most populated corridor-home to half of the country’s residents.
The high-speed line represents Canada’s largest public infrastructure endeavor in recent years.
Construction on its first segment from Ottawa to Montreal is expected to begin around 2029 or 2030. There’ll be a phased construction strategy meaning work on other sections might commence even before finishing this initial segment; however, the final completion date remains unknown.
You can find more details about these public consultations at a dedicated consultation portal – Shaping the Canada of tomorrow with high-speed rail | Alto Project – which includes a complete schedule of open houses across Ontarioand Quebec through March as well as an interactive map detailingthe rail corridor.
With files from Karen Longwell
INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies
Last 30 Days: 81,331 Votes
All Time: 1,223,655 Votes
162 VOTES
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