Ottawa–Montréal high-speed line picked for Alto launch

Ottawa–Montréal high-speed line has been chosen as the first construction segment of the Alto high-speed rail line, the broader program meant to connect Toronto and Québec City.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The starter section spans two provinces and follows a shorter route of roughly 200 km.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon called the decision a step toward faster, cleaner, and better-connected transportation for Canadians. He added that work with Alto, along with partners in government and communities, is intended to lay the groundwork for a high-speed network that can place Canada more firmly on the global map of modern rail innovation.

Why the Ottawa–Montréal high-speed rail project comes first?

Alto’s plan puts the Ottawa–Montréal link at the front of the queue to help move the wider corridor ahead sooner and more smoothly. Teams in both provinces are expected to work in parallel, so communities can see benefits earlier.

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The same approach is also intended to help workers build the skills needed as the network expands toward Toronto and Québec City.

Martin Imbleau, President of Alto, said a project of this scale requires multi-stage planning. In his view, starting with Ottawa–Montréal is a practical way to optimize the rollout, accelerate implementation, and deliver concrete local economic benefits.

Timeline: construction in 2029, consultations starting in January 2026

Construction on the Ottawa–Montréal high-speed line is scheduled to begin in 2029. Ahead of that, Alto plans an extensive public engagement effort, including a three-month consultation process beginning in January 2026, as previously covered by Railway Supply.

The company says Canadians will have multiple opportunities to share views on the corridor under consideration. Alto also describes the consultation as only the first phase of an ongoing dialogue that will continue beyond the initial round. The results are expected to help select the preferred route and station locations, and to guide steps meant to reduce impacts and enhance benefits for local communities.

Route, speeds, and promised benefits of the Alto high-speed rail line

The Alto high-speed rail line is described as Canada’s largest infrastructure investment in decades and is expected to become the country’s first high-speed rail line. It is planned to stretch about 1,000 km between Toronto and Québec City, passing through Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Québec, as reported by RailwayPro.

Design targets call for trains to operate at speeds of over 300 km/h, with the stated aim of cutting travel time in half. The Ottawa–Montréal high-speed line is also positioned as an economic stimulus that would create well-paid jobs, support Canadian businesses and industry, and provide Canadians with a transportation system intended to match a major economy.

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