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High Speed Rail Canada Adds ALTO Economic Analysis and Updated Michael Schabas Study

Consultant Michael Schabas has released updated Alto Conceptual Design and Business Case V3,August 2026.  Explained as a new, improved and expanded version of my Conceptual design and Business Case.  It addresses the route via 401 and serving Belleville, Kingston and Brockville. It also responds to Alto’s consultation and some  “research” papers they have released.   ALTO - The Economic Opportunity of High-Speed Rail August 2026 This document outlines the current assessment of Alto’s value. The analysis is grounded, the methodologies are transparent, and the proposed benefits hold across a wide range of scenarios. Beyond the economic and financial outcomes, this document also explores what Alto could mean for Canadians in their daily lives.The evidence shows that Alto delivers significant economic and financial benefits. Alto will deliver direct benefits to Canadians estimated to ~$49.5 billion and will deliver a step-change in economic performance, raising GDP ...
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High-Speed Rail Network Act Added to High-Speed Rail Canada website

  The Canadian government's latest High-Speed Rail Network Act, dated May 26th, 2026 has been added to our   Ontario-Quebec page. Since 2008, one the purposes of the High Speed Rail Canada website is to ensure all studies and legislation related to previous and present high-speed rail are available for free for the public on on our website. Transport Canada has given an overview of the Act on their site. Read the High-Speed Rail Network Act overview in English or French .
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Analyst believes Alberta an embarrassment with no inter-city passenger rail

Thanks to Michael Higgins and the CTV PrimeTime News Team for the interview on Alberta's Passenger Rail Plan.  You can view the video at: https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/shouldnt-even-be-a-question-analyst-believes-alberta-an-embarrassment-with-no-inner-city-passenger-rail/
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Alberta Needs Inter-City Passenger Trains Yesterday

Dayliner No9022 at Lethbridge railway station July 17 1971 - Lethbridge is Alberta's 4th largest city and may not see passenger rail return for 60 more years according to the Rail Master Plan. Photo courtesy of the Galt Museum and Archives It is no secret that the lack of any inter-city passenger rail in Alberta is a provincial embarrassment. Now the provincial government has released the Alberta's Passenger Rail Master Plan Executive Summary . It is looking at a passenger rail plan or the next 30-60 years.  Since 2004, I have advocated for getting  passenger rail between Calgary and Edmonton. At that time I had made presentations in province, when their was a high-speed rail study done and during the attempt by Bombardier to sell their JetTrain in the province. The Bombardier JetTrain, Calgary, Alberta 2003 - photo by Julian Lengauer The Failed 2004 Edmonton- Calgary High Speed Rail Attempt In 2003, the Alberta government was studying the concept again of high-speed rail betw...
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Eastern Ontario Route along Highway 401 and Stations Business Case and Preliminary Design by Michael Schabas and Andrew Antinucci Available

Alternative to ALTO high-speed rail route The mandate of High Speed Rail Canada has been to ensure all studies, businesses cases are available to the public. Michael Schabas and Andrew Antinucci completed the document for Kingston Accommodation Partners. Michael was part of the consortium that did not win the bid to work on the ALTO project. His latest work highlights a route closer to Highway #401. We have added this study to our Ontario-Quebec studies page — read the full Eastern Ontario Route business case here
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Go Alto, Canada’s Grassroots Push for High-Speed Rail, Is Here and It’s Building Momentum

  A new national campaign called Go Alto wants to make one thing clear: Canadians are ready for high-speed rail, and they are not willing to wait another decade. Here is everything you need to know about the campaign, the Alto project it supports, and why this moment could finally be different. GO ALTO WEBSITE LINK What Is the Go Alto Campaign and Who is David Bellerive? Go Alto is an independent, national advocacy campaign launched on May 25, 2026, by David Bellerive, a senior finance officer at the University of Ottawa and a long-time train enthusiast. Since 2021, Bellerive has been a contributor and editor at Rail Fans Canada, a website dedicated to documenting and analyzing public rail projects across the country. He launched Go Alto to highlight public support for Canada’s first high-speed rail line, rallying behind the simple message: “Canada has waited long enough. Build Alto.” The campaign is not affiliated with the government or the Alto Crown corporation. It is a citizen...
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Pierre Poilievre – Anti Alto High-Speed Rail Rhetoric - Flawed Arguments

In my lifetime, Pierre Poilievre, is the most negative Canadian party leader I have encountered. Pierre has come out against the ALTO high-speed rail project. The contradictions in his recent press conference showed just how little he knows on the subject and on the past and present situation of passenger and freight rail in this country. The following is my critique on Pierre’s high-speed rail press conference. Ignores Party Policy The official 2023 Conservative Party Declaration supports high-speed rail. I received several emails at the time from party members stating this as proof the Conservatives support the high-speed rail. Poilievre’s anti high-speed rail stance, as the Conservative party leader, ignored what the Conservative members wanted and voted on. No surprise to me, but maybe to the members that voted for it. Praising the building of the CPR Transcontinental Railway in just 4 yrs These statements by Pierre show just how ignorant he is of our past railway his...
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