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 to our Ontario-Quebec studies page. Here is the LINK .

  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. 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-driven initiative des...

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...

  From 1984 dreams to 2026 reality—now it's your turn to participate We're excited to announce a major update to our Canadian High-Speed Rail Maps page, and this time, there's something different: you can actually help shape the future of high-speed rail in Canada. Since 2008, High-Speed Rail Canada has been documenting the vision, studies, and proposals for bringing world-class high-speed rail to this country. Our updated maps page now offers the most comprehensive visual timeline of Canadian HSR planning—from the earliest proposals to today's active consultation process. Alto High Speed Rail Consultation Map A Journey Through Time: 1984 to 2026 Our updated collection spans 42 years of high-speed rail planning in Canada, featuring: The Early Vision (1991-1995)  VIA Rail first studied high-speed rail in 1984. That is when planners first seriously considered connecting Canada's two largest provinces with high-speed rail. The mid-90s brought detailed routing asse...

 As a person that has watched, for over 30 years, Canada's inability to modernize its passenger rail system, it gets monotonous hearing the same old arguments. Lately, I have heard some state, "Now is not the time" for high-speed rail. Yep, heard that one for thirty years! Unfortunately, not having modern high-speed rail has resulted in Canada having a passenger rail system that is in decline.  For these people, a five-plus-hour train trip between Toronto and Montreal—plagued by regular delays—is somehow tolerable. The regression is remarkable when you consider that the same route took four hours in the 1970s. This recent skepticism about Canada's Alto high-speed rail project misses the forest for the trees. While caution about major infrastructure investments is prudent, dismissing this transformational project ignores compelling economic realities, misrepresents comparative priorities, and underestimates what modern nations require to remain competitive in the 21st...

Expert Railway Planner Publishes Independent High-Speed Rail Study for Canada High-Speed Rail Canada has published a significant new document on its Ontario-Quebec Studies page   LINK : a comprehensive high-speed rail conceptual design and business case for the entire Windsor-Quebec City corridor, authored by renowned railway expert Michael Schabas. About Michael Schabas: Leading Voice in High-Speed Rail Planning Michael Schabas brings decades of international railway expertise to Canadian transportation planning. The Canadian-born transport professional has shaped urban rail, intercity rail, high-speed rail, and long-distance railway projects across three continents, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Career Highlights Transport planner with extensive high-speed rail experience Railway operator and developer Consultant to major Canadian transportation agencies including VIA Rail, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Canada Infrastructure Bank, Transport Ca...