Alto is Canada's first high-speed passenger rail project, connecting Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivieres and Quebec City across approximately 1,000 kilometres of dedicated, electrified track. The corridor is home to more than 17 million people. Alto and government publications variously cite figures of 17 to 18 million and shares of 41 to 44 per cent of Canada's population, reflecting different corridor definitions and population vintages used across sources.
The project carries an estimated capital cost of CAD 60 to 90 billion and is positioned as Canada's largest infrastructure investment in generations. On 19 February 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the selection of the Cadence consortium as the private development partner, and on 21 March 2025, Alto and Cadence signed the pre-development agreement commencing the co-development phase. On 11 September 2025, the Government of Canada identified Alto as a transformative strategy and referred it to the Major Projects Office.
Sources: Prime Minister of Canada, 19 February 2025; AtkinsRealis, 21 March 2025; Major Projects Office, Alto page
Alto is a Crown corporation incorporated on 29 November 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of VIA Rail Canada, operating at arm's length from VIA Rail under the authority of the Minister of Transport. The corporation is headquartered in Montreal. Martin Imbleau has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2023.
The project proposes dedicated, electrified passenger tracks with peak speeds of 300 kilometres per hour or more. Stops are planned for seven cities: Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivieres and Quebec City. On 22 June 2026, the Minister of Transport directed Alto to assess a southern route option between Peterborough and Ottawa that includes a potential stop in Kingston, subject to technical feasibility.
The delivery model is a design-build-finance-operate-maintain public-private partnership. The Cadence consortium comprises CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRealis, Keolis, SYSTRA, SNCF Voyageurs and Air Canada. Arup, in partnership with AECOM, has served as owner's engineer since 2020, providing technical oversight from concept development through to procurement and co-development.
Sources: Transport Canada, Alto corporate profile; Cadence consortium; Transport Canada, Kingston announcement, 22 June 2026; Arup, Alto project page
| Category |
Information |
| Route |
Toronto-Peterborough-Ottawa-Montreal-Laval-Trois-Rivieres-Quebec City |
| Distance |
Approximately 1,000 kilometres |
| Proponent | Alto (Crown corporation, subsidiary of VIA Rail) |
| Private Development Partner | Cadence consortium |
| Estimated Capital Cost | CAD 60 to 90 billion |
| Co-Development Phase Investment | CAD 3.9 billion over six years |
| Technology | Dedicated, electrified high-speed passenger rail; peak speeds of 300 km/h or more |
| Corridor Population | More than 17 million people (figures of 17 to 18 million appear across sources) |
| Project Status | Co-development phase (design, environmental assessment, consultation) |
| MPO Designation | Transformative strategy, referred 11 September 2025 |
| First Segment | Ottawa to Montreal (approximately 200 km) |
| Target Construction Start | 2029 or 2030 |
| Legislative Framework | High-Speed Rail Network Act, enacted 26 March 2026 (Bill C-15) |
| Projected Employment | Over 50,000 jobs during construction; 5,000 during operations |
| Projected Ridership | Up to 24 million passengers annually by 2055; up to 43 million by 2084 |
Sources: Alto FAQ; Major Projects Office; Transport Canada, 12 December 2025; Parliament of Canada, Bill C-15 Royal Assent; Alto, economic benefits
Status: Co-development phase
Sources: Alto, What's Happening timeline; Alto, public consultation completion, 24 April 2026; Transport Canada, What We Heard Report, 22 June 2026; Parliament of Canada, Bill C-15; Major Projects Office
| Date |
Milestone |
| 29 November 2022 |
Toronto-Peterborough-Ottawa-Montreal-Laval-Trois-Rivieres-Quebec City |
| September 2023 |
Approximately 1,000 kilometres |
| October 2023 |
Alto (Crown corporation, subsidiary of VIA Rail) |
| 19 February 2025 |
Cadence consortium |
| 21 March 2025 |
CAD 60 to 90 billion |
| 11 September 2025 | CAD 3.9 billion over six years |
| 18 November 2025 |
Dedicated, electrified high-speed passenger rail; peak speeds of 300 km/h or more |
| 12 December 2025 |
More than 17 million people (figures of 17 to 18 million appear across sources) |
| January to April 2026 |
Co-development phase (design, environmental assessment, consultation) |
| October 2025 to June 2026 |
Transformative strategy, referred 11 September 2025 |
| 26 March 2026 |
Ottawa to Montreal (approximately 200 km) |
| 22 June 2026 |
2029 or 2030 |
| Autumn 2026 |
More precise corridor alignment expected |
| Early 2027 |
Federal impact assessment process expected to commence |
| 2029 or 2030 |
Construction start target (first segment, Ottawa to Montreal) |
| Estimated 2035 to 2038 | First segment operational |
| Estimated 2041 to 2044 | Full network operational |
Sources: Alto, What's Happening; Transport Canada, Alto corporate profile; Parliament of Canada, Bill C-15 Royal Assent; Transport Canada, 12 December 2025
Cost Summary:
Alto's publicly stated capital cost estimate is CAD 60 to 90 billion. Alto states this is based on the scale of the project and available research, and that the estimate will be updated as the project moves forward and variables become more defined. This range does not distinguish between capital costs and operating and maintenance costs.
The co-development phase is funded at CAD 3.9 billion over six years, provided by the Government of Canada. Prior to this, the 2024-2025 federal budget provided CAD 368.3 million over six years to Alto's operations as a Crown corporation.
An internal Alto briefing document disclosed by The Globe and Mail on 31 August 2026 set out separate cost categories on a 40-year appraisal basis: infrastructure capital of CAD 83.5 billion, rolling stock of CAD 2 to 2.2 billion, and operating and maintenance costs of CAD 62.6 to 67 billion. Combined, this produces a rough order of magnitude total of CAD 148.1 to 152.7 billion. The same document projects total fare revenue of CAD 105 billion over the 40-year period. These internal figures have not been confirmed publicly by Alto.
Sources: Alto, cost FAQ; The Globe and Mail, 31 August 2026; Transport Canada, Alto binder
Regulatory Status
The project sits at the co-development stage with no construction licence issued. Alto was not included among the initial "nation-building" projects announced on 14 September 2025; Alto's CEO Martin Imbleau stated at the time that he expected the project to make future priority lists as development advances further. On 11 September 2025, the Government of Canada separately identified Alto as a transformative strategy and referred it to the Major Projects Office.
The High-Speed Rail Network Act, enacted under Bill C-15 (the Budget 2025 implementation act), received Royal Assent on 26 March 2026. The Act designates the railway as a work for the general advantage of Canada, exempts the project from Canadian Transportation Agency review, and provides a modernised expropriation framework. Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Expropriation Act are suspended for this project, removing the right to a hearing before a commissioner following an objection to a proposed expropriation. The Act permits Alto to acquire or expropriate land while federal impact assessments are still underway, though construction cannot begin until the necessary environmental approval has been granted.
Each segment of the project will undergo an impact assessment under the Impact Assessment Act. Alto plans to commence the federal impact assessment process in early 2027, with the process expected to last approximately two years.
Sources: Major Projects Office; Parliament of Canada, Bill C-15 Royal Assent; Department of Finance Canada, 26 March 2026; The Walrus, 27 August 2026
Indigenous Participation
The project traverses traditional territories of multiple First Nations across Ontario and Quebec. The Major Projects Office states that Alto has been leading engagement with approximately 40 Indigenous communities and organisations. Between October 2025 and June 2026, Alto conducted 102 meetings with 29 Indigenous communities, including meetings with leadership and technical representatives, technical briefings and review of corridor mapping and supporting materials.
The What We Heard Report released on 22 June 2026 noted that communities highlighted the need for stronger protection of lands, rights and ecosystems and for meaningful inclusion in decision-making. The report organised feedback by theme across communities and regions.
As of September 2026, the project has not announced confirmed Indigenous equity participation or investment commitments. Alto's public engagement materials state that Indigenous participation will be integrated across all stages of the project, with a focus on participation in planning, delivery and opportunities related to employment and economic participation. The consideration of a southern route through Kingston raises additional consultation requirements, particularly given potential overlap with Williams Treaties lands.
Sources: Major Projects Office; Transport Canada, What We Heard, 22 June 2026; Alto, Indigenous consultation What We Heard Report; Alto, public engagement page; Mondaq, 29 June 2026
Economic Impact
Alto estimates the project could contribute a 1.1 per cent uplift in Canada's GDP, equivalent to CAD 24.5 billion annually in present value terms. Earlier government announcements, including the Prime Minister's statement of 19 February 2025 and subsequent ministerial statements, cite a figure of up to CAD 35 billion annually. The two figures appear to derive from different methodologies and are presented here with separate attribution.
The Major Projects Office states the project will create up to 51,000 new jobs over 10 years. Alto's own economic analysis specifies over 50,000 jobs during construction and an additional 5,000 during operations.
Additional figures published by Alto and the Major Projects Office include: up to 43 million passengers annually at full maturity (by 2084), with 24 million annually projected by 2055; contribution to the development of 63,000 homes; removal of the equivalent of approximately 100,000 cars from roads annually; and up to 39 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in savings over the project lifecycle. Natural Resources Canada's 2026-2030 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan separately cites a figure of 25 million tonnes of CO2 savings for the same project, a discrepancy between two federal sources that has not been reconciled in public materials.
Travel times will be reduced substantially. Toronto to Montreal is projected at approximately three hours, compared to over five hours by current rail or road. Ottawa to Montreal is projected at under one hour.
Sources: Alto, economic benefits; Alto, project benefits; Major Projects Office; Prime Minister of Canada, 19 February 2025; Natural Resources Canada, Sustainable Jobs Action Plan
Technical Specifications
Sources: Alto FAQ; Cadence consortium; Arup, Alto project page; Alto public consultation report, June 2026
Sources