Alto Reports 2025 Developments in Canada’s High-Speed Rail Programme

Throughout 2025, Alto advanced from concept to an active development programme for high-speed rail in Canada. The year was marked by a series of policy decisions, contractual milestones, and preparatory work that collectively moved the project into its next phase.

Federal support confirmed (February)

In February, the Government of Canada confirmed full federal support for the project. The announcement, made by then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, included the selection of Cadence as the private development partner and formal backing for the delivery of a high-speed rail network.

At the same time, the project adopted the name Alto as its public identity. With development funding secured, work began in earnest on governance, programme structure, and early-stage planning activities.

Partnership formalised (March)

In March, Alto and Cadence signed the development contract. This agreement established the framework for collaboration between public and private partners and confirmed roles and responsibilities for the next phase of work.

Teams across multiple regions and disciplines were brought together to support technical development, stakeholder engagement, and programme coordination for Canada’s first high-speed rail project.

Recognition as a national strategy (September)

On 11 September, the Government of Canada formally identified Alto as a transformative national strategy. This designation included a commitment to accelerate development and pre-construction activities, with the intention of bringing forward the start of construction compared with earlier timelines.

This decision provided greater certainty for long-term planning and reinforced the project’s role within Canada’s future transport infrastructure.

First network segment announced (December)

In December, Alto confirmed that the Montréal–Ottawa corridor would be the first segment of the network to be delivered.

This segment was selected due to its strategic location between Ontario and Québec and its potential to deliver early operational and development benefits. Work on this section will support regulatory approvals, pre-construction activities, and the development of technical and organisational capability required for subsequent phases.

While Montréal–Ottawa is the first confirmed segment, work on other parts of the network will continue in parallel. This includes identifying potential station locations, defining access routes into urban areas, and planning integration with existing public transport systems.

Ongoing technical and community work

Throughout the year, Alto’s teams progressed with design development, field studies, and environmental and technical assessments. Engagement with municipalities, regional authorities, and stakeholders continued across the Corridor.

Consultation with Indigenous communities remained a core element of the programme, with discussions aimed at ensuring meaningful participation and incorporating feedback into project planning. The project remains at an early stage, with further studies and approvals required before construction.

Tracking public opinion

Public opinion research conducted over the past 18 months indicates consistent support for high-speed rail in the Corridor. Quarterly surveys of approximately 1,000 residents in Québec and Ontario have shown stable results.

The most recent survey, conducted in late November 2025, found that 73 percent of respondents supported the project, with 31 percent indicating strong support.

Plans for 2026

Looking ahead, Alto is preparing a programme of in-person open houses and virtual information sessions across Ontario and Québec, scheduled to begin in 2026. These events are intended to provide information on the project and to gather feedback from communities along the proposed route.

During 2026, work will focus on refining the preferred corridor, incorporating local considerations, and advancing preparations for the federal Impact Assessment process. Planning will also continue to support a potential construction start in 2029 or 2030.

As development progresses, Alto’s stated objective remains to deliver high-speed rail in a manner that is structured, accountable, and informed by public and stakeholder input.