Plans to construct a high-speed electric train connecting Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City are in motion as the country’s population steadily grows.
A rapid passenger rail project between Quebec City and Toronto has evolved significantly with the creation of a new federal corporation dedicated to its development, according to VIA HFR CEO Martin Imbleau, who spoke about the plan to members of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal in late February.
The proposed route will stretch nearly 1,000kms with stops in Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Montreal, Ottawa, Peterborough and Toronto.
“We want to develop something that is fast, reliable, and frequent, comparable to European networks,” Imbleau said.
Currently, multiple companies are in the process of submitting proposals to oversee the project, which must include strategies to minimize travel times. The completion date for the line is the mid 2030’s, according to reports by the Toronto Star.
“This project will be transformative for both Quebec and Canada. We will bring cities closer together and connect three capitals and the country’s two biggest cities,” Imbleau added.
Imbleau also highlighted the need to factor in population increases along the corridor to provide “a solution to traffic congestion, promote the development of intercity transport and contribute to the decarbonization of the transport sector.”
Imbleau’s announcement comes in a year following record population growth.
According to Statistics Canada, as of Jan. 1, 2024, the country’s population reached more than 40.7 million, corresponding to an increase of over 1.2 million people compared with a year ago.
The 3.2 per cent annual growth was the highest in Canada since 1957, Statistics Canada reported.
The agency attributed the rise in 2023 to “temporary immigration,” though permanent immigration was also up compared with 2022 in every province and territory except Nova Scotia and Quebec.
In total, 804,901 non-permanent residents (NPRs) were added to Canada’s population in 2023 and the majority of those were temporary workers, followed by international students. Just over one in 10 NPRs were asylum claimants, according to Statistics Canada.
The government will select a private sector partner to co-develop the trainline corridor by the end of 2024. It will be the largest transportation infrastructure project in Canada since the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway more than 60 years ago, according to VIA HFR.
