The Canadian federal government is considering building the country’s first high-speed rail line between Quebec and Toronto, according to Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada’s Minister of Public Services, Procurement, and Revenue.

The government initially announced plans for a high-speed rail corridor in 2021, with planned stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, and Laval. At the time, the estimated cost of the project ranged from CAD 6 to 12 billion (approximately USD 4.2 to 8.4 billion). Initially, the trains were set to operate at a maximum speed of 200 km/h, but now authorities are considering increasing that speed to high-speed rail standards.

Canada is currently the only G7 country without a high-speed rail system. The project to connect Toronto and Quebec via a high-speed line was first proposed in 2015.

In 2023, a request for proposals was announced to three consortiums: Cadence, Intercity Rail Developers, and QConnexiON Rail Partners, who are tasked with designing both a fast rail and high-speed rail option. The results of this request are expected to be released soon.