RC124 MayJun 2026 - Magazine - Page 10
LEADERSHIP
With dedicated passenger tracks and peak speeds of up to 300km/h, Alto will significantly reduce travel times—even halve it in some cases—between major
cities in the Toronto–Québec City corridor.
A new reality for commuters
At its heart, Alto is a solution to a looming capacity crisis.
With travel demand in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor
expected to grow by 30 to 40 pe cent as the population
expands, existing infrastructure cannot keep pace. Imbleau
pointed out that even maintaining today’s level of mobility
would require massive investment; without Alto, that
capacity must be found somewhere else.
The vision for Alto is one of frequency and reliability: 20
to 25 departures daily, with trains every 30 minutes during
peak times. By connecting the two largest economic centers—
Toronto and Montreal—in just three hours, the rail line will
e昀昀ectively make the country “smaller” in the best way.
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“Imagine stepping into a train in Peterborough on a
snowy day and getting to Toronto before your co昀昀ee even
cools o昀昀,” Imbleau said. This level of connectivity allows the
labor market to expand, he added, as workers can access a
wider pool of jobs without the need to relocate. Businesses
can spend less time moving people and more time on
production, driving national productivity.
Lessons from global excellence
Canada is not an exception to the laws of transportation
gravity. Imbleau cited international examples to illustrate
the transformative power of high-speed rail. In France, the
TGV created a domestic supply chain employing tens of
thousands and made the country feel more connected. In
Spain, 3,000 kilometers of rail built over 30 years unlocked
demand no one saw coming. On the Madrid-Barcelona
corridor, 30 per cent of passengers are people who simply
did not travel before the high-speed option existed.
Alto aims to replicate this success by o昀昀ering a service that
travelers can rely on at competitive prices. The project is not
intended as a “niche service for the happy few,” said Imbleau,
but as an accessible alternative for millions, including the
eight million Canadians living with disabilities.
The success of high-speed rail relies heavily on how it
connects to the life of the city. Imbleau noted that Alto’s 300
km/h trains must integrate seamlessly with local transit
networks. This integration opens the door to wider urban
development, including much-needed housing near stations.
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ALTO
ECONOMIC IMPACT The project is projected to have a $25 billion
impact on Canada’s GDP, representing a 1.1 per cent boost to
the national economy.
SUPPLY CHAIN Under a “Buy Canada” policy, Alto intends to use
Canadian materials and labor to scale domestic industries,
particularly the steel sector.
INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIP Engagement with Indigenous
communities is a core pillar to ensure the project creates
lasting economic opportunities and ownership for
Indigenous businesses.
Imbleau was clear about the risks of further delay. “Inertia
comes with a price tag,” he warned, noting that without this
investment, Canada’s economy risks falling further behind
G20 nations.
