Toronto to Montreal in 3 hours? Canada might be finally ready to build a high speed rail line — but how fast it will be remains an open question

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/toronto-to-montreal-in-3-hours-canada-might-be-finally-ready-to-build-a-high/article_2e90794c-818b-11ef-a8ae-ff90b4e20a53.html

28 Comments

  1. An idea slightly more credible than a 50km tunnel under the 401.

    > In the coming weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet is expected to choose which of three groups of private companies will get to help design and build a new passenger rail project that proponents bill as a game-changer for travel through the most populated part of the country. Running 1,000 kilometres from Toronto to Quebec City, the promised rail corridor is meant to slash journey times between major cities and could bring Canada — many say belatedly — into the modern era of high speed rail travel. 

  2. It crosses provincial borders, meaning it will fall under federal jurisdiction. Not gonna happen. The only viable HSR in Canada right now is Calgary-Edmonton.

  3. RefrigeratorOk648 on

    What was all that talk about High Frequency Rail ? Not high speed just a higher frequency of trains by not sharing the lines with freight.

    Are they going to ditch that for high speed ?

  4. OldThrashbarg2000 on

    Would love this, especially an ultra fast version, but I no longer expect Canada to be able to pull off these big projects anymore. We’re strictly inferior to countries like China, India, and Japan when it comes to this sort of thing.

  5. Impossible_Break2167 on

    Canada needs high speed rail. It could be a nation building project, but we need someone who can actually lead.

  6. random20190826 on

    As a person who will never be able to drive due to poor vision who is from China—a country with an abundance of railroads, I say: bring it on! About 50% of Canadians live in that narrow strip of land between Windsor and Quebec City and the population density justifies the cost. I vacationed in Japan and was amazed at how comfortable the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka was, and it cost the same as Toronto to Montreal using VIA rail, but is significantly faster.

  7. A 3 hour travel time would not be impressive when you can drive it in 5.5 hours for, I assume, a lot less money. A flight is one hour.

    They have to get it to atleast 2 hours to attract business class travellers.

  8. It’ll probably be named the ‘Trudeau Express’ when it takes its maiden voyage in 2053.

  9. I’ll believe it when I see shovels in the ground. Just like electoral reform I’ve seen this talked about too many times to get my hopes up. 🫠

  10. RedEyedWiartonBoy on

    25 years of planning, 47 slightly to fully corrupt contracts, cost overruns beyond wildest expectations, and a product that will possibly almost meet the barest minimum standards.

    Why bother?

  11. The tourist in me would love it. However, I can’t help but feel that will drive prices up in Montreal as it may become more or less a commuter town for a wealthy few working in Toronto and living in Montreal.

  12. Pretty sure that idea is a frivolous land claim away from being derailed (pun intended)