The Canadian government said Wednesday that it is moving forward with a multi -billion dollar plan to build a high -speed railway network between Quebec City and Toronto.
The planned railway network will be 100% electric, span over 1,000 kilometers (622 miles) and reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour (187 miles per hour). There will be stations in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières and Quebec City.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference that the government will commit the CDN $ 3.9 billion ($ 2.74 billion for the network before the construction can begin.
Officials say it is too early to estimate the final cost of the project or when it will be completed.
“A reliable, effective high -speed railway network will be a game election for Canadians,” Trudeau said.
The new railway system, which will be known as Alto, will have travelers from Montréal to Toronto in just three hours. The announcement from Trudeau and Transport Minister Anita Anand comes after years of debate and extensive study of opportunities to improve the commuter’s rail service in central Canada.
Passenger rail -Service is currently dependent on tracks used by freight trains, limiting service frequency and often causing delays. The high -speed train network would be Canada’s largest ever infrastructure project, Trudeau said.
Trudeau published the message, although it is uncertain about how long the liberal party will continue to rule. He announced on January 6 that he resigns as party leader and prime minister. Left selects a new leader 9 March.
All three opposition parties have promised to reduce the liberal minority government in a vote without confidence after Parliament resumes on March 24.
Trudeau was convinced that the railway link would be built, even if the liberals are losing the next election.
“The high -speed rail in this country would always be a project that would take long enough to build that it would cover more governments,” Trudeau said. “It takes a will and a decision from a government to move forward and lock into this progress.”
Martin Imbleau, president and CEO of Alto, said Canada needs a sustainable, sustainable alternative to car and flights.
“A high -speed railway network is not a luxury. It’s a necessity, ”Imbleau said. “Motorways are more overloaded than ever, airports are stretched to their limits for many people, intercity trips are frustrating, unreliable and unsustainable.”
The government has chosen Cadence, a consortium of companies, to co-design, build, finance, operate and maintain the railway project project.