Montreal-Ottawa will be 1st leg of ‘transformative’ high-speed rail plan. Will it happen?

First section of high-speed rail network will connect Ottawa and Montreal, minister saysTransport Minister Steven MacKinnon says the first leg of a planned high-speed rail network between Quebec and Toronto will link Ottawa and Montreal, saying the relatively short, flat and straight section is the most logical option for development.December 121 hour agoExpert reacts to details about the ambitious project Anya ZoledziowskiLeslie Woo, seen here in a 2019 file photo, is an urban planner and CEO of CivicAction, as well as the former chief planning and development officer for the GTA’s regional transportation authority, Metrolinx. (Maggie Macintosh/CBC)Leslie Woo, an urban planner and CEO of CivicAction, told CBC News Network that the government’s current timeline is “based on lots of assumptions.” “It doesn’t account for unforeseen things,” Woo said. “Something like a pandemic can totally throw everything off.”Woo said that consultations with communities and Indigenous communities, along with unfolding technical conditions, will determine an accurate timeline, and that estimates should be “updated constantly.”She also questioned why Ottawa and Montreal make up the anchors for the project’s first leg, adding that the real benefits won’t come until the Greater Toronto Area is also serviced — something that’s unlikely to come until 2035, if not later. Montreal and the GTA are “the largest urban centres with the highest potential for the number of riders,” she said.Still, Woo noted that breaking up the project into segments makes sense and said that it’s “great that the project is a priority for the federal government.”Time will tell how (and whether) this project will unfold as promised. We’re wrapping up our live updates for today. Thanks for following along.1 hour ago’Test case’: No real estimate for cost of first legAnya ZoledziowskiAlto CEO Martin Imbleau is shown in Montreal in this 2023 file photo. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)There’s no real estimate yet for the first phase of the project, according to the transportation minister and Alto CEO Martin Imbleau. We know that the entire project is estimated to cost tens of billions, with MacKinnon saying he’s expecting it to cost around $80 billion. With regards to the corridor between Ottawa and Montreal, though, “it would be difficult to have an estimate,” Imbleau told reporters. He added that they’ll use the first leg as a “test case,” but that “it’s kind of absurd to have an independent budget” for a portion of the full high-speed rail. Still, he noted that the first leg makes up about 25 per cent of the total line in terms of distance. That means, we still don’t know when the train will be up and running and we still don’t know the exact cost.2 hours agoConcerns about Via delaysBen Shingler (CBC)MacKinnon was asked about the 12-hour delay on a Via train yesterday, and he said he wasn’t “happy at all” with the response. He said Via needs to do better — but that it will remain in operation even after the high-speed line is in place.”We want to make sure that those communities continue to be served by an efficient and reliable train service,” he said.He also pointed out that part of the challenge for the Via line between Toronto and Montreal is that it relies in large part on tracks owned by CN Rail, which wants to get its freight to market as fast as possible.Just 59 per cent of Via trains arrived on time in 2023, according to last year’s annual report.2 hours agoQuestions about Conservative defections overshadow announcementAnya ZoledziowskiPrime Minister Mark Carney brings floor-crossing MP Michael Ma on stage during the Liberal holiday party on Wednesday. ( CBC)During the media availability, reporters peppered the transportation minister about the latest Conservative defection: on Thursday, Conservative MP Michael Ma crossed the floor and joined the Liberal caucus — inching the leading party closer to getting out of its minority government predicament. (Carney’s government is now one MP shy of a majority.) It makes sense that MacKinnon is getting these questions; his other job is House leader. Cryptically, Mackinnon said, “There are others like Mr. Ma,” but he wouldn’t name names. “We did not create this situation where Conservatives are frustrated with the direction their leadership has forced them to take,” he said. “There are lots of Conservatives, I assure you, who do not like the Poilievre approach.” 2 hours agoOfficials keep emphasizing project’s feasibilityAnya ZoledziowskiFirst section of high-speed rail network will connect Ottawa and Montreal, minister saysTransport Minister Steven MacKinnon says the first leg of a planned high-speed rail network between Quebec and Toronto will link Ottawa and Montreal, saying the relatively short, flat and straight section is the most logical option for development.The theme of this announcement: the project is realistic. In fact, the announcement has included repeated reassurance that construction will indeed take place. This comes amid widespread skepticism; many Canadians get the sense that this is more aspirational than realistic. Officials have underscored widespread public consultations, expected to begin in 2026, as well as the geographic benefits of starting with the line connecting Ottawa to Montreal via Laval. “We can point to three cities on a map and say, ‘This is where we will start construction,'” one official told the crowd, adding “This is nation-building stuff.”Still, it’s an expensive and difficult project, practically and politically. So it’s understandable that skepticism persists.2 hours agoConsultations starting in JanuaryBen ShinglerIn previously speaking about the proposed high-speed rail corridor between Quebec City and Toronto, experts have said they’d like to see more details around cost, design and alignment. (Jacob Barker/CBC)Consultations on the Montreal-Ottawa line will begin next month. Alto — the Crown corporation overseeing the project — says those will include open houses, virtual sessions and an online platform where the public can provide their thoughts. It will also consult with Indigenous communities, municipalities and public institutions about the plans. As my colleague Peter Zimonjic reported last month, the Liberal government has moved to streamline how it expropriates land ahead of the high-speed rail project, in a way that some say could compromise property rights and lead to costly mistakes.2 hours agoGeography matters for fast-tracking projectAnya ZoledziowskiA map of the proposed high-speed rail project, though the route — including potential stops — has not yet been confirmed. (CBC)It’s a “historic day” in Canada, according to Transport Minister MacKinnon. The desired corridor — stretching from Toronto to Quebec City — will span some 1,000 kilometres, with trains travelling up to 300 km/h.The first 200-kilometre stretch connecting Montreal to Ottawa is the shortest and flattest point of the proposed corridor. The government insists this is possible, and says it’s fast-tracking the project, as my colleague Peter hinted. “This acceleration will allow construction to begin in four years. I want to linger on that point: four years,” MacKinnon said during his announcement. 2 hours agoHigh-speed rail line described as ‘transformative’ for Canada Peter ZimonjicNew passenger trains sit on the tracks at the Via Rail maintenance centre in Montreal on Feb. 22, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)Speaking to a packed room of journalists, MPs and other officials in a glass room overlooking the Ottawa River, Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon described the planned project as “one of the largest public works ever contemplated in the history of our country.”He began the announcement by talking about how much of a priority this is for Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying that high-speed rail was identified early as a “transformative” project under the Major Projects Office.MacKinnon said that the first thing Carney said to him in appointing him to his current post was: “Steve, move things forward more quickly.”The trains, he said, could reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time in half, and construction would start in four years — in 2029.MacKinnon garnered laughs from the room when he said he wanted to repeat the breaking ground date of four years time. They are aware of high-speed rail’s disappointing history in this country.3 hours agoA few tidbits ahead of the announcement Anya ZoledziowskiGood morning! I’m Anya Zoledziowski, a senior writer on the news desk. As the transport minister starts to make the official announcement, here’s what we know so far: The 200-kilometre stretch connecting Montreal to Ottawa was chosen for the project’s first leg because it’s seemingly the most realistic: the section is the shortest and flattest point of the proposed corridor, Radio-Canada reported.The entire corridor would connect Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. This is a massive project, with estimates suggesting it will cost between $60 billion and $90 billion. Although skepticism about the project’s feasibility abounds, many Canadian commuters are hopeful, as my colleague Ben wrote. Imagine: a zippy three-hour trip between Toronto and Montreal.Fun fact: research from Japan suggests that high-speed rail networks can ease traffic congestion — and even lower housing costs, in part because they make mid-sized cities more accessible. 3 hours agoAnnouncement comes amid Via Rail delaysBen ShinglerVia Rail passenger stranded for 12 hours overnight with little informationVia Rail passengers travelling from Toronto to Ottawa were stranded for 12 hours overnight after an earlier train broke down near Brockville, Ont. The breakdown also disrupted two later trains.If it ever happens, a speedy train would be a welcome option for travellers — especially those faced with unforeseen delays. Today’s announcement comes a day after dozens of Via Rail passengers travelling from Toronto to Ottawa were stranded for 12 hours overnight, after an earlier train broke down near Brockville, Ont. There were more problems this morning: a train from Toronto to Ottawa has been stuck for more than an hour because of mechanical issues.When the train runs on time, the trip from Toronto to Montreal currently takes more than five hours, but a high-speed rail line could cut that to three.