Montreal city councillors pushing Quebec City-Toronto high-speed rail plan

Feds seek companies to build rail line The transport minister is starting the search for private companies to build the line between Toronto and Quebec City.

Two independent Montreal city councillors want to start what many have tried in the past: build a high-speed rail line to Toronto.

Councillors Craig Sauve and Serge Sasseville plan to table a motion at the Montreal City Council meeting on Monday formally asking Ottawa to begin the creation of a high-speed train line in the Quebec-Toronto corridor.

The French transport giant Alstom SA purchased Bombardier's rail unit in 2021 and has been pushing Justin Trudeau's government to adopt high-speed rail service from Quebec City to Toronto.

The company says commutes between the two cities will be cut in half on a high-speed line or train a grande vitesse (TGV).

"The enthusiasm is palpable for a TGV in the Quebec-Toronto corridor. It would be a huge legacy for the quality of life and the environment. We are the only G7 country without a high-speed rail network," said Sauve in a news release.

Alstom will pilot a green hydrogen train on the Charlevoix railway this summer with Quebec chipping in $3 million of the $8 million pricetag.

Alstom Americas president Michael Keroulle said the company has been talking with the CAQ government about further investment in hydrogen transport.