JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report
As communities along the proposed corridor for the planned high-speed train between Quebec City and Toronto grapple with what it will mean for them, residents in this region are invited to participate in virtual information sessions hosted by the crown corporation responsible for planning and operating this service.
The meeting may be of special interest to residents of Rigaud and Pointe Fortune, as these towns have been included in the path of one of the options for the potential route of the train line.
An interactive map published by crown corporation Alto illustrates a potential route cutting through part of Pointe Fortune and the rural western section of Rigaud.
The map itself is not a precise plan, as it sketches a corridor that is much wider than what is required. It is an area that stretches from Rigaud and about 20 kilometres across to Hawkesbury and the southern portion of Lachute. This means that the future rail line could be located anywhere within this swath. No other area of the 1019 region falls within Alto’s route projection map.
TRAIN: Info meeting planned
Earlier this month, residents of Chute à Blondeau, next to Rigaud, just across the Ontario border, held a protest to voice their opposition to the proposed route that would cut through their town. They were the latest community to stage a demonstration to voice their concerns
The plan to build a 1,000-kilometre high-speed rail between Quebec City and Toronto was announced in 2025 by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The first segment of the line, connecting Ottawa with Laval and Montreal, is expected to break ground in 2029.
The proposed project is predicted to cost between $60 billion and $90 billion, would see the train reaching speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour on mainly electrified tracks. Alto predicts that the line would get passengers between Ottawa and Montreal in one hour, and between Quebec City and Toronto in three hours. Canada is currently the only G7 country that does not have a high-speed rail line.
The English-language virtual session takes place on Monday, March 23, starting at 7 p.m. This is followed by a French-language session on Thursday, March 26, also starting at 7 p.m. Those interested in attending must register at https://www.altotrain.ca/en/public-consultation/virtual-session