France's high-speed rail landscape is experiencing a historic transformation with the emergence of Proxima, now operating under the brand name Velvet. This groundbreaking venture represents France's first independent high-speed rail operator, challenging the decades-long dominance of state-owned SNCF and promising to revolutionize rail travel across the country. The Birth of a Vision The story of Proxima begins with two visionary co-founders: Rachel Picard, former director of SNCF Voyageurs, and Tim Jackson, both of whom recognized an opportunity to address the growing demand for high-speed rail services in France. Their ambitious project gained substantial backing from Antin Infrastructure Partners, a French private equity firm that committed to an initial investment of €1 billion to bring this vision to life. The company's origins trace back to 2024, when the founders identified a critical gap in France's high-speed rail market. Despite France being Europe's l...

 Eastern Canada Urban Transit Infrastructure Symposium 2025: Innovations in Public Transportation Discover cutting-edge solutions for urban mobility challenges at the premier transportation conference in Toronto this May. Learn about transit project funding, smart city initiatives, and sustainable transportation development. The Canadian Institute Announces Major Transit Development Conference Date: May 29-30, 2025 Location: Novotel Toronto North York Hotel, Toronto, ON Focus: Urban transit innovations, infrastructure development, and sustainable transportation solutions Are you a transportation professional looking to stay ahead of the curve on public transit developments in Eastern Canada? The Canadian Institute's Urban Transit Infrastructure Symposium offers unparalleled networking and learning opportunities for transit authorities, municipal planners, engineers, and transportation consultants. Why Urban Transit Infrastructure Matters in 2025 Public transportation rema...

Two Studies Added to High-Speed Rail Canada Website The purpose of High Speed Rail Canada is to educate people on the past and present history on attempts to get high-speed rail (TGV) in Canada. We do this by putting all previous and present Canadian high-speed rail studies on our site. We are announcing today we have added to more documents to our website for the public to read and download. They are: 1995 Quebec Ontario High Speed Rail Project - Preliminary Routing Assessment and Costing Study SNC-Lavalin others 2025 - All Aboard: The Benefits of Faster, More Frequent Passenger Trains between Ontario and Québec and The Costs of Delay - C.D. Howe Institute  We have also added a 2025 draft map of the proposed Ontario-Quebec route. High Speed Rail Canada website LINK for Ontario-Quebec Studies.

  The following is the press release about high-speed rail from the Government of Canada. The Toronto-Quebec City corridor is a megaregion. It’s home to 18 million people, 40 per cent of our GDP, over 700,000 students, and more than 30 colleges and universities. This dynamic hub needs a transportation system that gets people from city to city, in the fastest time possible. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Canada is developing a high-speed rail network in the Toronto-Quebec City corridor . This transformative rail network will span approximately 1,000 km and reach speeds of up to 300 km/hour, with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City. Once operational, current travel times will be slashed in half – getting you from Montréal to Toronto in three hours. The official name of this high-speed rail service will be Alto. A country that believes in itself invests in its people and infrastructu...

  Portland-Vancouver high-speed rail inches forward The dream of a high-speed rail line connecting  Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC , is moving closer to reality. A recent  $49.7 million federal grant  has been awarded to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to study the feasibility of this ambitious project. This marks a significant step forward for the Cascadia high-speed rail line. I have travelled on the existing Amrak line from Seattle to Vancouver and truly is one of the most scenic trips you can go on. It is doubtful for a number of reasons that is the line the future high-speed rail line would take. Riding the Amtrak Cascades train is a scenic trip and well worth it! Key Points Federal Funding:  The $49.7 million grant comes from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program. The Washington Legislature is also contributing  $5.5 million in matching funds , bringing the total to ...

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Groundbreaking Book Unveils the Untold Story of Bombardier's High-Speed JetTrain: A Lost Vision of North American Rail Innovation CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO - December 18, 2024 -  High Speed Rail Canada founder Paul Langan reveals the compelling narrative behind Bombardier's revolutionary JetTrain in his latest book, offering unprecedented insights into a transformative moment in North American rail transportation. Bombardier's JetTrain Book Highlights: The JetTrain's Promising Journey In 2002, Bombardier introduced the JetTrain, a cutting-edge locomotive designed to: Reach unprecedented speeds of 240 km/h on existing tracks Potentially revolutionize passenger rail transportation Demonstrate Canadian engineering excellence Why This Book Matters for Transportation Enthusiasts and Industry Professionals Langan's meticulously researched 112-page book provides: Comprehensive archival research Exclusive interview with Bombardier's form...