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Pierre Poilievre – Anti Alto High-Speed Rail Rhetoric - Flawed Arguments

In my lifetime, Pierre Poilievre, is the most negative Canadian party leader I have encountered. Pierre has come out against the ALTO high-speed rail project. The contradictions in his recent press conference showed just how little he knows on the subject and on the past and present situation of passenger and freight rail in this country. The following is my critique on Pierre’s high-speed rail press conference. Ignores Party Policy The official 2023 Conservative Party Declaration supports high-speed rail. I received several emails at the time from party members stating this as proof the Conservatives support the high-speed rail. Poilievre’s anti high-speed rail stance, as the Conservative party leader, ignored what the Conservative members wanted and voted on. No surprise to me, but maybe to the members that voted for it. Praising the building of the CPR Transcontinental Railway in just 4 yrs These statements by Pierre show just how ignorant he is of our past railway his...
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1984-2026 Canadian High-Speed Rail Maps Added to Site

  From 1984 dreams to 2026 reality—now it's your turn to participate We're excited to announce a major update to our Canadian High-Speed Rail Maps page, and this time, there's something different: you can actually help shape the future of high-speed rail in Canada. Since 2008, High-Speed Rail Canada has been documenting the vision, studies, and proposals for bringing world-class high-speed rail to this country. Our updated maps page now offers the most comprehensive visual timeline of Canadian HSR planning—from the earliest proposals to today's active consultation process. Alto High Speed Rail Consultation Map A Journey Through Time: 1984 to 2026 Our updated collection spans 42 years of high-speed rail planning in Canada, featuring: The Early Vision (1991-1995)  VIA Rail first studied high-speed rail in 1984. That is when planners first seriously considered connecting Canada's two largest provinces with high-speed rail. The mid-90s brought detailed routing asse...
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Why Alto High-Speed Rail Is Exactly What Canada Needs Now

 As a person that has watched, for over 30 years, Canada's inability to modernize its passenger rail system, it gets monotonous hearing the same old arguments. Lately, I have heard some state, "Now is not the time" for high-speed rail. Yep, heard that one for thirty years! Unfortunately, not having modern high-speed rail has resulted in Canada having a passenger rail system that is in decline.  For these people, a five-plus-hour train trip between Toronto and Montreal—plagued by regular delays—is somehow tolerable. The regression is remarkable when you consider that the same route took four hours in the 1970s. This recent skepticism about Canada's Alto high-speed rail project misses the forest for the trees. While caution about major infrastructure investments is prudent, dismissing this transformational project ignores compelling economic realities, misrepresents comparative priorities, and underestimates what modern nations require to remain competitive in the 21st...
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Michael Schabas Releases High-Speed Rail Conceptual Design and Business Case for Windsor-Quebec City Corridor

Expert Railway Planner Publishes Independent High-Speed Rail Study for Canada High-Speed Rail Canada has published a significant new document on its Ontario-Quebec Studies page   LINK : a comprehensive high-speed rail conceptual design and business case for the entire Windsor-Quebec City corridor, authored by renowned railway expert Michael Schabas. About Michael Schabas: Leading Voice in High-Speed Rail Planning Michael Schabas brings decades of international railway expertise to Canadian transportation planning. The Canadian-born transport professional has shaped urban rail, intercity rail, high-speed rail, and long-distance railway projects across three continents, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Career Highlights Transport planner with extensive high-speed rail experience Railway operator and developer Consultant to major Canadian transportation agencies including VIA Rail, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Canada Infrastructure Bank, Transport Ca...
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Voici les articles en français sur le projet ALTO TGV.

Les principaux thèmes des articles sur l'ALTO TGV Les principaux thèmes abordés dans ces articles sont le lancement des consultations publiques, les détails concernant le tunnel proposé sous le mont Royal à Montréal, les consultations auprès des communautés autochtones, les critiques des universitaires et les impacts économiques du projet. La Presse "TGV Québec-Toronto | Alto n'a pas l'intention d'escamoter les consultations, assure son patron." La Presse , 13 janvier 2026. https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/2026-01-13/tgv-quebec-toronto/alto-n-a-pas-l-intention-d-escamoter-les-consultations-assure-son-patron.php "TGV entre Québec et Toronto | Un autre tunnel sous le mont Royal ?" La Presse , 16 janvier 2026. https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/2026-01-16/tgv-entre-quebec-et-toronto/un-autre-tunnel-sous-le-mont-royal.php "Alto | Le train à grande vitesse : un levier économique d'envergure pour le Canada." La Presse , 17 janvier 2026. https:/...
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The Naysayers of Canadian High-Speed Rail - Rinse and Repeat

  CN TurboTrain - Lorne Perry Collection History My involvement in passenger rail advocacy began around 1990, inspired by legendary Transport 2000 Canada advocate Harry Gow. However, my fascination with high-speed trains started decades earlier with Canada's TurboTrain—I was captivated by its modern, sleek design. In 2008, I founded High-Speed Rail Canada as an educational resource dedicated to Canadian high-speed rail. As a historian of Canada's high-speed rail past, I've dedicated myself to collecting and posting previous studies on the High-Speed Rail Canada website. My goal was to digitize and make accessible all previous Canadian high-speed rail studies. Today, that website has accomplished this mission. Previous Attempts at High-Speed Rail in Canada Whether in the Calgary-Edmonton corridor or the Ontario-Quebec region, one pattern remains constant: whenever high-speed rail is proposed, naysayers emerge with tired, repetitive arguments against it. Having observed ...
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Alto High-Speed Rail Announces Virtual information Sessions Dates and Signup

 Alto announces virtual information sessions and provide dates and signup.  It is a similar experience to Alto open house events. There is a live Q&A period with Quebec and American sign language interpretation. Sign up at this LINK . French Sessions Saturday, January 31 - 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 6 - 12 p.m. Monday, February 16 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 - 7 p.m. English Sessions Saturday, January 31 - 1 p.m. Friday, February 20 - 12 p.m. Monday, February 23 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 - 7 p.m.
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