[Thaboss]

Among other things, apparently the consultation process is getting a lot of engagement:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/alto-s-ceo-answers-questions-about-the-high-speed-rail-project-9.7141845

This is a very important interview that make one thing very clear..

The man at the top is competent. Many of the concerns ppl have here about scope creep, community engagment, and the choosen alignment etc. While warranted should listen to the ceo speak.

He is a very effective communicator and strongly but respecfully pushed back on much of the predictable negative narratives that is building in rural Canada.

He also very clearly understands what will make a large project and highspeed rail in general succeed in Canada.

Also, unlike metorlinx, it sounds like ALTO will be very transparent moving forward. This is a very good thing in my books. 60 billion cannot be spent behind closed doors.

 

[reinventingthewheel]

From instagram - japan_embassy_canada:

We enjoyed our roundtable discussion with executives from @altotrain, Cadence, and JR Central at ALTO's headquarter in Montreal.

Have you ever ridden the Shinkansen in Japan? It's such an amazing experience! JR Central's Tokaido Shinkansen connects Tokyo and Osaka, Japan's two largest cities, a distance of 515km, in 2 hours and 21 minutes. The distance between Tokyo and Osaka is about the same as between Toronto and Montreal, so you can imagine how fast it is.

With departures every few minutes during busy times, the Shinkansen moves a massive 168 million people a year-a testament to its world-leading capacity and punctuality.

As the ALTO project begins and marks a new chapter in Canadian transit, we hope that Japan's high-speed rail experience and technology can contribute to a better Canada.

 

[StreetcarRider]

As they say, don't read the comments. "Alto’s high-speed rail project Toronto to Quebec City sparks backlash over cost, land use"

Alto’s high-speed rail project Toronto to Quebec City sparks backlash over cost, land use

Eastern Ontario residents and local leaders warn the multibillion-dollar project threatens communities while offering few benefits to those footing the bill

www.theglobeandmail.com

Edited to add: discouraged to see a lack of responding points from Alto in this article. Not sure whose fault that is, but we're more likely to get both sides if Alto presents a response to the usual opposition points in a clear and accessible way (like on its website).

 

[generalcanada]

you know the more this goes on the more i question Alto's planning, ive only ever seen opposition to the southern route, not much for the northern route. Theres no way theyre still considering it right?

 

[urbancog]

ive only ever seen opposition to the southern route, not much for the northern route

That may be the whole point. Who knows.

 

[chrisw]

"GO 2.0: Canada and Ontario will explore options that will allow increased GO Transit passenger service along freight-owned corridors across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, including improved service along existing GO lines and the potential creation of new GO lines in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Options under consideration may include constructing new bypass tracks in the Milton corridor and new railway service through Toronto. These options will be considered alongside plans to advance the Alto High-Speed Rail line, including connectivity to Pearson Airport.

Alto High-Speed Rail (HSR): Canada and Ontario commit to collaborate with its agencies and the Quebec government and other key parties to move forward on planning and advancement of the Alto HSR initiative that will construct a new interprovincial rail line and connect millions of people living along the Toronto–Quebec City corridor."

Not sure if they're talking about Alto HSR directly connecting to Pearson.

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

 

[nfitz]

I'd be very surprised if there'd a big percentage of people on the Ottawa (or Montreal) Toronto trains heading to Pearson. In my experience the percent of Kingston travellers heading to Pearson is higher.

Dropping off at a station with a frequent airport express train (or even an "express" train) would be a better solution.

 

[Adjei]

"GO 2.0: Canada and Ontario will explore options that will allow increased GO Transit passenger service along freight-owned corridors across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, including improved service along existing GO lines and the potential creation of new GO lines in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Options under consideration may include constructing new bypass tracks in the Milton corridor and new railway service through Toronto. These options will be considered alongside plans to advance the Alto High-Speed Rail line, including connectivity to Pearson Airport.

Alto High-Speed Rail (HSR): Canada and Ontario commit to collaborate with its agencies and the Quebec government and other key parties to move forward on planning and advancement of the Alto HSR initiative that will construct a new interprovincial rail line and connect millions of people living along the Toronto–Quebec City corridor."

Not sure if they're talking about Alto HSR directly connecting to Pearson.

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

They should look to extending it to London and eventually Windsor with a stop at Pearson.

 

[micheal_can]

"GO 2.0: Canada and Ontario will explore options that will allow increased GO Transit passenger service along freight-owned corridors across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, including improved service along existing GO lines and the potential creation of new GO lines in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Options under consideration may include constructing new bypass tracks in the Milton corridor and new railway service through Toronto. These options will be considered alongside plans to advance the Alto High-Speed Rail line, including connectivity to Pearson Airport.

Alto High-Speed Rail (HSR): Canada and Ontario commit to collaborate with its agencies and the Quebec government and other key parties to move forward on planning and advancement of the Alto HSR initiative that will construct a new interprovincial rail line and connect millions of people living along the Toronto–Quebec City corridor."

Not sure if they're talking about Alto HSR directly connecting to Pearson.

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

I would expect that an HSR project to Pearson would be part of some SWO HSR project.

SWO HSR

It is not that we should shut them down or anything like that. It is more that if we want to put in tracks beside theirs, they should allow it without any concerns.. It is also that all of our mainlines should be 2 track;4if passenger service runs on them. So if no passenger service - freight...

urbantoronto.ca

 

[nfitz]

They should look to extending it to London and eventually Windsor with a stop at Pearson.

Yes - I'd imagine the Pearson stop would be much better used by those from Kitchener/London than those from Montreal/Ottawa.

So plan for Pearson/Kitchener, but I don't see a need until at least Kitchener opens.

 

[Northern Light]

Not sure if they're talking about Alto HSR directly connecting to Pearson.

Definitely under consideration.

 

[bpbpbpbp]

Definitely under consideration.

But not in the first phase, right? Doesn’t sound like something anybody will use till like 2050.

 

[McGillicuddy]

If we're getting serious about the "Union Station West" proposal that had everyone all mildly interested pre-pandemic, perhaps Alto service makes sense.

"Bare" Alto, without that kind of integration, I have a hard time believing?

 

[Northern Light]

But not in the first phase, right? Doesn’t sound like something anybody will use till like 2050.

The first phase is Ottawa-Montreal with a hoped for first operation date in the range of 2035-2038.

Toronto-Ottawa will follow (work may begin before phase 1 is operational).

I think the connection to Pearson could be realistic within the phase 2 component, which I would target for 2042-2045. But to be clear the planning is not quite that far along. If they hit 2035 on phase 1, the phase 2 target will be advanced. But I feel that's probably on the optimistic side, but TBD.

I don't see a compelling reason to separate out Pearson as its own major project, it either gets tied to Toronto-Ottawa or Toronto-London.

 

[micheal_can]

If we're getting serious about the "Union Station West" proposal that had everyone all mildly interested pre-pandemic, perhaps Alto service makes sense.

"Bare" Alto, without that kind of integration, I have a hard time believing?

If we want to be serious about a Union Station West, then build it up while ALTO is being built so that once it is done, the next HSR project can go forward.