The Toronto-Windsor Corridor is set for high-speed rail
Posted: 26 May 2017 | | 2 comments
It has been announced that Ontario is moving forward with an ambitious high-speed rail project along the Toronto-Windsor corridor.
Ontario is moving forward with high-speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor, becoming the first province to undertake a rail transformation of this magnitude.
Premier Kathleen Wynne, Steven Del Duca (Ontario’s Minister of Transportation) and Deb Matthews (MPP for London North Centre) met in London to announce that the province is moving ahead with preliminary design work on the project and investing $15 million in a comprehensive environmental assessment.
This announcement comes as the province releases a new report by David Collenette, Ontario’s Special Advisor on high speed rail. In 2015, Mr. Collenette was asked to assess the project’s feasibility and after extensive consultations, his report concluded that there is a business case for high speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor and that there are opportunities to engage the private sector in financing and delivering the project.
“Building high speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor [is] going to deliver benefits all along the line”
“Building high speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor isn’t just a game changer for Southwestern Ontario — it’s going to deliver benefits all along the line,” said Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario. “Seven million people live along the Toronto-Windsor transportation corridor. High speed rail will get them where they need to be faster.”
High speed rail could cut travel times between Toronto and Windsor from four hours to just over two. With high speed rail expanding Ontario’s innovation supercorridor to Windsor, businesses will be able to attract the best talent, increase their productivity and support a low-carbon innovation economy.
“This is just one part of our plan to invest in transit across the province”
“High speed rail will have a transformative impact on travel in Southwestern Ontario, helping people to innovate, connect with each other, and travel for work, study and play,” added Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation. “This is just one part of our plan to invest in transit across the province — connecting communities and supporting growth in jobs and the economy.”
Ontario will establish a new governing body to oversee the ambitious work required to design and implement high speed rail.
This is an excellent project, involving both great foresight and a proper vision. The next step should be to coordinate with the USA and AMTRAK for high-speed service between Toronto and Chicago VIA Detroit. Ultimately, the service should extend all the way to Montreal.
Great idea. And I hope both Ontario and the Canadian government can pull it off. High-speed rail should also be extended into the Niagara Peninsula — at least as far as St. Catharines.