Canada’s largest infrastructure project sees three teams shortlisted

Three consortiums have been shortlisted for a significant rail project aimed at enhancing services between Québec City, Trois-Rivières, Montréal, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto, involving the addition of 1,000km of new track.

Express train in Toronto, Canada (Photo: AdobeStock)

The High Frequency Rail project is being hailed as Canada’s largest, and the winning teams will collaborate with public bodies to bring it to fruition. Over the next two years, the project has been granted a budget of approximately US$300 million.

The consortiums shortlisted are as follows:

• Cadence: Comprising CDPQ Infra, SNC-Lavalin, Systra Canada, and Keolis Canada
• Intercity Rail Developers: Comprising Intercity Development Partners, EllisDon Capital, Kilmer Transportation, First Rail Holdings, Jacobs, Hatch, CIMA+, First Group, RATP Dev Canada, and Renfe Operadora
• QConnexiON Rail Partners: Comprising Fengate, John Laing, Bechtel, WSP Canada, and Deutsche Bahn

The above teams have until September to present their business plans, conduct technical and economic feasibility analyses of the project, and provide a comprehensive management plan encompassing development, construction, and operations. The announcement of the winner is scheduled for the following summer.

While the high-frequency railway may not be initially planned as a high-speed rail service, its implementation is expected to reduce journey times. During the design phase, an evaluation will be conducted to assess whether the advantages of incorporating high-speed sections would outweigh the associated costs.

Announcing the shortlisted groups, Omar Alghabra, Canada’s minister of transport, said, “I am thrilled that High Frequency Rail — the largest infrastructure project —is advancing to the next stage of the procurement process.

“This exciting initiative will require strong collaboration between Transport Canada, VIA HFR, and the selected private developer partner to create a sustainable foundation for the design and development of the project.”