Ontario spending $11 billion on first phase of Canada's first high-speed rail

Apr 6 2018, 10:04 pm

The province is spending $11 billion to build the first phase of a high-speed train along the Toronto-Windsor corridor.

According to the Government of Ontario, and as per the 2018 Budget, Canada’s first high-speed rail line would cut the travel times in half along the corridor.

“The best time to build high-speed rail was thirty years ago. The second best time is right now, so we are taking action,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne in a statement. “We are going to build this line — because high-speed rail is going to unlock so many benefits for people and businesses across Southwestern Ontario.”

The new electric-powered trains will move at speeds of up to 250 km per hour on a combination of existing track and new dedicated rail corridors.

The high-speed trains are expected to reduce travel times, to an estimated 73 minutes between London and Toronto Union Station. Phase 1 of the project will include station stops at London, Kitchener, Guelph and Toronto Union Station, with a connection to Pearson International Airport. Following that, Phase 2 service will add stops in Windsor and Chatham.

high-speed rail

7 proposed station stops on the high-speed rail/Ontario

Last fall, the province launched a website with details of what the high-speed rail will mean for residents across the province, and how people can provide feedback on the project.

On the website, Ontario states that over 60 years, the economic benefits from high-speed rail are expected to yield over $20 billion from passenger travel time savings, greenhouse gas reduction benefits, and benefits from reduced congestion on roads.

At this time, the high-speed rail between Toronto and London projected to be complete as early as 2025, with the extension to Windsor to be completed by 2031.

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