The Canadian government has placed the Alto high-speed rail (HSR) project under the jurisdiction of the new Major Projects Office (MPO) in order to expedite planning and approval. The 1,000 km electrified line will connect Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, Trois-Rivieres and Quebec City, enabling HSR speeds of up to 300 km/h. The goal is to start construction in four years, instead of eight as originally planned. The MPO will coordinate and accelerate the engineering, regulatory, and permitting preparations. The government considers the project to be of national importance and wants to facilitate financing through more efficient procedures.
