Alto high-speed rail project shows strong passenger demand

Analysis from the Go Alto campaign suggests significant existing passenger demand for the proposed Alto high-speed rail project connecting Toronto and Quebec City. Data indicates that the corridor currently relies heavily on road, air, and existing rail services.

Traffic statistics show between 20,700 and 28,000 vehicles travel daily on key routes such as Ottawa-Montreal and Montreal-Quebec City. In the Ottawa-Montreal segment, road travel accounts for 91% of trips, while it represents 85% of travel between Montreal and Quebec City.

Air travel also indicates high transit potential, with approximately 228 daily direct flights operating across five key city pairs in the corridor, including 105 flights between Toronto and Montreal. Additionally, VIA Rail’s Eastern Corridor services transport roughly 3.34 million passengers annually, with 2.3 million of those traveling on routes linking Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.