Canada's Transport Minister Pushes Kingston Stop on High‑Speed Rail Line

Kingston high‑speed rail stop Alto rail project Steven MacKinnon cost $60‑90 billion route change controversy

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon instructed Crown‑owned Alto to explore a southern routing option for the proposed 1,000‑kilometre high‑speed rail corridor between Toronto and Quebec City that would include a stop in Kingston, Ontario. The minister said the move reflected feedback from public consultations and local officials, noting that the city’s fourth‑busiest Via Rail station and its two universities could generate significant ridership.

Adding Kingston would extend travel time by roughly 15‑30 minutes per stop and raise the project's cost estimate to between $60 billion and $90 billion. Critics argue the change is politically driven, lengthens the journey and may lead to expropriations, while local mayors and Premier Doug Ford back the proposal. Alto CEO Martin Imbleau has also suggested a second station in the Greater Toronto Area, which would bring the total number of stops to nine if Kingston is added.

Sources

Liberal government considering high-speed rail route change to include stop in Kingston [ca.news.yahoo.com]

3 months ago

Kingston stop on Alto radar [www.quintenews.com]

3 months ago

Beyond the Headlines – ALTO high-speed rail going to Kingston [www.inquinte.ca]

3 months ago

Government targets Kingston for high-speed rail stop as skeptics raise concerns [www.orilliamatters.com]

3 months ago

Government targets Kingston for high-speed rail stop as skeptics raise concerns [www.sudbury.com]

3 months ago