Passenger rail service in Peterborough is a step closer to reality — although it will be another decade before the rail service in in place.
Federal transportation minister Omar Alghabra announced on Wednesday (March 9) that the federal government is launching a request for expressions of interest, inviting the private sector to formally express their interest in partnering with the federal government to build the high frequency rail project.
The project which would see electrified rail service through Québec City, Trois-Rivières, Montréal, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto, with shorter travel times and faster trains.
“High frequency rail is a transformational project that promises to fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Ontario and Quebec, improving accessibility, and providing more travel flexibility,” Alghabra said. “The request for expressions of interest marks the first major step in the development and advancement of this project.”
Through the request for expressions of interest, the federal government will seek feedback from experienced private sector companies on the high frequency rail project and provide them with information on the next stages of the procurement process.
“High frequency rail is an infrastructure project with a size and scope that is unprecedented in modern Canadian history, which is why we are seeking to leverage the advice and views of private sector companies with concrete experience in designing and implementing complex infrastructure projects across the world,” said Filomena Tassi, the federal minister of public services and procurement.
After the request for expressions of interest, the next stages in the project include a request for qualifications this fall and a request for proposals in 2023 and 2024.
The federal government expects construction on the high frequency rail service to begin in the mid-2020s, with the service fully operational in the early 2030s.
