ALTO High-Speed Rail Meeting
What I Heard Directly from the CEO, and Why Peterborough Should Be Paying Attention (but not holding their breath)…
Like many people in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, I've been following the proposed ALTO high-speed rail project with equal parts curiosity and skepticism.
For those unfamiliar with it, ALTO is Canada's proposed high-speed rail network: approximately 1,000 kilometres of dedicated, fully electrified track connecting Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City, with trains travelling at speeds of up to 300 km/h. The goal is to significantly reduce travel times while connecting nearly half of Canada's population through one transportation corridor.
Recently, I attended a Peterborough Chamber of Commerce presentation featuring Martin Imbleau, CEO of ALTO. The message from the project team was clear: from their perspective, the discussion is no longer whether high-speed rail should happen, but how it will happen.
Whether you support the project, oppose it, or simply want more information before forming an opinion, there were several important takeaways worth sharing:
What ALTO Says the Project Actually Is
One of the biggest misconceptions discussed during the presentation was that ALTO is a private rail project.
According to Martin Imbleau, the rail network would be a publicly owned Canadian asset. While private-sector partners would help design and build portions of the system, ownership would remain with government. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is also expected to participate financially.
The scale of the proposal is difficult to comprehend:
The network would connect communities representing roughly 40% of Canada's population.
Approximately 4,000 kilometres of rail infrastructure would be required.
Thousands of tonnes of Canadian steel, aluminum, copper and other materials would be needed.
An estimated 50,000 workers could be employed throughout the construction period, which may span 10 to 15 years.
The system would be fully electrified rather than diesel-powered.
ALTO believes the network could remove the equivalent of approximately 100,000 vehicles from roads through mode shifting.
Ridership projections range from roughly 24 to 43 million passenger trips annually.
The project team has also suggested the network could support the development of approximately 63,000 new homes across the corridor.
Martin Imbleau described ALTO as a "weapon of mass construction" - not simply a transportation project, but a nation-building exercise requiring electricians, engineers, heavy equipment operators, steel fabricators, planners, tunnel specialists, and countless skilled trades.
One comment that stood out to me was the suggestion that students entering trades, engineering, or related programs today could potentially build an entire career around this project. Fleming College, Trent University, and other educational institutions are expected to play a role in workforce development as the project advances and today’s local students could work 10-15 years on this project alone.
Peterborough Is Not an Afterthought
One message was repeated throughout the presentation: Peterborough is considered a key part of the project's future.
According to ALTO, Peterborough is "at the heart of the project, not on the sidelines."
At the same time, officials were clear that station locations and final alignments have not yet been selected. More recent reporting has also suggested that a revised route may include Kingston, highlighting that planning and consultation are still very much underway.
ALTO sees stations as catalysts for housing, transit integration, and economic growth. Their team indicated they expect to work closely with municipalities, planners, and developers to maximize opportunities around future stations.
Peterborough has an opportunity to think proactively about what kind of growth we want and how we can position ourselves if the project moves forward. I suspect there will be much support and opposition for every potential station location in our area, but ..
This conversation also connects to another major issue already facing Peterborough: where and how we grow.
At a Century 21 city planning meeting I attended in June 2026, hearing from city councillors and local developers, there was significant discussion about Peterborough’s provincial housing targets and the ongoing conversation around whether the city can annex land from the county or surrounding municipalities to accommodate our expected future growth.
That context matters when we talk about a potential ALTO station. Peterborough has no intention of treating the station as a stand-alone stop in the middle of nowhere. If this project moves forward, the station location will need to be chosen with housing, transit, services, amenities, and long-term infrastructure in mind. The opportunity is not just to have a train stop nearby; it is to build a connected, accessible, useful community around it.
In other words, the station decision is also a planning decision, a housing decision, and an economic development decision. So far at these meetings, no hints were provided on the location the city and county have in mind that’s leading their list – though it would seem they do have a ‘secret’ favourite.
What Supporters and Critics Are Saying
Like any project of this scale, ALTO has generated passionate opinions on both sides.
Supporters Say
Peterborough could gain better access to major job markets without residents relocating.
High-speed rail could drive economic growth, tourism and investment.
Faster travel could change how people choose where to live and work.
The project could support housing growth around station areas.
Thousands of construction and long-term jobs could be created.
Critics Say
Farmland and rural properties could be permanently affected by the corridor.
The estimated $60–$90 billion cost raises questions about taxpayer value and accountability.
Expropriation and land acquisition create understandable concerns for affected owners.
Environmental impacts, noise and community disruption require careful review.
Some question whether projected ridership will justify the HUGE investment.
Both sides raise legitimate points. The economic opportunities are significant. So are the impacts on the communities that may ultimately host the corridor.
Farms and Rural Communities
Not surprisingly, the most challenging questions during the session came from rural municipal leaders, agricultural stakeholders, and property owners who could be directly affected by the route.
High-speed rail requires straighter alignments and gentler curves than conventional rail. Trains travelling at 300 km/h cannot navigate sharp turns or steep grades. That limits flexibility when selecting routes.
ALTO acknowledged that land acquisition will be necessary and confirmed that expropriation remains a legal tool available to complete nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Concerns raised during the meeting included:
Agricultural land being divided.
Emergency service access.
Road closures and overpasses.
Noise and vibration.
Wildlife movement.
Environmental impacts on lakes and rural ecosystems.
Fair compensation for affected property owners.
ALTO's response was that consultation, compensation, environmental review, and minimizing disruption will remain priorities as alignments are refined. Where possible, existing infrastructure corridors would be utilized to reduce impacts.
The environmental argument was also discussed. Because the network would be fully electrified and powered by Ontario and Québec's electricity grids, ALTO believes the project could significantly reduce transportation emissions if travellers choose rail instead of driving or flying.
My Takeaway: Will It Actually Happen?
I left the meeting with more questions than answers, but also with a clearer understanding that this proposal is being taken far more seriously than many people realize. We’ve been hearing about train service returning to the area for YEARS with possibly VIA.
ALTO is no longer presenting high-speed rail as just a concept or dream for the future. Technical studies, environmental assessments, route evaluations, land-use planning, and public consultations are actively underway. The project team expects to continue refining alignments and station proposals before moving into detailed design and procurement phases.
For residents, farmers, business owners, developers, and municipal leaders, this is the time to stay informed and participate in the conversation. Will ALTO ultimately become one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Canadian history? Time will tell.
Am I ready to market Peterborough homes based on a future high-speed rail station? No. Mu opinion is we are not there yet. The support, feasibility, route, station location, timelines, costs, and approvals all remain too uncertain for me to use this as a selling feature to invest in Peterborough property.
But am I paying attention? Absolutely! Even though I’d only patron this train occasionally for leisure travel - if this project proceeds, it has the potential to influence housing, development, employment, transportation, and growth throughout Peterborough and the Kawarthas for generations to come. Things I have BIG personal interest in.
