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Alto High-Speed Rail Network
The sole purpose of this webpage is to explore the potential impacts of the Alto high-speed rail project on Eastway Gardens.
Project overview - Phase 1 - Ottawa-Montreal
Artist's rendition of an Alto train. Photo courtesy Environmental Defence Canada Facebook, December 12, 2025
As part of the Build Canada Act, construction of the Alto High-Speed Rail Network between Ottawa and Montreal is slated to begin simultaneously in 2029 at both ends of the route. Fully electrified trains will reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, significantly reducing travel time to one hour between the two cities, including a stop in Laval.
This initial phase, chosen for its relatively straight and high-potential corridor, aims to be completed between 2035 and 2038 using all Canadian steel, copper, wood, and concrete. The fenced-in double tracks, with overhead catenaries as their electricity source, will measure 60 metres in width. To maintain high speeds, the tracks must be flat and straight. (See Alto interactive map.)
This initial phase, chosen for its relatively straight and high-potential corridor, aims to be completed between 2035 and 2038 using all Canadian steel, copper, wood, and concrete. The fenced-in double tracks, with overhead catenaries as their electricity source, will measure 60 metres in width. To maintain high speeds, the tracks must be flat and straight. (See Alto interactive map.)
How might High-Speed Rail Phase 1 affect Eastway Gardens?
Whether the Alto station is located on Tremblay Road or downtown, the Eastway Gardens area will most likely be affected no matter the chosen route and location of the Ottawa station. High-speed rail tracks are likely to cut through the area
Alto, the Crown corporation developing the Quebec City-Windsor high-speed rail, is currently considering the route between Montreal and Ottawa and potential locations for the Ottawa station, subject to technical specifications and public consultation. Once the route and station locations are confirmed by late 2026, land acquisition will begin, with construction on the initial Ottawa-Montreal segment anticipated to begin in 2029.
Alto, the Crown corporation developing the Quebec City-Windsor high-speed rail, is currently considering the route between Montreal and Ottawa and potential locations for the Ottawa station, subject to technical specifications and public consultation. Once the route and station locations are confirmed by late 2026, land acquisition will begin, with construction on the initial Ottawa-Montreal segment anticipated to begin in 2029.
Potential locations of Ottawa of Alto train station
Specific station locations are still subject to ongoing public consultations and feasibility studies. As of March 2026 a final decision on the location of the Ottawa station has not been made. Below are the options:
1) Senate of Canada Building (Former Union Station)
Photo courtesy Wikipedia
Attribution: Dpalma01, CC BY-SA 4.0
Located on Rideau Street near the Chateau Laurier, this is highly favoured by downtown Ottawa business interests and by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. It served as Ottawa's main train station until 1966. Currently home to the Senate of Canada, the building has recently undergone significant renovations, bringing it up to modern standards. Reusing this site would bring passengers directly into the city’s core, but requires complex, costly tunnelling estimated at an additional several billion dollars.
“We have a once in a century opportunity to get this right. We’re only going to build a project like this once and if there is a way to get it downtown so that people are disembarking from the trains right in the heart of downtown Ottawa, we have to explore that,” said Sutcliffe.
The former Union Station presents many challenges, including severe constraints on space and high costs for tunnelling under the Rideau Canal.
This option could affect Eastway Gardens, including routing the high speed corridor to the downtown station from the tracks' entry point.
“We have a once in a century opportunity to get this right. We’re only going to build a project like this once and if there is a way to get it downtown so that people are disembarking from the trains right in the heart of downtown Ottawa, we have to explore that,” said Sutcliffe.
The former Union Station presents many challenges, including severe constraints on space and high costs for tunnelling under the Rideau Canal.
This option could affect Eastway Gardens, including routing the high speed corridor to the downtown station from the tracks' entry point.
2) Via Rail Station (Tremblay Rd.)
The current station is a strong contender for its existing infrastructure, ease of expansion compared to downtown, and its current connection to Via Rail and the O-Train LRT Line 1. Not only is this site a major transit hub, but it is a short distance to downtown and is close to hotels and Highway 417 East and West access ramps. This option would affect Eastway Gardens in several ways, including routing the high speed rails from its entry point east if the city to the Via Rail transit hub on Tremblay Road and construction of the Alto train station.
Alto CEO Martin Imbleau has noted that the Tremblay Road area has significant expansion capabilities and a crucial connection to the existing OC Transpo LRT system, which is a priority for the new station's location.
This option would certainly impact Eastway Gardens, including routing of the high speed corridor to Via Rail and construction of the Alto station.
Alto CEO Martin Imbleau has noted that the Tremblay Road area has significant expansion capabilities and a crucial connection to the existing OC Transpo LRT system, which is a priority for the new station's location.
This option would certainly impact Eastway Gardens, including routing of the high speed corridor to Via Rail and construction of the Alto station.
3) Another possible location (599 Tremblay Rd. at St-Laurent Blvd.)
Vacant federal land at 599 Tremblay Rd. (formerly 530 Tremblay Rd.)—located at the intersection of Tremblay Rd. and St-Laurent Blvd.—is considered a potential, but not officially confirmed, site for the Alto high-speed rail (HSR) station in Ottawa.
This 26-acre vacant site was originally planned for a massive federal office complex, but those plans were cancelled in 2023. The land remains under federal ownership by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). In the view of some, the location makes it a prime candidate for the Alto high-speed rail (HSR) station due to its close proximity to existing transit infrastructure, including the LRT station at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre and the nearby Tremblay VIA Rail/LRT station.
There is unconfirmed speculation that the Ottawa-Montreal high speed corridor might use the Prescott and Russell Recreational Trail—a former rail bed. Some view this as a strongly preferred route as it aligns well with the vacant federal land at 599 Tremblay Road at the intersection of Tremblay and St-Laurent Boulevard.
The trail begins at the Quebec border, just outside of the village of Saint-Eugène, and goes to the eastern boundary of Ottawa, passing through the townships of East Hawkesbury, Champlain, The Nation, Alfred and Plantagenet, and Clarence-Rockland. The trail primarily passes through farmland, with some forested sections. Because it runs along a former railway, it is quite flat—a prerequisite for the high speed rail corridor.
No one will confirm this route as a viable option. A mitigating factor might be the fact that on or about November 9, 2021, Via Rail and the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Corporation signed an agreement to secure the future of the trail.
There is unconfirmed speculation that the Ottawa-Montreal high speed corridor might use the Prescott and Russell Recreational Trail—a former rail bed. Some view this as a strongly preferred route as it aligns well with the vacant federal land at 599 Tremblay Road at the intersection of Tremblay and St-Laurent Boulevard.
The trail begins at the Quebec border, just outside of the village of Saint-Eugène, and goes to the eastern boundary of Ottawa, passing through the townships of East Hawkesbury, Champlain, The Nation, Alfred and Plantagenet, and Clarence-Rockland. The trail primarily passes through farmland, with some forested sections. Because it runs along a former railway, it is quite flat—a prerequisite for the high speed rail corridor.
No one will confirm this route as a viable option. A mitigating factor might be the fact that on or about November 9, 2021, Via Rail and the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Corporation signed an agreement to secure the future of the trail.
Specific station locations are still subject to ongoing public consultations and feasibility studies. As of March 2026 a final decision on the location of the Ottawa station has not been made. Below are schematics showing design details of Alto High-Speed stations and cars.
Artist's rendition of an Alto high-speed train (photos courtesy of Ontario Construction News).
Schematic of an Alto train station.
Labelled schematic of an Alto train station.
Labelled schematic of an Alto train car.
Banner Photo Credits:
• Via Rail train - Keira Clarke, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
• OC Transpo Train LRV - By *Youngjin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Alto Train - Photo courtesy Environmental Defence Canada Facebook, December 12, 2025
• Via Rail train - Keira Clarke, CC BY 4.0
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• OC Transpo Train LRV - By *Youngjin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Alto Train - Photo courtesy Environmental Defence Canada Facebook, December 12, 2025
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