MONTRÉAL — Alto and private developer partner Cadence are planning to reach out to Canada’s steel industry to gauge the temperature when it comes to a game-changing high-speed rail project from Toronto to Quebec City.
In particular, sector feedback is being sought to “better understand its interest, capacity and readiness to supply this critical component of the high-speed rail project, helping ensure the largest infrastructure build in the country in over a half century generates lasting benefits for Canadian businesses and workers,” states a release.
In the coming weeks, Alto and Cadence intend to meet with leaders across the Canadian steel industry to better understand current production capabilities, scaling potential and opportunities for modernization.
The high-speed rail network will require more than 4,000 kilometres of steel rails in addition to massive quantities of structural beams, catenaries and other core materials.
“This scale of procurement presents a rare opportunity for Canada’s steel and manufacturing sectors to expand capacity, accelerate investment and innovate to position themselves for the opportunities ahead,” the release adds. “By sourcing locally where possible, Alto aims to strengthen domestic supply chains, support Canadian jobs, and ensure that the economic ripple effects of this nation-building project are felt across the country.”
Alto will be Canada’s first high-speed rail network, spanning close to 1,000 kilometres from Toronto to Québec City and reaching speeds of 300 km/h or more.
The federal government has identified Alto as a “transformative strategy for the country, and the initiative will receive support from the Major Projects Office to enable the start of construction in four years. Pre-procurement activities for project components will start in 2026.”
The build will create more than 50,000 jobs during construction.
“Canada hasn’t seen an infrastructure project of this magnitude in decades,” said Cadence general manager Daniel Farina in a statement. “We will need huge quantities of steel, and we want Canadian steelmakers to be ready to respond to request for proposals, because they are coming fast. This is a massive opportunity for Canadian suppliers, and we want to make sure they can seize it.”
The Cadence team includes CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, SYSTRA Canada, Keolis Canada, SNCF Voyageurs and Air Canada.
