We're still years away from seeing high speed rail in southwestern Ontario, but the next step in the plan has been taken.
The province announced Friday that it has issued a Request for Bids to develop the terms of reference for the environmental assessment for the Kitchener-Waterloo to London corridor.
"The terms of reference will provide a framework for planning and the environmental assessment, which will look at how all aspects of the project could affect the environment, including how stations are built, track locations, energy requirements, expected ridership, and parking needs," a statement from the Ontario government says. "As high speed rail will be a new service for Ontario and Canada, new train and safety standards will be developed with Transport Canada to inform the environmental assessment process."
Premier Kathleen Wynne, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, and Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca announced in May that the government was moving ahead with plans to link Toronto to Windsor with high speed rail service. Premier Wynne said at the time that the Toronto to London corridor is expected to be completed by 2025, while the second phase from London to Windsor will be ready by 2031.
“The Toronto-Windsor corridor is home to over 7-million people and over 60% of Ontario’s economic activity,” Wynne said. “This is where our economy thrives… and so we need to make sure we keep it the vibrant and diverse region that it has been and that we provide the connectivity that will allow it to thrive.”
Eventually, the high speed rail system will run from Toronto to Windsor, with stops in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, and Chatham. The trip from London to Union Station in Toronto is expected to take 73 minutes, while the trip from Toronto to Windsor would take two hours.
In 2015, former federal Transport Minister David Collenette was asked to look at the feasibility of a Toronto-Windsor high speed rail system. His report determined there is a strong business case for the project along with opportunities to work with the private sector in areas of financing and construction.
Wynne said in May that Collenette’s report predicts the high speed rail link could ultimately attract up to 10-million passengers per year. She admits there will be challenges, but she says there is “enormous opportunity” to unlock local and regional economic development.