Report: Quebec City–Toronto high-speed rail could strain Ontario and Quebec power grids
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابA new report says the planned Quebec City–Toronto high-speed rail project could require significant electricity at a time when provincial grids are already facing rising demand tied to industrial growth, data centres, EV adoption and population increases.
According to the report, the proposed network would run up to 72 trains a day on roughly 1,000 kilometres of dedicated electrified track at speeds up to 300 km/h, cutting travel times to about three hours between Quebec City and Toronto and under an hour between Montreal and Ottawa.
Construction on the first Ottawa–Montreal phase is currently expected to start in 2029 or 2030. The Crown corporation Alto would oversee the public-private partnership, while a private consortium would design, build and operate the line.
On power needs, Alto CEO Martin Imbleau said supplying a single train at 300 km/h could require about 50 megawatts at any given moment, and the project may need up to a dozen high-capacity substations dedicated to the rail corridor.
The report also cites an estimate that the line could draw roughly 1% to 3% of Ontario and Quebec’s current electrical capacity, raising questions about how quickly grid planning and new supply can keep pace as other sectors increase consumption.
