Alto High Speed Rail

[urbanforest]

I'd imagine aerial recon would provide enough information for them to determine if they wanted to proceed with acquisitions in instances like this.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

I'd imagine aerial recon would provide enough information for them to determine if they wanted to proceed with acquisitions in instances like this.

Some parts in that area are landslide-prone so I prefer that Alto actually manage to get in and take some bore hole data.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by BanjoUnchained

In an interview with the CBC in March the CEO said:

"They will say no thanks and we'll see you later on, because at one point in time we'll have to have access to this, otherwise we cannot build it. I’m not a private project, I’m representing the state. I’m doing this for the public good. That’s why I’m asking for the collaboration of everyone, because we need this. It has to be built somewhere."

What a moron. Alto is Crown Corporation without any enabling legislation that give it any powers to do anything. Neither Alto nor its parent company (Via) are Agents of the Crown.

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-...ons/agent-status-crown-corporations.html

[Richard Eade]

Since the property owners have told ALTO that it is NOT ALLOWED to enter the property, Would AIR-RIGHTS also prevent ALTO’s use of drones across those properties? I don’t know what the limits are on air-rights, so I am asking.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Since the property owners have told ALTO that it is NOT ALLOWED to enter the property, Would AIR-RIGHTS also prevent ALTO’s use of drones across those properties? I don’t know what the limits are on air-rights, so I am asking.

Air space is controlled by the federal government. A drone operating following federal regulations and laws can fly over private property. Regulations are extensive though which might limit effectiveness.

[DarthVader_1961]

In a recent tv interview, one guy suggested that the line follow what via already uses…

Guess he did not realize the impact if that in freight rail shared with via or that train travel would have to stop for several years

[phil235]

Originally Posted by acottawa

What a moron. Alto is Crown Corporation without any enabling legislation that give it any powers to do anything. Neither Alto nor its parent company (Via) are Agents of the Crown.

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-...ons/agent-status-crown-corporations.html

The High Speed Rail Act, which is part of the Budget implementation bill will give it a series of powers in relation to first right of refusal on land and a streamlined expropriation process. It is ultimately the Minister who would do the expropriation on request from Alto under the Act, but as long as basic criteria are met, Alto has the power to designate land and have it expropriated.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by acottawa

What a moron. Alto is Crown Corporation without any enabling legislation that give it any powers to do anything. Neither Alto nor its parent company (Via) are Agents of the Crown.

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-...ons/agent-status-crown-corporations.html

Seems like an easy fix, if necessary.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by phil235

The High Speed Rail Act, which is part of the Budget implementation bill will give it a series of powers in relation to first right of refusal on land and a streamlined expropriation process. It is ultimately the Minister who would do the expropriation on request from Alto under the Act, but as long as basic criteria are met, Alto has the power to designate land and have it expropriated.

The only power it gives the corporation is registering a right of first refusal with the municipality (so they can match purchase offers) and the right to ask the minister to start an expropriation process. It doesn’t give Alto or anyone else the right to do geological testing or build access roads on private/municipal/indigenous/provincial property or represent the state (the thing the CEO claimed).

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Seems like an easy fix, if necessary.

I guess, but in four years they haven’t done it.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I guess, but in four years they haven’t done it.

In fairness they were mostly just pretending for the first 3-3 1/2 years.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

In fairness they were mostly just pretending for the first 3-3 1/2 years.

It sort of seems like they are still pretending.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Some parts in that area are landslide-prone so I prefer that Alto actually manage to get in and take some bore hole data.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ha-kJTVDwqI
It turns out that people in Prescott Russell refuse entries for various reasons:
(1) “My house foundation is already clayey. If Alto comes digging, my house will go down to the river.”
(2) There isn’t enough information from Alto.
(3) The geological conditions of clayey soil in this area are already known. Why are we repeating the study at our cost?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ha-kJTVDwqI
It turns out that people in Prescott Russell refuse entries for various reasons:
(1) “My house foundation is already clayey. If Alto comes digging, my house will go down to the river.”
(2) There isn’t enough information from Alto.
(3) The geological conditions of clayey soil in this area are already known. Why are we repeating the study at our cost?

(1) There's no digging involved in this phase.
(2) This phase is necessary to provide answers.
(3) Soil conditions can vary dramatically from one spot to the next.

[skyscraperaccount]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/high-speed-train-pq-toronto-quebec-city-9.7228219?cmp=rss

In a news release Tuesday, Plamondon said he's concerned the project could cost far more than that, pointing to a Bloc Québécois estimate of $200 billion for the project.

If that ends up being accurate, Quebec's share of the project could be $40 billion, Plamondon said. CBC News reached out to the Parti Québécois to learn how it determined that sum. CBC also reached out to the Bloc Québécois for further explanation on how the party arrived at its estimate.

Plamondon said in the release that the rail line would have little impact on our road traffic and carries a high risk of being a "massive financial fiasco."

A Parti Québécois government would "demand that these funds be transferred to the province unconditionally so that they can be invested in priority infrastructure for Quebecers: roads, hospitals, schools and urban public transit."

The statement also denounced the federal government's approach to the planned route, saying that consultations have been "opaque" and residents and farmers are worried about being expropriated.

[harls]

I'm sure all those funds would go to fast tracking the twinning of the 50, plus fixing healthcare in the Outaouais...

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by harls

I'm sure all those funds would go to fast tracking the twinning of the 50, plus fixing healthcare in the Outaouais...

A spiteful man.. such as myself, would do Ottawa/Toronto on a moments notice if that were the case. Start the EAs now boys. Might as well bring it all the way to Windsor while we are at it.

You want to act like some non nation building Albertan dickheads then have fun on the outside looking in.

For added spite the eastern terminus will be Cornwall.

[Uhuniau]

I see the eastern Ontario chapter of No Trains, Trains Bad is having a protest on Parliament Hill tomorrow.

[skyscraperaccount]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

A spiteful man.. such as myself, would do Ottawa/Toronto on a moments notice if that were the case. Start the EAs now boys. Might as well bring it all the way to Windsor while we are at it.

You want to act like some non nation building Albertan dickheads then have fun on the outside looking in.

For added spite the eastern terminus will be Cornwall.

Yep, can't deal with unstable governments. Have your plans in place, make it clear that Quebec is responsible for any increased costs in a future Montreal/Ottawa link and start the Ottawa to Toronto ASAP. When a Canadian nation building govt gets in place in Quebec, it can be ready to go day after elections.

[urbanforest]

CityNews: Government considering high-speed rail stop in Kingston, Ont.


Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon says he has directed Alto to consider a high-speed rail stop in Kingston, Ont.

The minister’s staff issued a statement on his behalf ahead of a formal announcement in Kingston later this morning.

https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2026/06/22/government-considering-high-speed-rail-stop-in-kingston-ont/


I’m from the Kingston area and have family there, but this still doesn’t sit right with me. This kind of politicking will deliver a slow-high-speed train and wreck budgets and timelines.