High Frequency Rail
Location: Ontario, Quebec, National
Issue: High Frequency Rail – General (during Request for proposals process)
Date: March 2024
Suggested Responses
- High Frequency Rail is expected to be the largest transportation infrastructure project in Canada in generations, bringing faster, greener, more frequent and reliable service to travellers.
- With the launch of the Request for Proposals process on October 13, 2023, the next step is for bidders to provide their submissions during summer 2024 so that they can be evaluated by fall 2024.
- The winning bidder will be selected to be the Private Developer Partner. Following contract signature, VIA HFR and the Private Developer Partner will commence the Co-Development Phase, expected in late 2024 to early 2025.
- The HFR procurement is on schedule and the bidders are very engaged. Bidding teams have already provided novel ideas that can be leveraged during Co-Development Phase to improve the project, including better journey times and proposals for the preliminary alignment.
If pressed on High Speed Rail
- To maximize public benefits and innovation, the Request for Proposals process will require bidders to develop two solutions. The first solution must meet HFR project outcomes and align with conventional rail speeds. The second solution is a more ambitious option that will significantly exceed project outcomes, including high speed alignments or segments.
- This will allow the Government of Canada to assess the potential benefits and costs of integrating segments of high speed rail.
If pressed to provide a specific project cost estimate
- At this time, it is too early to establish a specific cost for High Frequency Rail in this corridor. Solutions presented throughout the procurement process will help inform cost estimates, which will be further refined throughout the Co-Development Phase once a Private Developer Partner has been successfully identified.
If pressed on impact on VIA Rail employees
- The HFR project will grow the need for passenger rail sector workers significantly. It is expected that many new jobs will be created and that VIA Rail employees will have an opportunity to work under HFR.
- The Government of Canda will ensure VIA Rail employees are protected by establishing mandatory requirements for the private developer partner by respecting VIA Rail employees’ collective agreements and benefits and by ensuring that all existing VIA Rail employees would benefit from the job opportunities the project would offer. No jobs will be lost.
- Through their proposal, the Private Developer Partner must demonstrate that they will respect VIA Rail employees, their collective agreements and benefits, and commit to a collaborative approach with their unions. Any proposal that does not meet these criteria will not be considered by the Government of Canada.
Background Information
- In March 2022, the Government of Canada launched the procurement process for the High Frequency Rail project with a Request for Expressions of Interest.
- On February 17, 2023, the Government of Canada launched the Request for Qualifications, a major step in the procurement process. This Request for Qualifications process closed in April 2023, and on July 20, 2023, the Government of Canada announced the three groups selected to be bidders in the Request for proposals process.
The three bidding Consortia are:
- Cadence - CDPQ Infra, SNC Lavalin (now called Atkins-Réalis), Systra Canada, Keolis Canada.
- Intercity Rail Developers / Développeurs Ferroviaires Interurbains - Intercity Development Partners, Meridiam, Kilmer Transportation, First Rail Holdings, Jacobs, Hatch, CIMA+, RATP Dev Canada, First Group, Renfe Operadora.
- Partenaires Ferroviaires QCONNEXION Rail Partners - Fengate, John Laing, Bechtel, WSP, Deutsche Bahn.
- The purpose of the Request for Qualifications was to identify and qualify up to three top respondents. These top respondents have been invited to participate in the Request for Proposals process, which will eventually lead to the selection of a private developer partner. This private developer partner would work collaboratively with VIA HFR to co-develop and optimize the High Frequency Rail project.
- On October 13, 2023, the Government of Canada launched the Request for Proposals a critical step that will lead to the selection of a private developer partner for the project. Proposals are scheduled to be received in summer 2024 and evaluation completed in late fall 2024.