A new study released by Canada Minister of Transport estimates that the construction of a high-speed rail line between Québec City and Windsor, Ontario, in Canada could cost more than $21.3bn.
The Canadian Government commissioned the feasibility study for a1,300km rail line passing through the country’s capital and two largest cities Toronto and Montreal.
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The study, funded by the governments of Canada, Québec and Ontario, assessed high-speed train technologies, potential routes, traffic forecasts and cost-benefit analyses.
The study also evaluated socioeconomic, environmental and transportation system impacts of high-speed rail.
The study focused on two technologies, based on speeds of 200km/h using diesel traction and 300km/h using electric traction.
The total estimated cost of the project in 2009 dollars cost was $18.9bn for the slower diesel option and $21.3bn for the high-speed rail technology.
The study says the busiest section, Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto, will cost $9.1-11bn alone.
If the trains run at 300km/h using electric traction, it will reduce the travel time between Ottawa and Montreal from two hours to one, and arrive only 15 minutes later than a flight, while it will take 1.5 hours from Ottawa to Toronto compared with the current 4.5 hours.
The study was conducted by EcoTrain, a group of international consulting firms led by Dessau and comprising Deutsche Bahn International, KPMG, MMM Group and Wilbur Smith Associates.
