Three consortia invited to bid on Canada’s High Frequency Rail project
Canada’s High Frequency Rail project, which aims to provide improved and more accessible rail service and support long-term regional and economic growth, is advancing procurement of the project’s developer partner with the selection of three consortia that will be invited to submit bids through the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage. The government of Canada will issue the RFP in September.
Following a Request for Qualifications, the final entities to be invited to bid on the project include:
- Cadence (CDPQ Infra, SNC-Lavalin, Systra Canada, Keolis Canada)
- Intercity Rail Developers (Intercity Development Partners, EllisDon Capital, Kilmer Transportation, First Rail Holdings, Jacobs, Hatch, CIMA+, First Group, RATP Dev Canada, Renfe Operadora)
- QConnexiON Rail Partners (Fengate, John Laing, Bechtel, WSP Canada, Deutsche Bahn)
“Today marks an important step in the High Frequency Rail project. We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the three qualified suppliers to seek their unique expertise and further refine many aspects of this initiative that will connect Canadian communities together,” said Canada Minister of Public Services and Procurement Helena Jaczek.
The government of Canada explains High Frequency Rail is a transformational project that promises to fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Ontario and Québec, improving accessibility and providing more travel flexibility.
Plans to increase frequency of service on the Toronto to Quebec City corridor were introduced by VIA Rail Canada in 2016, but it wasn’t until July 2021, when the government of Canada unveiled plans to pursue high-frequency rail service. The project will be managed by VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc. (VIA HFR), a subsidiary of VIA Rail.
“I am thrilled that High Frequency Rail — the largest infrastructure project —is advancing to the next stage of the procurement process. This exciting initiative will require strong collaboration between Transport Canada, VIA HFR and the selected private developer partner to create a sustainable foundation for the design and development of the project. I look forward to the next phase of this project,” said Canada Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
