Government of Canada issues RFP for High Frequency Rail project

The government of Canada has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project. The project will be the largest Canadian infrastructure project in decades. Once operational, the rail line will span the Québec City, Quebec, to Toronto, Ontario, corridor with dedicated passenger tracks.  

Following a Request for Qualifications, three companies have been invited to bid on the project including Cadence, Intercity Rail Developers and QConnexiON Rail Partners. The RFP process will be ongoing until summer 2024. Following the evaluation period, the government of Canada will select the group who will become the private developer partner to work collaboratively with VIA HFR, a wholly owned subsidiary of VIA Rail Canada, to design and develop the HFR project.  

To maximize public benefits and innovation, RFP bidders will have to develop two solutions with respect to speed. One solution must include trains that can reach a maximum speed of 200 kilometers (124.3 miles) per hour, which is faster than the service offered today. The second solution must include high- speed segments for faster travel. This will allow for a rigorous assessment of the costs and benefits of incorporating high speed rail on each segment of the corridor. 

Advancing Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is a priority for the government of Canada and early engagement with Indigenous communities is already underway. Indigenous engagement is critical to the success of the project. As part of the RFP process, bidders will be required to detail their plans for Indigenous participation in the HFR project and how they would facilitate opportunities for sharing the socio-economic benefits with Indigenous Peoples. 

The RFP will be overseen by an independent Fairness Monitor, who acts as an objective, third-party observer to safeguard the integrity of the procurement process. National security and related risks will also be assessed, along with measures to address such risks.  

“The launch of the Request for Proposals for the High Frequency Rail project marks a significant milestone. In the future, more Canadians will choose to travel by rail because the HFR will lead to faster train journeys, more frequent departures and greener travel. I look forward to seeing how the teams participating in this process will approach the challenge of connecting communities, honoring Indigenous Reconciliation and improving travel in the Québec City to Toronto corridor,” said Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez.  

“Over the past few months, our government has been working extensively with world-class experts from the private sector to help deliver this major infrastructure project and ensure that Canadians have access to fast and reliable rail service. The High Frequency Rail project will contribute to the economic development of the regions served, particularly the Quebec region, while promoting labor mobility and green mobility. The launch of the Request for Proposals marks a critical step in the procurement process and brings us closer to the completion of this important project,” said Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Member of Parliament for Québec Jean-Yves Duclos.    

The government of Canada is using a phased approach to leverage input collected throughout the procurement process and to inform the next steps and decisions regarding the implementation of the HFR project and is implementing a robust cost management strategy for every phase of the project to ensure costs are contained. This strategy will include annual cost updates, recurring due diligence reviews and open book reporting to manage costs and to report changes. Partners will also be incentivized to innovate and seek cost reductions to create better value for money while protecting the public interest. 

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget provided Transport Canada and Infrastructure Canada with close to C$400 million (US$292.9 million) over two years, starting in 2022-2023, to continue advancing key project activities and undertake the procurement phase of the HFR project. 

“This transformative project is about connecting people and places in Canada’s most densely populated corridor. Our team is committed to making passenger rail travel more flexible. By moving passenger trains onto their own dedicated tracks, we’ll offer faster, more frequent trains that arrive reliably on time. Our service will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector,” said Martin Imbleau, CEO, VIA HFR.