Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau) has joined the Cadence consortium bidding to build and operate a High Frequency Rail (HFR) network linking eastern Canada's main cities.
"Air Canada enables Canadians to travel at home and around the world. Connections with other modes of transport, such as rail or bus, are part of the solutions the company is already developing to offer the most relevant mobility option, responding in a sustainable way to the specific needs of each of its customers," the carrier said in a statement.
It added that the project would "contribute to the harmonious integration of a future intercity rail network with existing airport hubs in the Quebec-Windsor corridor" but said it would not comment any further, as is required by the current regulations.
The proposed project will link Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, and Quebec City. Air Canada has hubs at Toronto Pearson and Montréal Trudeau airports.
The Cadence consortium was initially established as a partnership between CDPQ Infra, SYSTRA Canada, AtkinsRéalis Canada, and Keolis Canada. Besides Air Canada, another partner to join recently is the French state-owned high-speed passenger rail operator SNCF Voyageurs. The consortium is one of three bidders the Canadian government has prequalified. It submitted a non-public response to the government's RFP in late July.
The other two consortia do not include any airlines or aviation companies.
Following contract signatures, the state-run body VIA HFR says it will start a co-development phase with the private developer partner, expected in late 2024 to early 2025.
