AtkinsRéalis wins contract to deliver Canada’s first high-speed rail system
AtkinsRéalis, a Montreal-based design and engineering consultancy, is part of the consortium selected by the Canadian government to deliver a high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau in February announced the ambitious public transportation project, named “Alto." The federal government has allocated an investment of $3.9 billion for the design phase of the project, which could take up to six years. Actual construction, if it comes to that, would take place after the extensive design/“co-development” phase.
The “Cadence” consortium has been selected to deliver the complex and expensive transportation project, which cuts through Canada’s most densely populated corridor. The consortium comprises AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin), CDPQ Infra, Keolis, Systra, SNCF Voyageurs, and Air Canada.
“As the first high-speed rail link in the country, Canada will join other G7 nations in offering a world-class, convenient, comfortable, and safe option to transport people quickly and efficiently across the country’s busiest travel corridor,” said Ian Edwards, president and CEO of AtkinsRéalis.
AtkinsRéalis says it has experience working on some of the world’s marquee high-speed rail projects, including HS2 in the UK and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
“The Cadence team will bring world-class know-how in the design, development and operation of passenger transportation infrastructure,” said Stéphanie Vaillancourt, president, Canada, AtkinsRéalis. “The socioeconomic benefits of this project will create along the critical Toronto–Quebec City corridor include higher productivity, increased economic growth, greater labour and student mobility to jobs and schools, reduced road congestion, and improved access to housing outside large urban areas.”
AtkinsRéalis has approximately 37,000 global employees, including 8,000 in Canada. The firm has practices in consulting, strategy & advisory, engineering & design, procurement, project & program management, project delivery & construction management, and digital.
