High-speed trains between Toronto and Windsor subject of new report

A report that could set out a plan tobuild high-speed rail between Torontoand Windsor is expected to be presented at Queen's Park in the coming weeks.

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Minister of Transportation Steven Del Ducawill table the document that potentially sets out how passenger railtransport could be improved for the cities along the southern 401 corridor, includingKitchener-Waterloo andLondon.

"There is alot of anticipation and excitement ... I am hopeful," Del Duca said.

Details are scarce about the report, whichwas authored by former federal transport minister David Collenette, but it could contain a business case for the high-speed link, Del Duca explained.

Noprice tagyet

He said the document contains significant analysis of potential business cases for high-speed rail through much of southern Ontario. But, speaking with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, he refused to confirm whether theCollenettereportexplicitly provided a viable business case for the service.

Del Duca also wouldn't elaborate on how much a potential high-speed rail link would cost.

"There's planning work, there's design work ... I'm not at a point right now to confirm what a price tag would look like," said the minister, who added he expected to have an update on costs in coming weeks.

Railway consultant Greg Gormick does not expect to see a separate high-speed rail line moving through southwestern Ontario.

"We can't really do high speed rail, we can do higher-speed rail," saidGormick.

He suspects the reason for releasingCollenette'sreport may be more of a political move,rather than one that genuinely improves transportation.

"I think the government being under the gun with an election approaching, they're going to want some feel-good statements to put out there," addedGormick.

Full details on where and when potential high-speed rail could come to southern Ontario will be available once the Collenette proposal is tabled at Queen's Park.

"I think it's best for the report to speak for itself," said DelDuca, who provided few other concrete details outside of confirming the report's existence.