During Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Malcolm Morris provided an update to council about the proposed High Frequency Railway that would run between Toronto and Quebec City. The High Frequency Rail (HFR) is a federal government initiative. Mayor Pankow and Smiths Falls staff have made it clear to the HFR team that Smiths Falls is interested in being a stop along the route.

The HFR would be a new railway track; a dedicated passenger rail line that does not share tracks with freight transport. This would allow the operation of more passenger trains more frequently along the corridor between Toronto and Quebec City, CAO Morris explained. 

The HFR team has started the procurement process, identifying qualified partners to design, build, and maintain the railway. The goal is to have a qualified partner identified by 2024.

Article by Janelle Labelle