Smiths Falls Councillor Peter McKenna put forth the motion in support of Alto high-speed rail.
Smiths Falls Councillor Peter McKenna put forth the motion to support the Alto high-speed rail project, so long as the town is either included as a stop or is home to a maintenance and storage facility.
He is a big supporter of what’s on offer, and says residents should think nationally.
The town’s strategic case was presented by consulting firm Leading Mobility, which suggested Smiths Falls could rally to be included as a stop in a tiered high-speed rail service capacity, or vye to be home to maintenance and storage facility.
A tiered service model in high-speed rail is a system where different types of trains operate on the same corridor, each designed to serve a different purpose—balancing speed, accessibility, and overall network efficiency.
Tiered service divides trains by how many stops they make and who they serve. Express trains run between major cities with few or no stops, aiming for the fastest travel times. Regional high-speed trains still move quickly but stop at select mid-sized communities, expanding access without major delays.
Feeder services, like local rail or buses, connect smaller towns to those high-speed stations.
Councillor Chris McGuire seconded the motion and said a project of this scale will be disruptive by nature, but opposing the project now ends communication.
Maintenance and storage facilities for high speed rail handle train storage, inspections, repairs, and daily servicing, keeping the network running reliably.
The strategic case argues that it it brings permanent skilled jobs, steady economic activity, and long-term investment to the town.
Council acknowledged the proposed of this project will not be realized for potentially decades given the size of the project.
They passed McKenna’s motion in a 5-2 vote. Councillors Jay Brennan and Stephen Robinson opposed.
Story by Grant Deme
