Lesson #2 from Canada – Bring in world-class expertise
- Ross Lowrey
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Canada has shown how to engage partners to bring in world-class expertise and know-how in the design, development and operation of large-scale rail infrastructure.
As I indicated in last week’s blog, Canada has its own national rail operator, VIA Rail, that has been examining how to upgrade its services for higher speeds and frequencies for nearly a decade. However the Government has decided it should create a new crown corporation (ALTO) to design, build and operate high speed services. The new corporation draws its staff from VIA Rail so that it starts with experience and expertise in delivering rail passenger services in Canada.
But, in addition, the Canadian Government decided to combine the expertise of its crown corporation with the experience of a team of world-class private partners. It has decided that a collaborative approach will promote innovation, drive better service for passengers, reduce risk and improve risk management, and ultimately achieve better value for Canadians.
After a rigorous selection process, Canada has engaged the Cadence consortium to co-design and build, finance, operate, and maintain the high speed line. The consortium brings together a group of group of companies with impressive credentials to get the best project outcomes for Canada:
CDPQ Infrastructure, a subsidiary of CDPQ infrastructure investments, brings integrated management of the planning, financing, construction and operating phases of large-scale infrastructure projects.
AtkinsRéalis, a Canadian engineering and project management company, brings global expertise in delivering large-scale rail infrastructure projects, including the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project.
Keolis, a global operations and maintenance services provider, brings expertise in transport service design and asset management to lay the foundation for a high-performing and affordable solution.
SYSTRA, a global rail engineering and project management company, brings extensive technical expertise in delivering large-scale rail infrastructure.
SNCF Voyageurs, the French passenger train operator, brings expertise in providing high-quality and accessible high speed rail services.
Air Canada, the Canadian airline, is coy about its expertise but will bring expertise to integrate a future intercity rail network with existing airport hubs in the Quebec-Windsor corridor.
While it’s unclear how the government will proceed with high speed rail in Australia, it is clear that we will this level of expertise if we are going to make high speed rail a success. In fact, it is even more important that we get it, because we don’t have the depth of experience of the Canadians who already have well-run regional services already operating in the corridor.