Regional divide over high-speed rail

By Marina Kydd 

Support for a proposed high-speed rail line through Peterborough is increasingly

divided, as local officials back the project while neighbouring municipalities and rural residents raise concerns about farmland, costs and long-term impacts on the agricultural community. 

The project, led by Alto, would connect Toronto to Quebec City with a planned stop in Peterborough as part of a proposed high-speed network across the expansive trans-provincial corridor. 

A months-long public consultation process concluded April 24, drawing hundreds of participants at in-person events and more than 185,000 visits to Alto’s online platform. The process also generated 15,000 completed questionnaires and 11,000 written comments, according to the organization. 

While Peterborough city council has expressed strong support for the project, opposition has emerged from surrounding municipalities and rural representatives concerned about its potential impact on agricultural land and local infrastructure. 

In the City of Kawartha Lakes, councillors warned the proposal could place significant pressure on rural communities. Deputy Mayor Tracy Richardson said the municipality is not opposed to rail development but questioned the proposed alignment. 

“This is something that is not great for our community,” Richardson said during a committee meeting. “We have to support our agricultural community. We’re not opposing progress; it’s just not in the right location.” 

Residents who spoke to council raised similar concerns, including the fragmentation of farmland, potential land expropriation and long-term infrastructure disruption. Bethany-area resident Laurie Reynolds said the proposed corridor could cut through multi-generational farms and place financial and operational strain on rural landowners. 

Regional opposition has also been formalized through the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, which passed a resolution opposing the project “in its current form,” citing limited regional benefits and a lack of detailed information on local impacts. The group includes Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark. 

At the same time, Peterborough city council has unanimously endorsed the project and its inclusion of a local station.

Councillor Kevin Duguay described the rail line as a “nation-building” opportunity and a major economic driver for the region. Mayor Jeff Leal has also defended the project, saying it will bring long-term benefits to the city and surrounding area. 

Other councillors have pointed to potential increases in investment, population growth and regional connectivity tied to the station. 

The split underscores a broader regional divide between urban centres expected to gain direct access to the rail network and rural communities concerned about bearing the costs and disruption of construction. 

According to Alto, the project remains in its development and pre-construction phase, which is expected to continue until 2029 or 2030. Construction would then proceed in stages lasting approximately eight to 10 years per segment, beginning with an initial line between Ottawa and Montreal. 

The full network is expected to span nearly 1,000 kilometres and serve a population of more than 18 million people. Alto projects significant economic benefits, including large-scale job creation during construction, though some critics have questioned how those benefits will be distributed across regions. 

Results from the consultation process are expected to be released in summer 2026 as planning continues and a more defined rail corridor is developed later in the year.