The country competing with the U.S. in the Americas chooses Spain for the continent’s most ambitious transport megaproject

Spain’s high-speed rail industry continues to expand internationally, breaking into new markets. After major projects in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Poland, it is now heading to Canada, where public engineering company Ineco will help advise on the construction of the country’s first high-speed rail line.

The state-owned company, chaired by Sergio Vázquez, will work alongside Danish firm Ramboll to advise the Transport Canada consortium on the construction of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) Initiative.

The project will link Toronto and Quebec City with roughly 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) of new track, aiming to significantly improve connections between two of the country’s largest cities.

A groundbreaking rail project

The railway marks Canada’s first major commitment to true high-speed rail. The plan is to connect the country’s busiest urban corridor with trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h).

At those speeds, the journey between Toronto and Quebec City is expected to fall from around nine hours today to roughly three. Along the route, trains will also stop in major cities including Ottawa, Montreal and Trois-Rivières.

Construction on the first section is expected to begin in 2029 with an initial investment of $3.9 billion. This phase will connect Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa.

Ineco’s growing international reputation

Ineco’s involvement reinforces international confidence in Spain’s high-speed rail expertise. The company will contribute technical advice, engineering experience and the know-how gained through its work on major rail projects around the world.

Among its most recent successes is its role in the international consortium advising on the construction of Vietnam’s first high-speed rail line.

Other notable projects include advising on the development of Poland’s so-called “Y” network, the core of the country’s future high-speed rail system, and its participation in the construction of the Haramain High-Speed Railway linking Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Together, these projects underline the growing international reputation of Spanish railway technology. Spain currently has nearly 2,500 miles (around 4,000 kilometers) of high-speed rail, making it the second-largest network in the world behind China.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.