Ontario is home to one of the most robust post-secondary education systems in the country, with world-class universities spread across dozens of cities. But what unites these institutions is also what limits them: distance. Long travel times, regional isolation, and rising student housing costs make the pursuit of higher education increasingly inaccessible to thousands of potential students.
High-speed rail (HSR) could change that—permanently.
A Rail-Connected Learning Network
Imagine boarding a train in downtown Toronto and arriving in London at Western University in under 90 minutes. Or heading to Waterloo for a co-op interview, to Ottawa for a political science summit, or to Kingston to tour Queen’s—all within a few hours.
A province-wide HSR system would connect the dots between schools like Western, Waterloo, Guelph, U of T, York, Trent (Peterborough), Queen’s (Kingston), Carleton and UOttawa, and McMaster (Hamilton). It could even open up interprovincial links to McGill (Montreal).
These institutions are vital knowledge hubs, but today they often operate in silos. HSR can create a distributed educational ecosystem—a physical network as dynamic and mobile as the digital world students already live in.
Solving the Student Housing Crisis
High-speed rail would also alleviate one of Ontario’s most pressing challenges: student housing.
Students priced out of cities like Toronto, Ottawa, or Hamilton could live in smaller, affordable communities along the rail line—such as Barrie, North Bay, or Peterborough—and still commute to campus in under 90 minutes.
By enabling students to live outside of major urban cores, HSR could reduce the pressure on rental markets and lower the financial barrier to post-secondary education.
Supercharging Research & Innovation
HSR wouldn’t just benefit undergrads. It would also empower researchers, faculty, and entrepreneurs by making it easier to attend conferences, collaborate on research, or access industry hubs.
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A professor at U of T could lecture at Carleton in the morning and return for an afternoon seminar.
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A startup incubator in Kitchener-Waterloo could partner with students in Guelph, York, or McGill—faster and more affordably than ever.
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Multi-campus degree programs, research chairs, and joint studies could expand province-wide.
HSR turns Ontario into a single, connected learning ecosystem.
Equity, Access & Cultural Mobility
The benefits go even further. Rural and northern students would no longer need to relocate permanently to attend school. Communities currently excluded from provincial opportunity—like Sudbury, North Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie—would gain fast, reliable access to academic centres and job markets.
At the same time, Ontario’s students could more easily explore cultural offerings, internships, and career opportunities across the province and into Quebec. For a generation raised on mobility, HSR unlocks real freedom.
The Future of Ontario Is On Track
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for nation-building projects. This is one. Premier Doug Ford has spoken of the need to support skilled trades, colleges, and applied learning. HSR could become the infrastructure of opportunity that ties these goals together.
If the Internet connected Ontario’s students digitally, high-speed rail can now connect them physically. And that might be the smartest investment in education this province has ever made.
🚆🚆 Fast Track – A GTA Weekly Editorial Series
Championing Ontario’s High-Speed Rail Future, One Station at a Time.
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