The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, July 21, edition that Ottawa has released a short list of private-sector bidders to build a high-frequency passenger rail line between Quebec City and Toronto. The Globe's Bill Curry writes that on Thursday Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said it was too early to discuss the potential cost of the proposed system, which would be one of the largest infrastructure projects in Canadian history. The project would separate passenger rail lines, from freight traffic. Most of the track currently used by Via Rail in Quebec and Ontario is owned by Canadian National Railway. The ministers said the three consortiums on the short list will be asked to present two options: one based on the original plan of high-frequency rail using traditional passenger trains, with speeds of about 200 kilometres an hour, and a second option that includes trains running at higher speeds. High-speed trains in Europe can travel 300 kilometres an hour or more. Mr. Alghabra said four consortiums submitted bids in February. The top three have been selected to move ahead in a request for proposals process that will end in the summer of 2024, when a finalist is selected.