{
  "id": 11212813,
  "title": "Alto high-speed rail project likely to cost more than originally thought: budget watchdog",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/alto-high-speed-rail-project-likely-to-cost-more-than-originally",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T14:34:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBC News",
    "slug": "cbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/alto-high-speed-rail-cost-estimate-pbo-9.7365065"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The proposed high-speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City is likely to cost more than initially estimated. According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the project's cost could range from $75 billion to $113 billion. This is higher than the official estimates, which put the cost between $60 billion and $90 billion.\n\nThe budget office's projections exclude a potential stop in Kingston, which would add to the cost and complexity of the project. The office notes that large infrastructure projects are often uncertain and that cutting through the Canadian Shield will pose engineering challenges.\n\nThe federal Conservative party has called the Liberal proposal a \"boondoggle\", and members of the Bloc Québécois have expressed concerns that the project is being rushed through without proper consideration.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Budget watchdog says Alto rail construction could cost more than Ottawa predicts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/budget-watchdog-says-alto-rail-construction-could-cost-more-than-11211823",
        "published": "2026-10-01T13:47:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Budget watchdog says Alto rail construction could cost more than Ottawa predicts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/budget-watchdog-says-alto-rail-construction-could-cost-more-than",
        "published": "2026-10-01T13:47:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}