The terrain on the CP Havelock Sub-Smith Falls route wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice for a high speed route - or even the 90ish mph services VIA runs now.
mdvle wrote: As for the freight issue, I was more replying to the idea that CN, CP, or even some 3rd party, might view the new line as attractive for moving stuff Toronto <-> Montreal and not some local freights. In which case the freight train would need to be fast enough to not get in the way of the passenger trains (interesting thought, if the new line could be faster than a truck on the 401 would parcel services be interested in an RDC type of unit to move smaller amounts of freight - I suspect the costs wouldn't work but who knows).Perhaps a more plausible plan is for VIA to build the Toronto-Montreal line, and run it for CN/CP's use. Freeing up capacity to implement their actual plans on the existing corridor. Essentially an 'in-kind' infrastructure swap that could potentially cover VIA's entire operations coast to coast if done right.
Right now VIA essentially gets laughed at when they go to negotiate with CN (and CP) because they've contributed nearly no infrastructure to the equation.