The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that airline and airport interest in a massive new passenger rail project is being viewed as a welcome development by Martin Imbleau, boss of the federal government's high-frequency rail project, after Air Canada joined one of the three groups proposing to build new dedicated tracks between Toronto and Quebec City. The Globe's Bill Curry writes that three preselected consortiums submitted private bids late last month outlining their plans to build and operate the proposed new passenger rail line. Each of the three bids was required to present two options: one using traditional passenger trains and a second option that includes at least some high-speed-rail segments. One of the consortiums, a group called Cadence that includes the infrastructure division of Quebec's pension fund and Atkinsrealis, revealed it was joined by Air Canada and France's SNCF. Federal officials are now reviewing the three bids and cabinet is expected to select a winner before the end of the year. Air Canada's late entry into the process is being viewed with suspicion by passenger rail advocacy groups such as High Speed Rail Canada, which notes the airline has a history of opposing such projects.