The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, Jan. 17, edition that Ottawa's former downtown train station, now housing the Senate, is being considered as an urban hub for Canada's first high-speed rail line. The Globe's Bill Curry and Sean Silcoff write that Alto, the government body overseeing the project, has begun consultations on the proposed route from Toronto to Quebec City, passing through Ottawa and Montreal. Ottawa's original Union Station, opened in 1912, and the current Via Rail station southeast of downtown are both potential locations for the capital's high-speed terminus. If the project proceeds, it would begin with construction of the Montreal-Ottawa link. Alto chief executive officer Martin Imbleau told The Globe that both buildings are under consideration, along with other downtown locations, and will be evaluated according to multiple criteria. He said: "It needs to be feasible, it needs to be fast. Your journey time has to be reduced significantly. So, you don't position your station because it's a tourist attraction. The one key location factor is ensuring that your journey time is as short as possible to reach your destination."