WATERLOO REGION - Local officials are hailing the appointment of a special adviser on high-speed rail as a sign of the province's commitment to new service here.

On Friday the province announced former federal minister of transport David Collenette had been named to the post and will be charged with bringing high-speed rail to the Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto corridor.

"The appointment of somebody of that calibre, that quality and that background indicates a fairly high level of interest on the part of the government," Regional Chair Ken Seiling said. "I'm quite encouraged by the fact that they've made this appointment."

Politicians want better service on the corridor for the sake of economic development.

They argue we're behind the times compared to other big cities and can't compete.

"We're playing catch-up as a nation," Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said. "If we want to make sure we're playing at our maximum level of competitiveness to attract and retain the right kind of investments and job into this corridor, into Ontario and into Canada, this kind of investment is key."

Part of the desire for the connection is to support the innovation and high-tech communities, Vrbanovic said.

Collenette will be expected to identify economic development opportunities associated with high-speed trains, assess other countries' experiences with it and advise on a preliminary business case and financing models.

It's expected to cost $130 billion over 10 years to develop the high-speed line, according to a government news release.

"We know that in order to compete globally for the best jobs and talent we need transit systems that move people quickly and efficiently across the province while reducing commute times," Transport Minister Steven Del Duca said in a news release.

While local officials are pleased with the announcement, they say it's only one piece of the transportation puzzle.

High-speed rail needs to be supported by a more local rail system.

That's where lobbying for better local GO train service comes in.

Politicians want all-day two-way GO service along the Kitchener corridor, which includes Waterloo, Halton Hills, Brampton and Guelph.

"A high-speed rail line also requires general rail because high-speed rail lines typically have a limited number of stops and then general rail moves people between those stops," Vrbanovic said.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig is also lobbying for GO train service to Milton.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

"The GO train to Cambridge is the easiest piece of all the rail debates we're having," Craig said. "It's the easiest piece to put that in and I expect that to be done, I really do."

The province has committed to study a business plan the city prepared to bring trains to Cambridge. It could launch for about $21 million with increased costs depending on the implementation option chosen.