Via Rail has launched requests for qualification for locomotives and cars to seek a supplier for its new fleet.
This marks the first phase of the Crown corporation’s project to replace all its passenger trains across the country within a decade.
“This milestone, made possible by the Government of Canada’s commitment, ensures we can maintain coast-to-coast services, continue to connect communities, and inspire more Canadians to choose passenger rail,” said Mario Péloquin, VIA Rail’s president and CEO, in a Dec. 9 release. “These new trains are central to our vision of offering a modern, accessible, and sustainable travel experience for all regions of Canada.”
Serving more than 250 communities in Canada, including tourist destinations such as Jasper National Park, many of the fleet’s 210 cars were built between 1946 and 1955. This new investment is part of the 2024 federal budget and builds on 2018 funding that allowed Via Rail to replace its fleet in the Québec City-Windsor Corridor.
“Budget 2024 investments in VIA Rail’s fleet renewal will enhance the passenger experience, promote environmentally friendly travel options, and bring communities and local economies together,” said then-federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez in a July release. “We’re building vibrant communities and strong regions for the next generation.”
To protect its negotiating position for the upcoming procurement, the federal government has not released funding amounts, although replacing the fleet is expected to cost several billion dollars.
Arnaud Lacaze, vice president of VIA Rail’s fleet renewal programs, confirmed they were planning to buy 313 new cars and explained how the long-distance travel in Canada, which resembled cruises, made this procurement unique.
“You take the train at Paris, for example, and [in] the morning, you arrive in London,” Lacaze said. “In Canada, if you take The Canadian, you take the trip from Toronto to Vancouver in four-day, four-night trips. That’s why it’s very specific. It’s for us.”
The new pan-Canadian fleet will feature nine different types of cars and offer enhanced comfort and modern amenities. Lacaze said the cars will have improved accessibility for passengers of all abilities and will continue to connect communities from coast to coast.
“Sometimes it’s the only way for a community to be able to go from a point A to point B,” he said, noting how dependent isolated communities such as Churchill, Man. were on rail service.
Once the requests for qualification close, Via Rail will launch request for proposals with the goal of awarding the contract at the start of 2026. From there, it will take eight to 10 years to replace the fleet, with the first coaches coming in 2029-30 and the project reaching completion in 2034-35.
