Canadian company VIA Rail has received new federal funding to upgrade its train fleet

This was announced by Canada’s Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez. According to his statement, the company plans to purchase 40 new locomotives and 300 passenger cars, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

While Rodriguez did not specify the exact amount of the project, he emphasized that it involves significant funds amounting to billions of dollars.

Wabtec is investing in the future of Kazakhstan’s railway industry

The main goal of this project is to replace old regional and long-distance trains.

This update is extremely necessary, as VIA Rail’s fleet is the oldest in North America.

Most of the cars were built between 1947 and 1955.

For comparison, the average age of cars in the American company Amtrak is about 34 years, and in the French SNCF, about 16 years.

Thus, updating VIA Rail’s fleet is an important step towards improving the quality and reliability of passenger transportation in Canada.

This project is the second phase of VIA Rail’s fleet modernization.

In 2018, the company already received federal funding to purchase new Siemens Venture trains for the Southern Ontario-Quebec corridor.

At that time, VIA Rail ordered 32 five-car Siemens Venture trains, and the first new train began operation at the end of 2022.

Such initiatives to update the train fleet not only contribute to increased comfort and safety for passengers but also play an important role in the development of rail transport in general.

The new locomotives and cars will help improve environmental performance, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure more stable and efficient operation of the entire system.

Thus, federal funding is a key factor for the successful implementation of these plans and the further development of passenger transportation in Canada.

VIA Rail is taking confident steps to update its fleet, which will positively impact the quality of passenger service and the overall efficiency of the country’s transportation system.

Photo: VIA Rail

Rail business, industry, and railway technology news from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

“Kazakhstan Railways” caught violating rights of 1,300 entrepreneurs