VIA Rail Canada has celebrated the Halifax Station renovation and marked more than 100 years of continuous service for The Ocean, investing $59 million to upgrade four historic stations across its national network. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Ocean remains a vital link for Atlantic Canada, connecting Halifax to Montreal and carrying generations of travelers through the Maritimes. It first ran in 1904 as the Ocean Limited under the Intercolonial Railway and joined VIA Rail in 1978.

VIA Rail Canada Marks Halifax Upgrade and Service
Screen Grab of The Ocean train from VIA Rail Canada Video. www.railwayage.com

Locomotives were replaced in the 1980s, but many Budd stainless-steel cars from the 1950s still operate today. VIA Rail Canada modernized these interiors in 1988, adding accessibility features designed by Canadian pioneer Madeleine Arbour.

Don’t miss…Eurostar Expands Services on London–Amsterdam Route with New Trains

VIA Rail Canada Expands Modernization Strategy

In 2000, VIA Rail purchased 139 Renaissance cars from the United Kingdom. These cars now run with Budd equipment, forming a typical Ocean train of two locomotives and 18 cars.

Last December, VIA Rail launched a procurement program to replace its aging long-distance and regional fleet outside the Québec City–Windsor corridor. Most equipment is nearly 70 years old and has exceeded its useful lifespan.

VIA Rail Canada Plans Refurbished Cars for Atlantic Service

The Canadian government pledged to renew the entire fleet within a decade. Meanwhile, VIA Rail plans to refurbish Budd cars retired from Central Canada for Atlantic routes.

“As soon as we free up one of those cars, we’ll repurpose it where it benefits the most,” said VIA Rail CEO Mario Péloquin. These cars will strengthen service on The Ocean and other routes, including The Churchill and The Skeena.

VIA Rail Canada’s approach blends heritage preservation with forward-looking investments, ensuring reliable and sustainable rail travel for future generations while honoring a century-long legacy of passenger service across Canada.

Source: www.railwayage.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Train Mark V Launches in Vancouver Metro: Innovation Ahead

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit