Canada’s national railroad VIA rail has an interesting fleet. Some trains are a step back in time and have been operating since the 1950s. In particular their long distance trains used refurbished railcars that have been in service for decades. With the aging fleet, VIA Rail has launched a Request for Qualification for locomotives and railcars to replace the long distance fleet.
A Complete Transformation
Funding for the long distance rail cars and locomotives has been allocated from the 2024 federal budget. Looking at the renderings, it looks like there will be a single level dining car, scenic dome car and a lounge car. Currently, suppliers have not been picked so the final design may differ from the renderings. “We are thrilled to launch the Requests for Qualification for our pan-Canadian fleet, a key step in VIA Rail’s ongoing transformation,” said Mario Péloquin, VIA Rail’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “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. These new trains are central to our vision of offering a modern, accessible, and sustainable travel experience for all regions of Canada.” Lets hope the renderings stick, personally I think the large windows and multi use lounge space will make crossing Canada a one of a kind experience.
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