Alstom will build 313 new rail cars for VIA Rail Canada, supporting passenger connectivity, accessibility and domestic manufacturing across the country.
Alstom has signed a C$4.7 billion agreement with VIA Rail Canada to design, engineer, manufacture and support 313 new rail cars for the country’s Long Distance, Regional and Remote fleet.
The contract represents one of the largest recent investments in Canadian passenger rail manufacturing and will replace VIA Rail Canada’s existing long-distance fleet. Alongside the rolling stock order, Alstom will provide technical support and spare parts services for 15 years under a separate agreement valued at almost C$700 million.
The new fleet is intended to improve comfort, accessibility, reliability and connectivity across eight major routes, serving nearly 400 communities throughout Canada. The services connect major cities and remote destinations, including Montréal, Halifax, Gaspé, Jonquière, Senneterre, Toronto, Vancouver, Churchill, Prince Rupert, Jasper, Sudbury and White River.
Replacing an ageing fleet
The agreement will introduce Adessia rail cars in nine configurations, including coach, sleeper, accessible, berth, prestige, panorama, dome, dining and baggage cars.
The range of configurations reflects the different requirements of long-distance, regional and remote services. VIA Rail says the new cars will retain established features including dome cars, full-service dining and social areas, while adding modern amenities and improved accessibility.
The replacement programme is particularly significant because the existing fleet includes cars that are 77 years old. The new vehicles are designed to provide brighter and more spacious interiors, digital connectivity and improved passenger facilities.
The fleet will also incorporate cybersecurity protections intended to support safe and reliable operations.
The project has a wider social dimension because several of VIA Rail’s services provide connections to remote communities, including First Nations communities. Replacing the existing fleet is therefore intended not only to modernise the passenger experience, but also to maintain services linking communities across the country.
“This is an emblematic project for Alstom, and we’re honoured to be entrusted by VIA Rail and the federal government with delivering it.”
Michael Keroullé, President and CEO of Alstom Americas, said the agreement represents a new chapter between Alstom and Canada’s national passenger railway company, with the fleet designed, engineered and manufactured domestically.
Building the fleet in Canada
A central element of the agreement is its focus on Canadian manufacturing and engineering.
Design and engineering work will be undertaken at Alstom’s facility in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec, while carbody manufacturing will take place in La Pocatière, Québec. Final assembly will be carried out in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The project is expected to create or support up to 670 direct jobs at Alstom Canada, alongside hundreds of additional indirect and induced jobs across the wider supply chain and local communities.
Alstom also intends to use its existing Canadian supplier network during delivery, with the company estimating that the project will contribute more than C$1.6 billion to Canada’s GDP.
For the Canadian government, the investment is also positioned as a way to strengthen domestic rail manufacturing capacity and improve resilience against future trade disruptions.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the project would support Canadian workers and innovation while strengthening the country’s rail manufacturing sector.
Supporting long-distance passenger rail
The new fleet will operate across a geographically extensive network, meaning the vehicles must support different operating environments and passenger requirements.
Alstom says the Adessia cars will be designed to withstand Canada’s climate extremes, while providing improved accessibility and passenger comfort.
VIA Rail’s Interim President and CEO Mathieu Paquette said the fleet would preserve elements that distinguish the operator’s long-distance services while introducing modern facilities and greater reliability.
The investment therefore combines fleet replacement with a broader effort to maintain the role of passenger rail across Canada’s long-distance and remote network.
For Alstom, the agreement also represents a major expansion of its role in Canadian passenger rail manufacturing. The company will remain involved beyond construction through the 15-year technical support and spare parts agreement, providing a long-term role in supporting the fleet.
The first deliveries and the subsequent introduction of the new cars will ultimately determine how the investment translates into improved passenger services across the network. The agreement nevertheless establishes a substantial programme for replacing ageing rolling stock while retaining domestic design, engineering and manufacturing capability.
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