French and Swiss firms to build new VIA Rail passenger cars and locomotives in $6.7-billion fleet overhaul - Daily Hive

Lead

October 11, 2026 — Canada: The Government of Canada, VIA Rail, Alstom Canada and Stadler are advancing a major renewal of VIA Rail’s Long-Distance, Regional, and Remote (LDRR) fleet. Announcements and reporting in October 2026 and July 2026 set out a combined program that includes 313 passenger rail cars from Alstom Canada and 45 hybrid battery-diesel locomotives from Stadler, with implementation and long-term support elements extending through the early 2030s.

Verified facts

- Announcement and scope: Alstom Canada will supply 313 passenger rail cars to replace VIA Rail’s LDRR fleet. Alstom Canada disclosed approximately $4.0 billion for the passenger rail cars and nearly $700 million for technical support and spare parts over 15 years. Stadler was selected separately to supply 45 hybrid battery-diesel locomotives under a program announced in July 2026 with a program value to Stadler of about $1.95 billion (including a $1.6-billion locomotive purchase and $357 million for a new assembly and maintenance facility in Montreal). Combined, the Alstom and Stadler contracts bring the total LDRR fleet renewal cost to about $6.7 billion, according to the reporting.

- Delivery timelines: Alstom’s first cars are expected to begin carrying passengers in 2031, with the entire order in service by 2035. Stadler’s first locomotives are expected to enter passenger service in 2029, with the full fleet operating by 2032. The Montreal assembly and maintenance facility for Stadler is scheduled for completion in 2029.

- Fleet composition and network: The Alstom order comprises nine car types, with disclosed counts including 58 coach cars, 78 sleeper cars, 26 accessible sleeper cars, 20 Prestige sleeper cars, 38 panorama cars, 25 dome cars, 20 dining cars, 19 berth cars and 29 baggage cars. The new cars will serve VIA Rail LDRR routes that connect nearly 400 communities over approximately 12,500 km across eight provinces, covering routes such as Vancouver–Toronto (The Canadian), Prince Rupert–Jasper, Winnipeg–Churchill, Sudbury–White River, Montreal–Senneterre, Montreal–Jonquiere and Montreal–Halifax. The LDRR network carried more than 216,000 passengers in 2025.

- Technical and environmental parameters: Cars will be designed and tested for temperatures from -50°C to 50°C. Environmental requirements include ensuring at least 90 per cent of the cars’ materials can be recovered at retirement; other planned features reported include better insulation, efficient lighting, reduced water consumption and onboard waste separation. Stadler locomotives will include battery systems supplied by ABB’s Saint-Laurent facility in Quebec, enable up to 160 km/h operation, and be capable of running on battery power alone in specific scenarios and using renewable diesel.

- Current fleet condition: VIA Rail’s existing LDRR fleet has an average age of approximately 77 years, with most cars built between 1947 and 1955.

Organizations and responsibilities

- Government of Canada: Funded the investments and announced the programs; specific funding elements cited in the reporting include more than $4.7 billion for passenger rail cars and long-term support and a separate $1.6-billion program for Stadler locomotives plus $357 million for the Montreal facility. The government is the principal sponsor of the modernization.

- VIA Rail: Owner and operator of the LDRR services; VIA Rail provided route and fleet context and stated service intentions such as retaining Economy, Sleeper Plus and Prestige classes. VIA Rail’s interim president and CEO, Mathieu Paquette, was reported to have described the retained and modernized onboard features.

- Alstom Canada: Supplier of 313 passenger rail cars; Alstom disclosed the approximately $4.0 billion cars figure and nearly $700 million for 15 years of support. Alstom will design and engineer the cars at Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, manufacture car bodies in La Pocatiere and perform final assembly in Thunder Bay. Alstom estimated up to 670 direct Canadian jobs supported and projected a contribution of more than $1.6 billion to Canada’s GDP.

- Stadler: Supplier of 45 hybrid battery-diesel locomotives and responsible for the Montreal assembly and maintenance facility; contract value to Stadler reported at about $1.95 billion. ABB (Saint-Laurent) will supply the battery systems for the locomotives.

Operational and commercial context

- Reported operational implications: The new equipment is intended to replace an ageing fleet (average age ~77 years) to preserve service to remote communities, improve onboard accessibility and reliability, and maintain features such as dome cars, full-service dining and sleeping accommodations. The staged delivery schedules are reported to allow continuity of service while older equipment is retired; passenger cars will be introduced gradually through 2035 while locomotives enter service beginning in 2029.

- Reported commercial and supply implications: Alstom’s Canadian production footprint for the program spans Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, La Pocatiere and Thunder Bay. Stadler’s program includes a Montreal facility for assembly and long-term maintenance. Reporting indicates anticipated Canadian supplier work, job creation estimation by Alstom (up to 670 direct jobs) and a projected contribution of more than $1.6 billion to Canada’s GDP from the Alstom contract. Exact supplier lists, contract award documents and detailed procurement terms are Not publicly disclosed in the source.

Sources

- https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/via-rail-new-train-locomotive-order-alstom-stadler — Daily Hive (dailyhive.com)

Disclosure

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