Waiting with bated breath, VIA employees enjoy an unplanned moment of peace before the political storm descends upon them (top photo). Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon was at VIA's Montreal Maintenance Centre today, July 29, to announce the builder of locomotives for VIA's new Long Distance Regional Remote fleet. A plethora of press release issuances from the Government and Stadler:
The government is providing $1.6 billion for the production of 45 new locomotives by Stadler, a leading Swiss rail manufacturer with a global centre of competence facility for mainline locomotives in Spain. Leveraging its global supply chain and Canadian suppliers, Stadler will complete the final assembly of up to 36 locomotives in Canada, marking the first time in decades that passenger locomotives for VIA Rail will be assembled domestically. An additional $357 million will also be provided for VIA Rail to build a new assembly and maintenance facility in Montréal, Quebec, where the Canadian assembly of the locomotives will take place. Built by Pomerleau, the facility will also support the maintenance and operation of the new fleet at VIA Rail’s Montréal Maintenance Centre over the long term.
Together, these investments will support the equivalent of 1,200 full-time jobs throughout the project, including skilled manufacturing, construction, engineering and long-term maintenance jobs, with significant economic benefits centred in Montréal and extending across Canada's rail supply chain. The deal announced today breaks Siemens Mobility’s recent near-monopoly on passenger locomotive and rolling stock orders in North America.
Stadler Valencia, located near Valencia, Spain, will serve as the project’s center of competence for locomotive design and production. The combination of domestic assembly and Stadler’s international design and manufacturing capabilities reflects the broader industrial strategy behind Canada’s C$1.95 billion investment. For VIA Rail, it means a new locomotive fleet tailored to the realities of Canadian passenger operations; for the country’s rail sector, it represents a renewed push to rebuild domestic capacity for passenger-rail equipment.
Miguel Cerdá, industrial vice-president at Stadler Rail in Valencia, Spain, said the locomotives have been “specifically designed to meet Canada’s demanding operational requirements, including temperatures as low as minus-50 degrees Celsius [minus-58 Fahrenheit]. Our technology has been proven for more than a decade in northern countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland. We are reliable during harsh winters, and this is essential.” You heard it here first!
Cerdá said that while Stadler’s Valencia facility would lead the design and manufacturing program, “significant activities” including assembly, testing, and commissioning will take place in Canada. “Through this collaboration,” he said, “Canadian professionals will benefit from a genuine transfer of technology and genuine transfer of know-how, gaining exposure to some of the most advanced locomotive manufacturing technologies currently available.” The contract includes a 20-year Technical Support and Spare Supply Agreement (TSSSA). Services under the TSSSA will be delivered by Stadler's Service Division, through a Canadian subsidiary yet to be incorporated, with personnel based at VIA Rail's main maintenance facilities in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
MacKinnon has just visited the Stadler facility in Spain to “see firsthand the exceptional work being done there to manufacture these locomotives.” Canadian workers will be sent to Spain to work on the initial locomotives, he said, gaining experience and expertise for assembly in Montreal. The first hybrid Eurolight locomotive will arrive in 2031, built in Spain. The remaining 36 will be built at the Montreal facility that will take three years to build. I don't really believe timelines, so the final locomotive will be delivered...later. Perhaps by 2033, likely not.
Also, I won't add to the immediate speculation filling up cyberspace. Comparing the ordered locomotives to Siemens Chargers, dismissing their serviceability and suitability, design and durability. "They're so PRETTY!" is not an objective adjudication. They're too light, wrong number of axles, not robust enough, and the worst thing any rail enthusiast can hear, "I don't like the paint scheme".
VIA was quick to load its social media accounts with phanciful photos:
Zipping along, locomotive 2501 (above) but....is that Corridor double track with HEP2 coaches? Then, thousands of miles to the west, two MU'd units rounding Morant's Curve on CP through the Rockies, a line VIA hasn't operated for over three decades. And...are...those...Budd...Canadian...cars?
VIA's Instagram version:
Cooler colour heads prevail! A more realistic 'builder's photo' view supplied by...the builder:
After the announcement and Q&A, "blue T-shirt guy" presses towards the politicians, VIA and Stadler executives. Perhaps trying to embarrass Minister MacKinnon, the audio had already been cut, but T-shirt guy's mouth is definitely moving. Four security agents show him the exterior of the MMC shortly thereafter.
Just one more for fun...
Worst past the post...
You can't spell VIA without AI. Well, sort of. Anyway, this is slopful and slothful:
Oh, good gravy! Anyone for another double dollop of slop?
P42 numbers!
This really bad AI was actually posted by VIA, passing Ray-Mont near Central Station. Curiously, hauling Siemens Venture equipment! Also, lacking the VIA Rail Canada word mark at the B-end:
Oh, here's the orinal stock photo:
I don't expect Members of Parliament to be railfans. MP does not mean Modelling Passengers. However...using social media to post updates showing an existing Venture, not the new equipment the government is spending all that money on, may not conjure up the most magical memories in the minds of passengers, and it's a little sloppy:
I wouldn't move to Canada if they continued showing Ventures:
Oh no, the union is at it, too:
Don't worry, "Toronto Culture" is a well-worn user of AI and rarely gets it right. More Ventures:
todotoronto does it toweringly right, but trains entering service in 2031?
on YouTube, GamingRailfanner gives us this visual overload:
Bonus image for Jim, completely unrelated!
12 comments:
A VIA loco with buffers? Is that for interoperability on European rails for when that rail bridge over the Atlantic finally gets built!?
Hi Mike,
Objects in header photo may be not as weird as they appear. I think VIA will be lucky to get from Quebec to Windsor, if not Windsor castle! There was a lack of clarity in the announcement whether Minister McKinnon was saying VIA went west to Toronto or all the way to Windsor. They finally worked it out, and I'm sure so will VIA.
Thanks for your comment,
Eric
Eric, I have to compliment VIA Rail and Transport Canada for the decision to use Stadler for these locomotives that will, in the main, be assembled in Montreal. Siemens would, no doubt, want to produce them in California. I have ridden in Stadler equipment in Europe for years, mostly Swiss, and the quality is good. The cold temperature operating is a must, but I must, sadly, ask how would they perform in smoke from fires. I fear that fire is going to be a risk for decades to come.
Hi Joseph,
Our federal government is portraying the decision as an economic boon and job boom for Canada. They're also really big on looking away from US suppliers and having (at least the appearance) higher levels of Canadian content than in the past.
Time will tell if unpacking crates off the ship and bolting things together will be what actually happens, however. I appreciate hearing your positive experience with Stadler.
If only we had more Canadians out sweeping our forests!
Thanks for your comment,
Eric
I thought that new passenger cars were gonna be part of this deal for the LDRR fleet? Or is that yet to come?
Hi Zack,
Separate processes and announcements. Not announced yet, but soon, according to the Minister of Transport.
So much intrigue of the present not allowing me to wallow in the past here on Trackside Treasure, however, what's being decided now will be how Canadians will be travelling decades from now.
Thanks for your questions,
Eric
As for Stadler, Trillium Line 2 in Ottawa uses their rolling stock. I also rode on them in Europe and enjoyed the rides.
Eric, my Canadian friends can do better than sweeping out forest. Let the "Orange One" sell you vacuums to do the job and battery operated at that.
I'm concerned about these locomotives. Stadler is a good choice of manufacturer, no doubt. But because we need to have an "investing in Canadian industry" component, I feel some questionable choices have been made. I don't actually know what a maintenance/manufactiring facility should cost, however $357M feels like a lot. Especially as it begs the question of what happens to the existing maintenance centres, as these locomotives will be replacing the current fleet, not adding to it. In addition, it's hard to actually build expertise without a pipeline of work. If all the money is spent to equip a manufacturing facility, this should not be a fixed number of locomotives, but an ongoing manufacturing process with a target of 45 by 2033. From there, manufacturing should be continued to both maintain experience, as well as provide more spares, replacements for damaged units, and expansion capacity. I have questions about the battery/diesel aspect but if Stadler has made it work in their European models, I'll hold my skepticism.
Mike: Good to hear that Stadler products have a good reputation.
Jarrett AO: Thanks for your thoughts. Our current other-than-US orientation indeed presents some new opportunities for other countries' manufacturers. Many are saying the cost is too high, at least in CAD. Perhaps the political cost of sticking with the US is higher and in the end unjustifiable. This is definitely a one-off. The days of profitable in-Canada locomotive manufacturing (has that even been a thing? Think MLW and GMDL) are definitely over. But for political and manufacturing reasons, this is likely the shape of things to come. At least until a new US administration is installed.
It seems we 'don't hold the cards'. Railway manufacturing has shifted to Europe (and Mexico for our America First friends!) and we have to play the cards we're dealt.
Eric
I gather that revenue from VIA operations in the Corridor subsidize these northern lines, to some extent anyway.
If the Alto HSR project ever bears fruit it will surely poach passengers from the VIA Corridor, and according to its P3 philosophy the private partners will be given free rein to do so. Alto’s own massively subsidized funds would undoubtedly be sequestered and not available to other VIA divisions.
Given all that, is it fanciful to expect that all these Stadler locos will be manufactured and delivered? Or will they and some of the lines they’re destined for become casualties of the Alto … dream?
Hi Paul,
The Corridor is where VIA comes closest to making money, and where the vast majority of passengers travel. The heavily-subsidized LDRR lines will always be money-losers.
There is a lot of speculation about the nexus between ALTO and the remaining Corridor service. There is no way HFR is going to serve all the existing stations, and no way that those cities and towns can be un-served.
The Stadler locos are needed because the services they will operate on are mandated. The LDRR fleet and locos will be needed until they aren't. Surely if the government were to de-fund these, these orders would not be being placed.
The Corridor will be Siemens playground for years to come.
Thanks for your comment and questions,
Eric
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