ALSTOM SELECTED AS BUILDER OF VIA's NEW LDRR FLEET

Today in Thunder Bay, Prime Minister Mark Carney, with Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon at his side, just announced the single-largest procurement in VIA Rail history  - the Long Distance, Regional and Remote (LDRR) fleet.

At the Can-Car (Canadian Car & Foundry) plant, the Prime Minister hearkened back to the plant's production of over 1,400 Hawker Hurricanes under licence during WWII, with one preserved in Virginia Beach, VA. He also wove in Canada's railway history and its current long-distance trains, the Canadian and the Ocean, while waxing poetic about a young Canadian someday riding the Canadian, made in Canada. The iconic Toronto-Vancouver Canadian, covering 4,000 km currently served by cars that have already covered 150,000,000 km. 

Linking 165 First Nation communities the fleet will serve remote areas in which alternative transportation options are limited while it connects eight major routes across Canada, Montréal, Halifax, Gaspé, Jonquière, Senneterre, Toronto, Vancouver, Churchill, Prince Rupert, Jasper, Sudbury and White River.  The announcement includes a 15-year Technical Support and Spare Parts Supply Agreement (TSSSA) valued at nearly $700 million, with the overall agreement representing a total value of $4.7 billion.

The $4.7-billion deal with Alstom to manufacture and maintain 313 new passenger rail cars for VIA Rail. The cars structures will be designed and engineered in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que, where there are 1,000 employees, built in La Pocatière Que., with final assembly in Thunder Bay using components built by Alstom or procured from many Canadian suppliers. Alstom will spend $38 to upgrade and modernize the Thunder Bay facility. The announcement marks the first such construction of VIA equipment in Canada since the LRC and F40's in the 1980's, and the plant's largest contract in 10 years.

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Michael Keroullé, CEO of Alstom Americas also spoke, noting that the plant had also been selected to produce new TTC subway cars in February. 

Carney was asked about whether VIA Rail service would return to Thunder Bay, which he deferred to VIA's Interim CEO Matthieu Paquette, who said VIA now has more options and that VIA is looking at adding more services and connecting more Canadians. “These new rail cars will retain signature features such as dome cars, full-service dining and social areas, while incorporating modern amenities, improved accessibility, and greater reliability. They will help us preserve essential services to remote communities and elevate the unique onboard experience that allows passengers to discover Canada in a way that only train travel can offer. We are very proud to partner with Alstom to create lasting value for Canadians by having these new cars designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada. More comfortable, more spacious and better-connected railway cars."

Replacing 77-year-old cars with a modern fleet will set new standards for passenger comfort, universal accessibility, digital connectivity and sustainability for passengers travelling across the country’s long-distance, regional and remote routes. The first car will enter service in 2031, the rest by 2035 as previously predicted. The RFQ was announced in December, 2024 and is coupled to the VIA locomotive announcement made just over four weeks ago. More energy efficient for Canada's weather with safe, depandable service with accessibility. Sleepers, full-service dining, panoramic views (not using the word 'domes' at this point).

To be called the Alstom Adessia (previously X'Trapolis), the Alstom press kit included eight images labelled Advanced & Creative Design included in this post (for illustrative purposes only per the fine print). The cars will retain the iconic look and feel that people love and cherish while integrating the world class experience that travellers today expect. 

The new Adessia fleet will be available in nine different car configurations to support the diverse needs of long-distance, regional and remote travel, including coach, sleeper, accessible, berth, Prestige, Panorama, dome, dining and baggage cars. Passengers will benefit from brighter and more spacious interiors and full connectivity. The fleet will also incorporate the latest cybersecurity protections to support safe and reliable operations.

Dining car (above), lounge car (below):

In the Prestige bedroom, the screen says bilingually, Welcome Aboard:

The route map shows Western Canada:

The modern rail cars for VIA Rail are part of Alstom’s diverse range of Adessia commuter rail solutions which are among the most sustainable ways to connect people in cities, surrounding suburbs and remote communities. (The Adessia portfolio includes a wide range of high-floor multiple units and coaches, available in both single- and double-deck configurations and designed to operate in all climatic conditions at speeds of 120-200 km/h on both electrified and non-electrified networks.) As the leading manufacturer of commuter trains, with more than 60 years of experience, Alstom remains committed to further enhancing sustainable operations and passenger experience. With more than 48,000 rail cars sold for over 60 commuter systems in nearly 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia, Adessia commuter trains deliver comfortable, safe and reliable journeys to more than 20 million passengers every day.

Passenger rail expert Mark Charlebois correctly had Alstom first on his list when he made his predictions about the fleet announcement in this June post:

Alstom — X'Trapolis (Tren Maya) - highly customizable commuter shell, wheelchair friendly, diner, cafe lounge, coach, sleepers with rooms. Negatives: no domes, hot climate, not individually coupled, no baggage car, short haul overnight service plan.