VIA Rail Canada has announced a substantial investment of $150 million to modernise its fleet of 56 Château and Manor sleeper cars over the coming five years. This initiative aims to enhance passenger experiences and strengthen Canada’s railway system.

The upgrades will be executed by CAD Railway Industries in Lachine, Québec, focusing on improving comfort, reliability, and amenities for passengers on The Ocean and The Canadian routes. The project is projected to create over 100 skilled jobs in areas such as engineering and project management, boosting the economy in the Greater Montréal region.

Mathieu Paquette, President and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, stated, “By modernising these sleeper cars here in Canada, we are enhancing comfort and reliability for our passengers, supporting skilled Canadian jobs, and ensuring our services continue to meet expectations as we renew our fleet over the coming decade.”

VIA Rail’s comprehensive programme also includes the progressive renewal of long-distance, regional, and remote train services, with a procurement process for new locomotives and passenger cars already in progress. Full fleet replacement is expected over the next decade, ensuring a high-quality travel experience throughout the transition.

David Van der Wee, President and CEO of CAD Railway Industries, remarked on the significance of investing in domestic industrial capacity, stating, “We are proud to support VIA Rail in delivering high-quality service to Canadians.” This initiative underscores VIA Rail’s commitment to Canadian industry and aligns with the Government of Canada’s procurement priorities, focusing most spending towards Canadian suppliers.