Alstom has signed a major agreement with VIA Rail Canada to design, engineer, manufacture and support a new generation of passenger rail cars for long-distance, regional and remote services across Canada. The agreement covers the delivery of 313 Adessia railway cars valued at approximately C$4 billion, along with a 15-year Technical Support and Spare Parts Supply Agreement valued at nearly C$700 million. The total value of the agreement is approximately C$4.7 billion, or around €3 billion.
The new fleet will replace VIA Rail Canada’s existing long-distance trains, including rail cars that have been in service for more than seven decades. The new trains will operate on eight major routes and connect nearly 400 communities across Canada. The network will link major cities and remote locations including Montréal, Halifax, Gaspé, Jonquière, Senneterre, Toronto, Vancouver, Churchill, Prince Rupert, Jasper, Sudbury and White River.
The new Adessia rail cars will be designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada. The project will support regional and remote communities, including many First Nations communities, while offering modern facilities designed to meet Canada’s challenging weather conditions.
Passengers can expect brighter and more spacious interiors, improved accessibility, digital connectivity and enhanced comfort. The fleet will include nine different configurations, including coach, sleeper, accessible, berth, prestige, panorama, dome, dining and baggage cars.
Michael Keroullé, President and CEO of Alstom Americas, said the project marks an important milestone for the company and its long-standing relationship with Canada’s national passenger railway. “This is an emblematic project for Alstom, and we’re honoured to be entrusted by VIA Rail and the federal government with delivering it,” he said.
Design and engineering work will be carried out at Alstom’s facility in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec. Carbody manufacturing will take place in La Pocatière, Québec, while final assembly will be undertaken in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The contract is expected to create or support up to 670 direct jobs at Alstom Canada, along with hundreds of additional jobs across the supply chain. Alstom estimates that the project will contribute more than C$1.6 billion to Canada’s GDP.
With more than 5,200 employees and over 900 local suppliers in Canada, Alstom continues to play a major role in the country’s rail manufacturing and mobility sector. The new VIA Rail fleet represents a significant investment in modern passenger rail and Canada’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.
