Canada to build VIA Rail's first new passenger cars in four decades, rolling out 2031–2035

Canada will build its first new VIA Rail passenger cars in four decades, with French firm Alstom Canada and Swiss manufacturer Stadler selected to deliver the fleet beginning in 2031.

The government is investing more than $4.7 billion in new passenger rail cars and long-term support. Alstom Canada will supply 313 passenger rail cars at approximately $4 billion, plus nearly $700 million for technical support and spare parts over 15 years. The total fleet renewal cost is about $6.7 billion, with all cars in service by 2035.

The new cars will serve VIA Rail's Long-Distance, Regional, and Remote routes connecting nearly 400 communities across a network spanning approximately 12,500 kilometres. These routes include The Canadian (Vancouver to Toronto, 4,466 km over four days and four nights), Prince Rupert–Jasper, Winnipeg–Churchill, and routes across Quebec and the Maritimes. In 2025, the system carried more than 216,000 passengers.

The existing fleet averages 77 years old—the oldest active train fleet in North America. Most current cars were built between 1947 and 1955. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement: "In the face of strong headwinds, a confident Canada is choosing to build. For the first time in four decades, VIA's passenger cars will be built in Canada. Cars once made in the United States, now made here at home. This means new contracts for Canadian suppliers, good jobs for Canadian workers, and paycheques that stay in Canadian cities and towns."

Alstom Canada, the Canadian division of French train manufacturer Alstom (which acquired Bombardier's train manufacturing division in 2021), operates manufacturing facilities in southern Ontario and Quebec. The company is also building new trains for Toronto's subway and Vancouver's SkyTrain.

VIA Rail and the federal government announced the modernization strategy in summer 2024.