VIA Rail has started the major upgrade and construction works for its Toronto Maintenance Centre that will provide a state-of-the-art maintenance facility for the new fleet of 32 trains.
The works will be conducted by Buttcon Limited, a construction from Woodbridge, Ontario and will create up to 475 local jobs in the trade and construction industries between now and completion in 2026.
The scope of the work includes the demolition of a portion of the existing structure and the construction of state-of-the-art facilities, the construction of a new addition, removal, and replacement of tracks, and the addition of a stand-alone wheel lathe facility (to maintain wheels and ensure smooth operation on the tracks) and critical infrastructure improvements throughout the maintenance yard.
The facility is an important pillar in VIA Rail’s large-scale modernisation which aims to transform the way Canadians travel from reservation to destination and it will service the trains that will be used for the rail corridor between Québec and City-Windsor.
“This modernised maintenance centre will support us in our mission to provide our passengers the most enjoyable travel experience and better connect Canadian communities. It will also allow our employees to work with the most modern equipment and will provide them the necessary tools to maintain the new fleet according to VIA Rail’s standards of excellence,” Mario Péloquin, VIA Rail’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said.
The modernisation of VIA Rail’s Toronto Maintenance Centre protects the investment in the new fleet by increasing its longevity. The innovative Vehicle Equipment Measurement System (VEMS) will allow VIA Rail to improve proactive maintenance with an early warning detection system, ensuring any issues are dealt with swiftly, safely, and without prolonged downtime.
“This pivotal step in our modernisation process will allow VIA Rail to maintain the 32 trains of the new fleet that will offer an unparalleled customer experience for passengers travelling in the Québec City – Windsor corridor,” Bruno Cacciola, Chief Business Transformation Officer said.
The funding of the modernisation of VIA Rail’s maintenance centres, the implementation and integration of various Information Technology (IT) systems as well as the transformation of maintenance processes are all part of the funding for VIA Rail’s fleet replacement programme provided in the 2018 federal budget.
The existing fleet will be replaced by Siemens Venture trainsets and will operate in the Québec City – Windsor corridor, VIA Rail’s busiest route, which represented 96% of its ridership in 2019.
In 2018, VIA Rail Canada awarded Siemens Mobility a EUR 650 million contract to design and build 32 bi-directional trainsets for Quebec City – Windsor Corridor with the first train unveiled in 2021.
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