VIA Rail long-distance fleet renewal program

[SFUVancouver]

The Government of Canada announced today (July 29, 2026) that Stadler has been selected to provide the new locomotives for VIA Rail's long-distance fleet renewal program. 45 Stadler diesel-electric locomotives with hybrid drive trains and battery packs will be purchased, with up to 36 locomotives to be assembled in a new VIA-owned plant in Montreal. It is anticipated that the model being acquired will be a Canadianized variant of the Stadler EUROLIGHT diesel-electric locomotive. I'll quote an excerpt from the press release:

Passenger Rail Locomotive Assembly Returns to Canada Through a $1.95 Billion Government of Canada Investment

From: Transport Canada
News release
July 29, 2026 Montréal, Quebec Transport Canada

Today, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader for the Government in the House of Commons, joined by Mathieu Paquette, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada announced a $1.95 billion Government of Canada investment to renew VIA Rail’s long-distance, regional and remote locomotive fleet while bringing passenger locomotive assembly back to Canada for the first time in decades.

The investment includes:

• $1.6 billion for the production of 45 new locomotives by Stadler, a leading Swiss rail manufacturer with a global centre of competence facility for mainline locomotives in Spain. Leveraging its global supply chain and Canadian suppliers, Stadler will complete the final assembly of up to 36 locomotives in Canada, marking the first time in decades that passenger locomotives for VIA Rail will be assembled domestically. This investment showcases the strength of Canada's economic partnership with Europe, combining world-class expertise with Canadian manufacturing to support innovation, strengthen supply chains, create skilled jobs, and deliver lasting economic benefits for Canadians.
• $357 million for VIA Rail to build a new assembly and maintenance facility in Montréal, Quebec, where the Canadian assembly of the locomotives will take place. Built by Pomerleau, the facility will also support the maintenance and operation of the new fleet at VIA Rail’s Montréal Maintenance Centre over the long term.

Together, these investments will support the equivalent of 1,200 full-time jobs throughout the project, including skilled manufacturing, construction, engineering and long-term maintenance jobs, with significant economic benefits centred in Montréal and extending across Canada's rail supply chain.

The new locomotives, powered by hybrid battery-diesel technology with batteries supplied by ABB from its Saint-Laurent facility, will replace VIA Rail's aging fleet serving Canadian routes and will become North America's first hybrid-powered passenger locomotives. The battery systems will be used to optimize and reduce fuel consumption, providing an immediate efficiency gain while laying the groundwork for future zero-emission propulsion.

The investment will improve reliability, operational efficiency and service for Canadians while supporting domestic innovation and helping build a cleaner, more resilient transportation system.

https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canad...ion-government-of-canada-investment.html

Stadler to supply 45 hybrid locomotives to Via Rail in landmark Canadian order



30.07.2026

Stadler has signed a contract with VIA Rail Canada to supply 45 hybrid locomotives, marking the company's first locomotive order in Canada. The contract includes a 20-year Technical Support and Spare Supply Agreement (“TSSSA”). The new fleet will support VIA Rail’s Long-Distance, Regional and Remote Rail (LDRR) program and contribute to the modernization and decarbonization of passenger rail services across the country.

Designed to operate reliably in Canada's demanding climate, including temperatures as low as -50°C, the new locomotives combine proven diesel-electric technology with an innovative battery-assisted traction system. The hybrid concept will improve operational performance, reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and deliver a more sustainable travel experience for passengers and communities along VIA Rail's network.

The contract represents a major milestone for Stadler and further strengthens the company's presence in the North American market.

Hybrid technology supporting decarbonization

The locomotives will be equipped with traction battery modules that supply energy for onboard auxiliary systems, head-end power requirements, and traction. By combining battery power with the diesel engine, the vehicles can deliver up to 4 MW of power at the wheel, a starting tractive effort of 350 kN, and a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h (100 mph), ensuring excellent acceleration, high performance on steep gradients, and reliable operation across VIA Rail’s long-distance network including routes serving remote communities throughout the country.

The hybrid architecture enables the recovery and storage of braking energy in the batteries, significantly improving overall energy efficiency while reducing fuel consumption and maintenance requirements. By combining battery-assisted traction with optimized diesel engine operation, the locomotives help lower greenhouse gas emissions and support VIA Rail's decarbonization objectives, while delivering enhanced operational performance and reduced lifecycle costs.

At stations and other environmentally sensitive areas, the locomotives can operate in battery mode, significantly reducing noise and exhaust emissions. In addition to supporting peak power demands, the battery system enhances operational resilience by enabling the locomotive to continue operating and reach a safe location in the unlikely event of a diesel powertrain failure.

The new fleet has been designed with sustainability in mind, featuring recyclability rates above 92% and recoverability rates exceeding 95%. The battery system is also designed for long service life and second-life applications, further supporting VIA Rail's decarbonization ambitions

Built for Canada's demanding conditions

The new locomotives are being developed for dependable operation across Canada's vast geography and demanding climate. Their design builds on Stadler's proven technologies, successfully deployed for more than a decade in countries such as Sweden and Norway, where they have demonstrated reliable performance in harsh winter conditions.

The locomotives will connect major urban centers and remote communities, supporting VIA Rail's mission to provide accessible, reliable and environmentally sustainable transportation nationwide.

Iñigo Parra, Executive Vice-President Division Spain, said: "Our hybrid locomotive platform combines performance, reliability and sustainability. By integrating battery-assisted operation into a powerful long-distance locomotive, we are providing VIA Rail with a future-oriented solution that supports its environmental objectives while enhancing operational flexibility and passenger service."

The project

Stadler Valencia, the Group's center of competence for locomotives, will be responsible for the design, manufacture and delivery of the new fleet. Located near Valencia (Spain), the Albuixech facility is one of Europe's leading railway technology sites, home to more than 500 engineers dedicated to vehicle design and development. While Stadler will retain full project responsibility, part of the locomotive assembly, as well as testing and commissioning activities, will be carried out in Canada.

In addition to supplying the 45 locomotives, Stadler and VIA Rail have signed a 20-year “TSSSA” contract to ensure the long-term reliability, availability and cost-effective operation of the fleet. These services will be delivered by Stadler's Service Division, the Group’s center of competence for maintenance services, through a Canadian subsidiary to be incorporated, with personnel based at VIA Rail's main maintenance facilities in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. The project will contribute to the development of Canada's railway industry by creating skilled jobs in manufacturing, testing and maintenance, while supporting the transfer of expertise and advanced railway technologies.

https://www.stadlerrail.com/en/media/med...supply-45-hybrid-locomotives-to-via-rail

A separate procurement process for a new fleet of more than 300 long-distance passenger cars, including sleeping, dining, and dome observation cars, is also in the works. An RFQ for 40+ long-distance locomotives and 313 hauled cars, with a 20-year in-service support contract was issued in 2024 and likely resulted in the locomotive announcement. Based on this, it is conceivable that a passenger car announcement might follow in short order. Funding for the long-distance fleet modernization program was secured in the 2024 federal budget (source). Separately, $150M is being spent on life extension and modernization of the existing long-haul fleet, presumably to bridge to the new fleet and, potentially, to preserve a core set of vintage Budd cars for long-term operation (source).

[Busy Bee]

Beautiful

[Innsertnamehere]

official rendering:



Canada is paying an absurd amount for them to be produced domestically to prevent politically untenable purchases from Siemens in the US again..

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

official rendering:



Canada is paying an absurd amount for them to be produced domestically to prevent politically untenable purchases from Siemens in the US again..

That's a Siemens Charger locomotive in the rendering, is it not?

Edit: I guess it isn't.

As for (potentially) overpaying to build domestically, at least the money is primarily being spent in the country instead of heading for the exits as would otherwise be the case, regardless of OEM country.

I also don't think the per-unit price is really out of line with recent locomotive purchases in North America. Amtrak ordered 50 Siemens Chargers in 2022 for $1.15B USD, which is about $1.31B USD today with inflation. That yields a per-unit cost of $26.2M USD, or $36.8M CAD at today's exchange rates. The VIA locomotive order for 45 Stadler units is quoted at $1.6B CAD, or $35.6M per unit, which is actually less than the Amtrak calculation. But the $357M VIA plant where Stadler will be contracted to build most of the locomotive order must be capitalized into the unit price. All-in, the $1.95B order divided across 45 units yields about $43.3M per unit for VIA, or about a $6.5M premium per locomotive over what Amtrak recently paid for a generally comparable product (notwithstanding the battery hybrid drivetrain for the VIA Stadlers).

Whether that is a worthwhile premium to pay versus sending it all south or overseas is up to the individual to decide. I think it is a good bargain for us at this moment in time.

[Busy Bee]

The first rendering resembles a modernized early generation Eurosprinter. The last rendering resembles a new Eurosprinter mixed with an ACS-64 and Charger. But apparantly it's Stadtler. I kind of wish it looked a little more Stadtler and little less Siemens.