VIA Rail Canada orders Charger locomotives and passenger trains from Siemens
https://railcolornews.com/2018/12/12/ca-via-rail-canada-orders-charger-locomotives-and-passenger-trains-from-siemens/?fbclid=IwAR24j_NfVU4bfe5lFVbOnb00MZ_S9YNj7qVHFiBxvy2bzCoTjxQ_vqUIvF4
https://goo.gl/yTM2eZ
VIA Rail Canada has ordered 32 trainsets from Siemens Mobility for its
passenger services on the Québec City–Windsor corridor. The EUR 650 million
contract includes service for a period of 15 years.
Canada’s publicly-owned passenger carrier VIA Rail has awarded Siemens with
a contract for the manufacturing and delivery of a total of 32 bi-directional
trainsets. Valued at EUR 650 million (USD 989 million), the project also
includes a 15-year Technical Services and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA)
that will support the maintenance of the new fleet which will take place in
Canada by qualified VIA Rail employees at VIA Rail’s Montreal and Toronto
Maintenance Centers.
Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2021, while revenue service is expected to
start in 2022.
prelimary design impressions of the new Siemens Via Rail trains as published
by Siemens and Via Rail on 12.12.2018
VIA Rail is currently operating some of the oldest trains in North America.
Some of them date back to the 1950s and are at the end of their life. These
will be replaced by bi-directional trains powered by Siemens Charger
locomotives. This concept should result in lower operating costs, while
increasing capacity and improving passenger comfort with features such as:
Air suspension
Wi-Fi, digital information and climate control systems
Modern in-food service equipment
Wheelchairs and other mobility devices accomodation
Braille seat numbering and companion seating
At-seat emergency call buttons
Larger fully accessible washrooms
Integrated mobility device lifts
Made in the USA – but with 20% national content
Siemens will manufacture the trains in its factory in Sacramento, California.
The German manufacturer aims to create above 20% local content by working
together with Canadian suppliers and service companies.
“As we are initiating the gradual withdrawal of the current fleet, the
timely delivery of the new fleet will allow VIA Rail to maintain the current
levels of service in the Québec City–Windsor Corridor, while significantly
improving the quality of its passenger experience.” – Yves
Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO, VIA Rail Canada
VIA Rail intends to deploy the new trainsets on what Siemens describes as its
busiest route: the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. With a total length of
around 2,200 km, the route connects Canada’s largest cities – Toronto and
Montreal. According to Siemens the ridership numbers increased by 30% in 2018
– resulting an impressive 4,5 million passengers.