List of Via Rail rolling stock

Last updated

This is a list of past and present rolling stock owned and operated by Via Rail in Canada. Via Rail owns 78 locomotives and 619 passenger cars. [1] The tables below list that equipment by type and include some information regarding previously owned and operated equipment. When Via began operation in 19761978 it was with a collection of equipment inherited from Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP). Much of this equipment remains in use today. Over the years Via has supplemented this initial fleet with new orders and with new acquisitions of secondhand equipment from other operators.

Contents

Locomotives

Current

The EMD F40PH-2 is the mainstay of Via's road fleet. Locomotives 6413 and 6446 pulling the La Canadian (8032807432).jpg
The EMD F40PH-2 is the mainstay of Via's road fleet.
The GE P42DC is used on Corridor services VIA 66 with 901.JPG
The GE P42DC is used on Corridor services
The Siemens SCV-42 will replace current fleet for the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor SCV-42-2202 pushing Train 33 through Michael St. in Ottawa (2).jpg
The Siemens SCV-42 will replace current fleet for the Québec City–Windsor Corridor
The RDC-4, along with the RDC-1 and RDC-2, run exclusively on the Sudbury - White River Train. VIA Rail Budd Rail Diesel Car RDC-4 6250 at Sudbury Ontario.jpg
The RDC-4, along with the RDC-1 and RDC-2, run exclusively on the Sudbury - White River Train.

Via operates diesel locomotives exclusively. Its fleet of GMD F40PH-2s was recently modernized. The newer GE P42DCs are found only on Corridor services. Siemens SCV-42s were recently added to modernize the corridor fleet.

ModelRoad numbersIn serviceYears of serviceNotes
GMD F40PH-2D 64006459 (*6403 was renumbered to 6459 in 2013)521987presentNumber 6403 is featured on the Canadian $10 bills issued starting in 2013. [2] The actual 6403 was renumbered to 6459 due to its appearance on the bill. All units in the fleet were rebuilt by Canadian Allied Diesel, which included many modernization upgrades, and the addition of a separate Head-end Power generator at the rear of the locomotive. The rebuild was complete by 2012. Units 6400 and 6444 were wrecked and scrapped following a wreck. Locomotives 6454, 6437, 6436, 6416, 6402 wrapped in Canada 150, 40th and currently, the Love the way scheme. In 2023 VIA Rail and CAD Rail announced a second refurbishment program. Units that were wrecked and retired before rebuilding are 6422, 6423, 6430, 6447,and 6450.
GE P42DC 900920192001presentGE P42DC locomotives have been retrofitted with High Intensity Discharge lights below the numberboard, these lights were added after successful testing with the F40PH-2Ds in the mid-2000s. Most have been wrapped in the Love the Way scheme.
Siemens SCV-42 Charger 2200-223117 (32 expected)2022-presentTo replace current fleet for the Québec City–Windsor Corridor. Will operate as trainsets with Siemens Venture cars. First 2 units entered service in 2022. [3] [4] [5] [6]
EMD SW1000 20211978presentSwitcher. Originally built 19661967 for Inland Steel.

(201 and 203 retired in early 1990s, 204 stripped for parts to keep 202 running

Budd RDC-1 610511979-PresentRebuilt by IRSI in 2013
Budd RDC-2 6217, 621921979-PresentRebuilt by IRSI in 2013
Budd RDC-4 6250, 625121979-PresentRebuilt by IRSI in 2013

Former

UAC TurboTrain passing Brockville in 1981. VIA TurboTrain 2 cropped.jpg
UAC TurboTrain passing Brockville in 1981.
An LRC with prototype "Renaissance" equipment in 2000. LRCwithNightstarTest-Ottawa (1).jpg
An LRC with prototype "Renaissance" equipment in 2000.

Via inherited a diverse fleet of diesel locomotives from Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. It also received three of the experimental UAC TurboTrain gas-turbine trainsets. Between 19801984 Bombardier delivered 31 LRC ("Light, Rapid, Comfortable") diesel locomotives with matching cars. The last of these was retired in 2002.

ModelRoad numbersBuiltYears of serviceNotes
UAC TurboTrain 125, 151196819791982Acquired three trainsets from CN. 1 Retired after accident, all scrapped.
LRC-2 6900-69201980198419802001All retired, 6917 preserved, remainder scrapped.
LRC-3 6921-693019801984198020016921 preserved, Coaches remain in service.
MLW FPA-2U 6758,67591946-195919791993Ex-CN FPA-2U rebuild as 6758 previously numbered as 6755 and delivered new as FPA-2 6711. FPA-2U rebuild 6759 previously 6751 and delivered new as FPA-2 6707. Retired 1987, 6758 now operated by New York and Lake Erie Railroad.
MLW FPA-4 6760-67931946-195919791993Ex-CN. Several acquired by private train operators in US.
MLW FPB-4 6860-68711946-1959
GMD FP7 6501, 6509, 6521–6623, 65661949-19531979Ex-CP. FP7A 6566 wrecked in 1986 and retired/scrapped.
GMD FP9 1405-1407, 1405–1407, 1409–14141954-19591979-2002Ex-CN and CP. Later rebuilt as the VIA FP9ARM (6300-6314). 6304 acquired by Trains Unlimited Rail Tours of California; 6510 on static display in Thunder Bay. F9B 6633 wrecked in 1986 and retired/scrapped.
GMD FP9ARM 6300-63141983-198515 units rebuilt from Canadian National FP9As, Which included a Head End Power generator
MLW RS-10 855819561978-1981Ex-CP.
EMD E8 1800, 180219491979-1980Ex-CP. 1800 Renumbered to 1898 and 1802 renumbered to 1899
Budd RDC-1 6100-61481949–1962
Budd RDC-2 6200-62251949–1962
Budd RDC-3 6350-63571949–1962Ex-CP and CN. Used for passenger, baggage and postal service. 6144 converted as RDC-1.
Budd RDC-4 64011949–1962Some still in service today
Budd RDC-9 6000-60061949–1962Ex-CP and CN. single engine powered and no controls. Passenger use only.
IC3 7001-7401-72011986–20011997Built by Adtranz, 2 sets were sent to North America for testing with Amtrak and VIA, Problems with running lead to these units being sent back to Israel Railways.

Passenger cars

Stainless steel

The core of Via's long-range fleet is a collection of streamlined equipment originally built by the Budd Company for Canadian Pacific in the 1950s. These were rebuilt by AMF to use head end power and thus are often referred to as the "HEP" fleet. In 2023, Via Rail joined Amtrak in an attempt to replace their aging Streamliner equipment. [7]

TypeBuiltYears of serviceIn serviceFleet numbersNotesImage
"Galley" club car194719491993present1040004009Built by Budd Car Company and acquired from Amtrak and other operators between 19892000, rebuilt by AMF in mid-90s. Seats 56. Designated by VIA as "HEP2" Club cars and primarily used in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor.
VIA - 57 from Kingston headed by GE P42DC -910 (8123474147).jpg
Corridor coach cars194719531993present2341004125Acquired from Amtrak and other operators between 1989 and 2000, rebuilt by AMF in mid-90s. Originally built by Budd Car Company. Seats 68. Designated by VIA as "HEP2" coaches and primarily used in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor. Cars 4123, 4124, and 4125 were converted into club cars, numbered 4007, 4008, and 4009 respectively.
VIA HEP2 Dwyer Hill (10277641014).jpg
Long-distance coach cars194719551978present4381008147Mostly ex-Canadian Pacific, some rebuilt from ex-American coaches. Built by Budd Car Company, rebuilt in the mid-1990s by AMF. Seating for 62 (60 for cars 8145 & 8147). Designated by VIA as "HEP1" coaches.
VIA Rail 8142 Coach Car Long Distance.jpg
Château series sleeping car19541978present2782018229Ex-Canadian Pacific, built by Budd Car Company, names after famed explorers and administrators of the first French and British colonies
Gare de Gaspe train.jpg
Manor series sleeping car195419551978present3983018342Ex-Canadian Pacific, built by Budd Car Company, named after famed explorers and administrators of the first French and British colonies
The Canadian at night.jpg
Park series sleeper-dome-lounge19541978present1287028718Ex-Canadian Pacific, built by Budd Car Company, named after select National Parks of Canada
Via Rail Park sleeper.jpg
Dining cars [8] 19551978present1284018418Ex-Canadian Pacific, built by Budd Car Company
VIA Rail Expedition Churchill Dining Car View 1.jpg
Skyline series dome car195419551978present1485008517Ex-Canadian Pacific, built by Budd Car Company
VIA Passenger Train2.jpg

LRC

An LRC club car. LRC Club Car.jpg
An LRC club car.

LRC was a series of lightweight diesel-powered passenger trains built by Bombardier that were used on short- to medium-distance inter-city service in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The LRC family includes both locomotives and passenger carriages designed to work together, though the two can be used separately. The last locomotives were retired in 2001. While the coaches remain in service, they are being retired as new Siemens Charger and Venture rolling stock arrives.

TypeYears of serviceIn serviceFleet numbersNotes
Club car1984present2634513475; 3600360144/56 seats. Some refurbished into 44 seat, bi-directional configuration.
Coach car1981present723300339968 seats. Some refurbished into 44 seat, bi-directional configuration.

Renaissance

A GE P42DC with ten Renaissance coaches laying over in Toronto. VIA Rail Renaissance in Toronto.jpg
A GE P42DC with ten Renaissance coaches laying over in Toronto.

The Renaissance fleet was originally built by Alstom in the mid-1990s for the proposed Nightstar overnight service between the United Kingdom and continental Europe through the Channel Tunnel. Via acquired the entire fleet in 2000 for C$130 million after the Nightstar concept was abandoned. [9] Via entered the cars into service in 2002. [10] Presently, two sets are in service: two on the Ocean, overnight between Montreal and Halifax, the two used on the Quebec City - Ottawa corridor have been withdrawn in favor of the newer SCV-42 lead venture trainsets.

TypeIn serviceFleet numbersNotes
Baggage car [11] 970007011Built out of unused sleeping car shells.
Club car [12] 147100711448-seat capacity in a 2+1 configuration.
Coach [13] 337200723248-seat capacity in a 2+1 configuration.
Lounge car [14] 2073007316; 73547359Via Rail refers to these as "service" cars.
Dining car [15] 37400740248-seat capacity; built out of unused sleeping car shells.
Sleeping car [16] 577500758910 double bedrooms. 29 are stored at Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Baggage car/transition [17] 376007602Used to transition between coupler styles.

RDC

A pair of RDC-1s at Qualicum Beach on the now-discontinued Malahat service in 2009. Qualicum Beach Station 3.jpg
A pair of RDC-1s at Qualicum Beach on the now-discontinued Malahat service in 2009.

The Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC) is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. These were used extensively by both the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways for outlying routes. Via currently rosters seven RDCs and contracted with Industrial Rail Services for C$12.6 million to refurbish and upgrade all six. The upgraded units would include new seating, wheelchair accessible washrooms, LED interior lighting, controls, wiring, heating, air conditioning systems, braking systems and rebuilt engines that meet Euro 2 standards. [18] The rebuilt units have also been modified to remove the control cab from one end of each unit, so passengers are never required to pass through the cab when entering or exiting the train. Following the bankruptcy of IRSI, work rebuilding the RDCs was completed by Canadian Allied Diesel (CAD) at the IRSI facility in Moncton.

TypeBuiltYears of serviceIn serviceFleet numbersNotes
RDC-11956195819781990s36109, 6120, 6127Budd built cars. 6109 acquired by CN Rail from Chicago & Eastern Illinois and sold to Ferrocarriles de Cuba in 1998. 6127 acquired from CP Rail and sold to Dallas Area Rapid Transit in 1993. 6120 was ex-CNR D352/6703 and sold to Cuba in 1998
RDC-2195619581978present26212, 6208, 6215, 6217, 6219Built by Canadian Car & Foundry. All ex-CP cars (6212 ex-CP 9105, 6208 ex-CP 9195 and 6215 ex-CP 9107). 6208 and 6212 sold to Industrial Rail Services 2000. 6215 still in service.

6217 and 6219 are refurbished and in service (Sudbury-White River)

RDC-419551978present26250-6251A second RDC-4 was added to the fleet in 2013 when ex-CP 9251 was rebuilt into VIA 6251.

Others

One of Via's three Colorado Railcar-built "Panorama" domes on the rear of the Canadian in 2012. VIA Rail train, Jasper Heritage Railway Station.jpg
One of Via's three Colorado Railcar-built "Panorama" domes on the rear of the Canadian in 2012.
TypeBuiltYears of serviceIn serviceFleet numbersNotes
Canadian Car & Foundry Café-Coach car19541980present1324872-seat snack bar ex-CNR 5454. Currently in use on the Keewatin Railway.
Canadian Car & Foundry baggage-coach 19541978present256485649Ex-CNR 5649 and currently in use on the Keewatin Railway.
Colorado Railcar Single-Level Dome dome coach20002002

present

317201722Seats 71–74. Referred to as "Panorama" cars by VIA. Refurbishment program started in march of 2023, Expected to be returned into service by 2024.
Canadian Car & Foundry lounge car19542002present11750Originally CNR 5585 became VIA Rail 5585 from 1978 to 1998. Sold to Funtrain of Kelowna, then to BC Rail in 2001. Acquired in 2002 as 1750. Named "Glen Fraser".
Budd observation/club car19392002present11751Acquired from BC Rail as 1750 Pavilion. Original built in 1939 as Biscayne Bay, later as Memphis and owned by 8 different owners. Has never entered service with VIA and stored at Montreal Maintenance Centre. [19]
Various Budd baggage cars 19541955; 19631978present19860086238600-8617 are ex-Canadian Pacific; 8618-8623 are ex-Union Pacific Budd slab-side baggage cars.
National Steel baggage car19511978present19631One of 67 cars of this type once owned by VIA Rail.

Siemens Venture

Siemens Venture Higher-speed rail cars with a cab car that has a front similar to the SCV-42 locomotive Siemens Venture train with 2301 cab car through Michael St. in Ottawa.jpg
Siemens Venture Higher-speed rail cars with a cab car that has a front similar to the SCV-42 locomotive

The 2018 Canadian federal budget included funding for the purchase of 32 trainsets to replace equipment used in Corridor service in Ontario and Quebec. [20] With money allocated, Via issued a request for proposals in 2018, with delivery of the new rolling stock scheduled for 2022. [20] In December 2018, VIA Rail Canada ordered 32, 5-car trainsets (for a total of 160 cars) from Siemens for use on the Québec City–Windsor Corridor, at a cost of $989 million. [21] [22] Trainsets will be powered by diesel-electric Charger locomotives, with passenger car trainsets from the Siemens Venture family. [23] Similar trainsets are used on Amtrak Midwest and Brightline in the United States, and Railjet in Austria and the Czech Republic. The first 2 trainsets entered service in 2022.

TypeBuiltFleet numbersNotes
Venture Coach Car2021-20252800-2831, 2900-2931Economy class coach, 70 seats, 2+2 configuration
Venture Business Car2021-20252600-2631, 2700-2731Business class coach, 50 seats, 2+1 configuration
Venture Cab Car2021-20252300-2331First Via Rail cab cars, 62 seats, 2+2 configuration

References

  1. Via Rail. "Overview" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  2. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "Zoom : Canada's new polymer $5 and $10 bills" . Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  3. "RailPictures.Net Photo: VIA 2202 VIA Rail Siemens SC-42 at Montreal, Quebec, Canada by Georg Denoix". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. "RailPictures.Net Photo: SIIX 2203 VIA Rail Siemens SC-42 at Montreal, Quebec, Canada by Michael Berry". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  5. "RailPictures.Net Photo: SIIX 2205 VIA Rail Siemens SC-42 at Montreal, Quebec, Canada by Michael Berry". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  6. 2204 TT Trip Report - Quebec City to Ottawa On Board VIA's New Siemens Trains!, 15 September 2023, retrieved 2023-10-21
  7. Weinberg, Harrison (30 January 2023). "VIA joins Amtrak in attempting to replace aging passenger cars". trains.com. Bob Johnston. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  8. "Service cars-Dining car". viarail.ca. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  9. Canadians to buy all 139 Nightstars The Railway Magazine issue 1198 February 2001 page 14
  10. Night stock enters service at last Railway Gazette International August 2002 page 412
  11. Via Rail. "Baggage cars - Renaissance baggage car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  12. Via Rail. "Passenger cars - Renaissance Club car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  13. Via Rail. "Passenger cars - Renaissance Coach car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  14. Via Rail. "Service cars - Renaissance service car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  15. Via Rail. "Service cars - Renaissance dining car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  16. Via Rail. "Sleeping cars - Renaissance sleeping car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  17. Via Rail. "Baggage cars - Renaissance baggage transition car" . Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  18. "Government of Canada and Via Rail invest in rail service, jobs in Moncton Monday, 29 March 2010 Press Release" . Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  19. "Service cars - Observation Business car | VIA Rail".
  20. 1 2 "VIA Rail fleet replacement funded". Railway Gazette International. 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  21. "Siemens Canada secures major order with VIA Rail Canada for new fleet of passenger trains" (Press release). Siemens Mobility. December 12, 2018.
  22. "VIA RAIL'S FLEET REPLACEMENT PROGRAM: SIEMENS CANADA LAUNCHES PROCUREMENT PROCESS | VIA Rail". media.viarail.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  23. "New Intercity Trains For VIA Rail Canada" . Retrieved 2019-01-19.