LONDON — VIA Rail Canada is celebrating the arrival of its new fleet in Southwestern Ontario.

At an official ceremony last week with more than 50 partners and stakeholders in attendance, the rail company welcomed the new trains that will run in Southwestern Ontario, between London and Windsor. This major modernization milestone means that by summer 2025, the entire Québec City-Windsor corridor will be served by state-of-the-art, accessible and environmentally-friendly trains.

The new trains will progressively replace VIA’s old fleet starting this summer. By the end of 2024, 63% of VIA’s new trains will be in service in the Corridor.

“Our teams have been focused on modernizing our operations in the most densely populated region in the country,” said Mario Péloquin, VIA Rail’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With this important milestone, we are thrilled that Canadians throughout the entire Québec City-Windsor corridor will be able to enjoy an unparalleled and fully accessible travel experience. Our full roster of 32 new trains will be in service by the summer of 2025, which will mark the completion of this game-changing project for passenger rail in the Corridor.”

Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary of the Minister of Transport, added: “VIA Rail provides essential connections between our communities here in Southwestern Ontario. That’s why the federal government is investing in the future of VIA Rail, with new train cars that are more accessible, more comfortable and more reliable for Canadians and tourists.”

To learn more about the routes served by these new trains and all its features, including redesigned ergonomic seats, large adjustable tray tables, braille and raised display, and fully accessible washrooms, go to https://www.viarail.ca/en/plan/new-fleet.