Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with members of the media as he arrives at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Ottawa spending $4.7B on new made-in-Canada Via Rail passenger cars
Sep 3, 2026 | 2:14 AM
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THUNDER BAY — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $4.7 billion contract to build 313 new passenger cars for Via Rail on Thursday.
Carney made the announcement at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay, Ont., where the cars will be built. The government says these will be the first Via Rail passenger cars built in Canada in 40 years.
“Our rail cars on our long-distance and remote routes are more than 70 years old. They were built when the NHL had six teams. Goalies wouldn’t wear masks. The Leafs would win the (Stanley) Cup,” Carney said in prepared remarks.
“Those old cars have served our country well, but they’re long overdue for retirement. It’s time to build new ones, to build them here at home.”
