VIA Rail advances procurement process for rail maintenance centers

VIA Rail Canada Inc. last week announced it has launched the second phase of its procurement process to modernize and update rail-car maintenance centers in Montreal and Toronto in preparation for the arrival of a new fleet on the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.

Following the request for qualifications earlier this year, VIA Rail has selected the following five companies to participate in two separate requests for proposals: Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Buttcon Ltd., EllisDon Corp., Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. and Pomerleau Inc.

The project's scope of work includes construction of new buildings and upgrading infrastructure at both centers,  VIA Rail officials said in a press release.

The contractor also would supply and install train maintenance equipment to support the new and existing fleets.

The first train set of the new corridor fleet is expected to be commissioned into revenue service in 2022.