VIA Rail Canada Siemens trainsets

VIA Rail Canada Siemens trainset

VIA Rail Canada's Siemens Trainsets are 32 bidirectional locomotive-hauled corridor trainsets currently being built by Siemens Mobility. The base trainsets will consist of a Siemens SCV-42 locomotive and five Venture coaches; two business class cars, two economy class cars, and an economy class cab car. The trainsets can be reconfigured to between 3 and 7 cars long.

History

Order

In their 2018 budget, the federal Liberals allocated funding for the replacement of VIA Rail's rolling stock currently used in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor. On April 16, 2018, VIA Rail issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to manufacturers interested in supplying the railroad with new rolling stock. VIA Rail was interested in 32 bi-directional trainsets with enhanced accessibility features, a combined total of 9,100 passenger seats, and more fuel-efficient Tier 4 diesel engines.

In June 2018, VIA Rail announced the names of the shortlisted manufacturers that would participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP). Qualified companies had until October 5, 2018 to submit a proposal. These companies were: Bombardier Transportation Canada, Siemens Canada, Stadler US, and Talgo.

On December 12, 2018, VIA Rail announced that Siemens Canada was awarded a $989 million contract to build the 32 trainsets that will replace the existing fleet used in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor. The new trains are expected to go into service in 2022.

Locomotive Features

On May 28, 2021, Via Rail unveiled the finalized exterior design of the new trainsets. Photos of the first locomotive at the Siemens manufacturing facility were also released. The exterior design differs slightly from the original renders.

VIA Rail's Siemens Charger locomotives are designated as SCV-42 (they were built as SC-44 units, and were unveiled as such, but were derated and redesignated before delivery), and are equipped with customizations that comply with operational regulations and VIA's needs. The SCV-42 features larger, more pronounced snowplow-pilots, a high-intensity discharge beam below the main headlights, and additional powertrain winterization to better cope with winter weather. In addition, VIA's units sport a streamlined, bolt-on nosecone instead of the blunt nose sections typically found on SC-44 locomotives. Whereas Charger units used for Corridor service elsewhere are equipped with 6,800 L fuel tanks, VIA's units were built with 8,300 L fuel tanks to more closely match the range of the outgoing P42DCs. They are fitted with a standard AAR coupler at the A-end, while the B-end features semi-permanent coupling to interface with the Venture trainsets. This configuration effectively prohibits them from hauling any of VIA's rolling stock types other than the Venture trainsets.

As with all recent passenger locomotives in Canada, they were delivered with the federally-mandated Nathan K5CA-LS horns. They are painted mainly in dark gray, with gray, black, and yellow elements following the units' streamlined profiles. They also feature large yellow 'VIA' logos on their midsections, and large red maple leaves on their rear sections.

Trainset Features

As with the LRC equipment they are replacing, the Siemens Venture coach and business class cars are configured with 50-50 seating, with half the seats in each car facing the B-end and the other half facing the A-end. Seating is configured with 2+1 abreast in business class and 2+2 abreast in economy class. Some of the new features of the Venture equipment include automated announcements, wider aisles, additional enhanced wheelchair spaces, enhanced Wi-Fi, and flexible luggage compartments that integrate bike racks (thus allowing bikes to be brought aboard as carry-on baggage). The base trainsets feature 3 wheelchair-accessible washrooms per train (one in the business section, and two in the economy section), as well as wheelchair parking spots with adjustable-height tables in those same cars. Each business class car features a four-seat semi-private compartment at the vestibule end the car for added privacy. In addition to standard underseat 110 V AC outlets, underseat USB chargers are also available for passengers to use.

The trainsets feature automatic entry doors and automatic folding steps, as well as integrated powered wheelchair lifts, in order to service low-level platforms. Externally-facing LED signs mounted on the doors show information such as the train number, car number, and destinations for the train. The cab ends of the cab cars are identical to the cab sections of the locomotives. Coaches are painted mainly light gray, with black trim around the windows and yellow stripes above the windows.

Production and Delivery

The first two locomotives, units 2200 and 2201, along with the first full set of Siemens Venture coaches, were delivered to VIA's Montreal Maintenance Centre on September 29, 2021. The second trainset, comprising of locomotive 2202 and coaches 2601-2701-2901-2801-2301, was delivered to Montreal on August 6, 2022. It was ceremoniously welcomed into the fleet at Ottawa station on October 19, 2022.

The trainsets are currently being built at Siemens' Sacramento plant. Trainsets are delivered via Union Pacific and CN, interchanging at Chicago. Trains are currently being delivered one per month. The first 12 trains were delivered to VIA's Montreal Maintenance Centre exclusively. Starting with trainset 13 (2212-2612-2712-2812-2912-2312), deliveries are now being accepted at VIA's Toronto Maintanance Centre in addition to Montreal.

Testing

In the second half of 2019, Siemens sent a coach that they were building for Caltrans and the Illinois Department of Transportation to the National Research Council for cold weather testing.

Over the 2021-2022 winter season, VIA conducted multiple performance and winter endurance testing runs using the first trainset, initially over the VIA-owned section between Ottawa and Coteau, QC. On April 13 and 14, 2022, VIA performed simulated service runs between Ottawa and Windsor, as well as between London and Montreal, with the trainset stopping at each station en route to test compatibility and wheelchair lift functionality and interfacing. These tests were repeated in early August of the same year.

In late-April, 2022, the first trainset was sent to the National Research Council for further weather endurance testing.

Deployment

In preparation for entry into service in November 2022, the second trainset underwent multiple simulated service runs between Ottawa and Montreal in mid- and late-October, 2022, with VIA employees standing in for passengers. The trainset made its first revenue run on November 8, 2022, running as train 33 between Quebec City and Ottawa, and afterwards as train 26 back to Quebec City. Initially used every Tuesday between Ottawa and Montreal as trains 33 and 26, as more trains were delivered they have slowly been introduced on more runs on the Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec route.

As of October 24, 2023, Venture trainsets are now used for some runs on the Ottawa-Toronto and Montreal-Toronto routes.

Details

Locomotives

Engine	Horsepower	Gearing	Top Speed	Head End Power
Cummins 16V-QSK95	4200 hp at 1800 rpm		200 km/h (design) 160 km/h (service)	600 kW 3-phase Static Inverter powered by main engine

Fleet Number	Thumbnail	Date	Serial	Status/Disposal	Notes
2200		2021		Inactive	Delivered to MMC October 2021.
2201		2021		Active	Delivered to MMC October 2021. Currently paired with trainset 1 (2300-2900).
2202		2022		Active	Delivered to MMC August 6, 2022. Currently paired with trainset 2 (2301-2901). First unit of fleet to enter revenue service. Entered service on November 8, 2022 on train 33.
2203		2022		Active	Delivered to MMC January 2023. Currently paired with trainset 3 (2302-2902).
2204		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC April 2023. Currently paired with trainset 4 (2303-2903).
2205		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC June 2023. Currently paired with trainset 5 (2304-2904).
2206		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC July 11, 2023 Currently paired with trainset 6 (2305-2905).
2207		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC August 5, 2023. Currently paired with trainset 7 (2306-2906).
2208		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC September 5, 2023. Currently paired with trainset 8 (2307-2907).
2209		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC October 7, 2023. Currently paired with trainset 9 (2308-2908).
2210		2023		Active	Delivered to MMC December 11, 2023. Currently paired with trainset 11 (2310-2910)
2211		2024		Active	Delivered to MMC January 12, 2024. Currently paired with trainset 12 (2311-2911)
2212		2024		Delivered	Delivered to TMC February 18, 2024. Currently paired with trainset 13 (2312-2912) First trainset delivered to Toronto instead of Montreal.
2213		2024		Delivered	Delivered to MMC March 17, 2024 Currently paired with trainset 14 (2313-2913)
2214		2024		Delivered	Delivered to MMC April 17, 2024 Currently paired with trainset 15 (2314-2914)
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231

Trainsets

Currently all trainsets are formed as 5 car semi-permanently coupled sets, 23XX(cab)-28XX-29XX-27XX-26XX(end), with the end car connected to the locomotive. The formation of the trainsets can be reconfigured according to demand.

Cars 26XX, 28XX, and 29XX feature accessible washrooms and wheelchair spaces. Cars 23XX and 27XX are equipped with two small washrooms located near the vestibule. Cars 23XX also feature mid-car luggage towers as opposed to having them at the car ends, due to the placement of the cab.

Set	Car number	Thumbnail	Date	Serial	Car Type	Status/Disposal	Individual car notes	Set notes
1	2300				Economy Cab car	Active		First trainset built. Delivered with locomotives 2200 and 2201 in October 2021. Currently paired with 2201.
	2800				Economy car	Active
	2900				Economy car	Active
	2700				Business car	Active
	2600				Business end car	Active
2	2301				Economy Cab car	Active	First Venture cab car to enter service	Delivered with locomotive 2202 October 2022. Currently paired with 2202. First train to enter service. Entered service November 8, 2022 on train 33.
	2801				Economy car	Active
	2901				Economy car	Active
	2701				Business car	Active
	2601				Business end car	Active
3	2302				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2203 January 2023. Currently paired with 2203.
	2802				Economy car	Active
	2902				Economy car	Active
	2702				Business car	Active
	2602				Business end car	Active
4	2303				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2204 April 2023. Currently paired with 2204.
	2803				Economy car	Active
	2903				Economy car	Active
	2703				Business car	Active
	2603				Business end car	Active
5	2304				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2205 June 2023. Currently paired with 2205.
	2804				Economy car	Active
	2904				Economy car	Active
	2704				Business car	Active
	2604				Business end car	Active
6	2305				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2206 on July 11, 2023. Currently paired with locomotive 2206.
	2805				Economy car	Active
	2905				Economy car	Active
	2705				Business car	Active
	2605				Business end car	Active
7	2306				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2207 on August 5, 2023. Currently paired with locomotive 2207.
	2806				Economy car	Active
	2906				Economy car	Active
	2706				Business car	Active
	2606				Business end car	Active
8	2307				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2208 on September 5, 2023. Currently paired with locomotive 2208.
	2807				Economy car	Active
	2907				Economy car	Active
	2707				Business car	Active
	2607				Business end car	Active
9	2308				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2209 on October 7, 2023. Currently paired with locomotive 2209.
	2808				Economy car	Active
	2908				Economy car	Active
	2708				Business car	Active
	2608				Business end car	Active
10	2309				Economy Cab car	Delivered		Delivered to MMC without a locomotive in early November 2023.
	2809				Economy car	Delivered
	2909				Economy car	Delivered
	2709				Business car	Delivered
	2609				Business end car	Delivered
11	2310				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2210 on December 11, 2023. Currently paired with locomotive 2210.
	2810				Economy car	Active
	2910				Economy car	Active
	2710				Business car	Active
	2610				Business end car	Active
12	2311				Economy Cab car	Active		Delivered with locomotive 2211 on January 12, 2024. Currently paired with locomotive 2211.
	2811				Economy car	Active
	2911				Economy car	Active
	2711				Business car	Active
	2611				Business end car	Active
13	2312				Economy Cab car	Delivered		Delivered with locomotive 2212 to TMC on February 18, 2024. Currently paired with locomotive 2212.
	2812				Economy car	Delivered
	2912				Economy car	Delivered
	2712				Business car	Delivered
	2612				Business end car	Delivered
14	2313				Economy Cab car	Delivered		Delivered with locomotive 2213 to MMC on March 17, 2024. Currently paired with locomotive 2213.
	2813				Economy car	Delivered
	2913				Economy car	Delivered
	2713				Business car	Delivered
	2613				Business end car	Delivered
15	2314				Economy Cab car	Delivered		Delivered with locomotive 2214 to MMC on April 17, 2024. Currently paired with locomotive 2214.
	2814				Economy car	Delivered
	2914				Economy car	Delivered
	2714				Business car	Delivered
	2614				Business end car	Delivered
16	2315				Economy Cab car
	2815				Economy car
	2915				Economy car
	2715				Business car
	2615				Business end car
17	2316				Economy Cab car
	2816				Economy car
	2916				Economy car
	2716				Business car
	2616				Business end car
18	2317				Economy Cab car
	2817				Economy car
	2917				Economy car
	2717				Business car
	2617				Business end car
19	2318				Economy Cab car
	2818				Economy car
	2918				Economy car
	2718				Business car
	2618				Business end car
20	2319				Economy Cab car
	2819				Economy car
	2919				Economy car
	2719				Business car
	2619				Business end car
21	2320				Economy Cab car
	2820				Economy car
	2920				Economy car
	2720				Business car
	2620				Business end car
22	2321				Economy Cab car
	2821				Economy car
	2921				Economy car
	2721				Business car
	2621				Business end car
23	2322				Economy Cab car
	2822				Economy car
	2922				Economy car
	2722				Business car
	2622				Business end car
24	2323				Economy Cab car
	2823				Economy car
	2923				Economy car
	2723				Business car
	2623				Business end car
25	2324				Economy Cab car
	2824				Economy car
	2924				Economy car
	2724				Business car
	2624				Business end car
26	2325				Economy Cab car
	2825				Economy car
	2925				Economy car
	2725				Business car
	2625				Business end car
27	2326				Economy Cab car
	2826				Economy car
	2926				Economy car
	2726				Business car
	2626				Business end car
28	2327				Economy Cab car
	2827				Economy car
	2927				Economy car
	2727				Business car
	2627				Business end car
29	2328				Economy Cab car
	2828				Economy car
	2928				Economy car
	2728				Business car
	2628				Business end car
30	2329				Economy Cab car
	2829				Economy car
	2929				Economy car
	2729				Business car
	2629				Business end car
31	2330				Economy Cab car
	2830				Economy car
	2930				Economy car
	2730				Business car
	2630				Business end car
32	2331				Economy Cab car
	2831				Economy car
	2931				Economy car
	2731				Business car
	2631				Business end car