Behind the Scenes at VIA Rail Canada's Montreal Maintenance Centre

VIA Rail Canada's Montreal Maintenance Centre is one of several such facilities located across Canada (which include Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg). These centers maintain, refurbish and repair VIA Rail's fleet of long-distance locomotives and rail cars, that travel all across Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver.
The centre is both vast and sprawling, inside and out, with a dozen rail vehicles undergoing work simultaneously.
Rail Fans Canada and media were invited to visit and tour the Montreal Maintenance Centre, to learn about the important work being conducted to keep long-distance passenger rail service operating, both safely and efficiently.
Cette vidéo est également disponible en version originale française ici : • Dans les coulisses de ...
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[@douglasstruthers8307]

There must be incredible challenges to keep the 70 year old passenger cars in running order. VIA has always done a great job refurbishing the interiors of the cars but the sheer age makes these cars inefficient and close to the end of their service lives. Action is overdue for a new generation of trains for "The Ocean" (Montréal-Halifax) and "The Canadian" (Toronto-Vancouver). Check out the new generation of NightJet trains being introduced across Europe to see what is possible for these Canadian routes. Thanks for posting this video about the state of affairs on these important routes as seen in the maintenance facilities.

[@clarification007]

I agree! It was about time to see and learn what is going on in those maintenance place of VIA Trains.

[@stanpatterson5033]

Some other being copied and pasted your comment word-for-word elsewhere in the comment section. Disgusting. Not your comment, I mean that someone would do that, is disgusting.

[@Elliottblancher]

That is if the stupid Conservatives don't get elected this spring, which they are known to make stupid cuts

[@rbesfe]

It really is shameful how long we've neglected our passenger rail. The new Siemens trains are a good start, but I worry that in 20 years the only Via service left will be on the corridor.

[@RailFansCanada]

We really hope to see a strong commitment from the federal government to maintain and support the long-distance routes through the purchase of new equipment and operational funding. Those long-distance services are key in serving a large number of remote communities who's only option other than driving is taking the train. Ensuring the mobility of Canadians through eco-responsible means, regardless of their geographical location, should be a priority for any government. -David

[@Dexter037S4]

Vote Orange or Red in 2025 to make sure we don't get cuts.

[@robertbruce1887]

This Via Rail Facility in Montreal for me , as a lover of passenger rail, is a castle of heroes

[@bobbyt9999]

Your video brought back a load of memories to me. I had the privilege of working on these cars starting in 1973 with CP, and up to the time VIA took over in 1978. CP continued doing the maintenance for about two years for VIA until they established their own maintenance facilities and workforce. These cars were maintained in Montreal at the Glen Yards. I did a 4 year apprenticeship to become a pipe fitter. Before VIA started refurbishing the cars they were heated with steam as was hot water. The steam source came from the F series locomotives, or steam generator cars that ran behind the locomotive. I became a gas technician. The stoves and ovens in the dinning car and skyline cars operated with propane gas. My job was to check and maintain the stoves, ovens and the large gas bottles, under the car, that fed them. At that time the "Canadian" - train number 1 - left for Vancouver from Montreal's Windsor Station. I used to travel down on the train from Glen Yard to the station to handle any last minute problems that might arise before departure. When the train departed I would come back on the train and get off at Westmount Station, which was right beside the Glen. So many great memories of that time in my life. I miss it to this day. Thanks for posting!!!

[@RailFansCanada]

Thank you for sharing your experiences and memories with us. It was a very interesting and special visit. Happy you enjoyed it.

[@stanpatterson5033]

That was pretty cool. Thanks to Shane for the translation. My grasp on our other Official language was never stellar, and without regular use, has faded away to something pretty "rusty". My burning question (to VIA Rail Canada) would be, What are the plans for the P-42 locomotives for the future? I wonder if they will see the addition of genset units to run the hotel load for the cars in the train. VIA rebuilt all of the F40PH-2's with these gensets, taking the power generation load off the prime mover. Not sure if there's room to do the same on the P-42's, but still wondering what the future holds for those machines.

[@RailFansCanada]

Glad you enjoyed the tour! Shane did an excellent job with the translation and conveying what was being shown / explained to us during the visit. As for your question, we somewhat have an answer: the future is not that bright for the P42DC’s. There are no plan to rebuild or adapt them once they are removed from Corridor service and as such will be retired. No other operator is doing extensive projects either, most are being replaced by Siemens Charger locomotives even! Amtrak is also currently replacing them on long-distance routes. I believe, in the case of VIA, there are operational reasons why not, but I do not recall them right now. As such, the long-distance fleet will continue to only have the F40’s in operation until a replacement fleet is acquired by VIA. We hope to at least see some of the P42s preserved, as was the case for the LRC locomotives they replaced. -David

[@Z1a_qui_boucane]

I work at MMC and my favorite equipment is the CP Budd cars, because the engineering behind almost every component is low tech and overbuilt. You don't see that kind of build on anything anymore! This is the kind of engineering that won the 2nd world war, and is still proving today that it is the way to build things that are meant to last. Truly long life vehicles.

[@concorde2003]

Shame on Amtrak for sucking so much. Three cheers for the heroes keeping the VIA Budd fleet rolling.

[@bigjoesburgers]

Metra is using SD70MAC's in passenger service. These would be suitable for Via #1 and #2 trains.

[@boweandrew3]

Wow it’s amazing how these budd cars just keep going and going not bad since being rebuilt in the 1990’s and extending the life by over 30 years amazing job

[@RailFansCanada]

It is indeed incredible! Those cars have an impressive legacy and quite a past. Thinking that they have travelled approximately the round-trip distance between the earth and the moon 10 times since 1978 (which doesn't account for all the CP / CN years) is just incredible. The stories of all those that traveled onboard, and those that are yet to come is for such really amazing to think of. As they said during our visit: it is nothing short of performing miracles on the daily! -David

[@gillesbrodeur3944]

Nos collègues vont un travail fantastique à Montréal

[@redriverwave]

Thank you for sharing this interesting story. I’m a long time railfan originally from New York City. I hope all works out well for Canada’s very own railway company VIA rail, even if it’s under a different name one day. The political will has to be a major factor in improving the entire rail system. Multi billion dollars of infrastructure spending will be needed. Maybe in the trillions of dollars!! Unfortunately, it’s taken so long for this to be done. All the best!

[@johnchambers8528]

Thanks for taking us behind the scenes to see all the work being done to keep the trains running. It was interesting to see.

[@RailFansCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it. It was certainly a fun visit and an opportunity to go inside the Dome cars, which ordinarily wouldn't happen in the East.

[@MIKEJ788]

​​​@@RailFansCanadawhen will the new SIEMANS CHARGER Ttains B In Services?? It's been 1year since media announced!

[@RailFansCanada]

The fleet of Siemens Charger / Venture trainsets is being introduced progressively as the trains are delivered to VIA. From an off-camera conversation with VIA during our visit, I believe there is currently 6 out of 32 in regular service, the remaining are in the process of being delivered or undergoing commissioning tests. VIA still targets their 2025 introduction. -David (Somewhat unrelated, we keep seeing more and more reports of the Charger train-sets taking over older equipment on Corridor route, so the chances to have one last ride on the older equipment might be reducing more and more as we approach their full introduction!)

[@clarification007]

@@RailFansCanada Those new Siemans will that type use in the future VIA-HFT train? Can they go to 220 Kmh?

[@RailFansCanada]

The Venture trainsets can go up to 200km/h. As of now, there is no indication if they will be part of HFR or not, though we expect (read as David’s guess) them to operate on the “non-HFR” routes in the Corridor. -David

[@backonpro5679]

I heard via is about to retire the budd passenger cars soon. Wouldn’t mind getting my hands on one when the time comes. You could convert one into a house, or restaurant. Hopefully a good handful end up preserved. These things have been holding on for a long time. I’ll miss seeing them, but it’s about time for them to go.

[@NickP16]

What a great video, thanks for posting it! I’m coming up to Canada in two months. Taking the Amtrak Maple leaf across the border. With a couple of nights in Toronto, before going up to Montreal for three nights, and of course, going business class on the corridor with VIA Before returning to Toronto and taking the train with VIA down to Niagara Falls And then capping off my visit to Canada, by boarding the Canadian in Toronto bound for Vancouver. Can’t wait to experience four days across your great country. So interesting to see how they’ve kept these cars on the rail so long. Hopefully people in Ottawa get the picture. It’s time for the next generation of long-distance VIA rail passenger cars.

[@olympicbricks3542]

Thank you for sharing this tour video! Its so difficult to not be angry seeing all of this rail equipment from afar. I live in Calgary and I've not been able to ride on a VIA Rail train in over 34 years. I've been paying the same federal taxes as the residents of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Halifax do, but zero rail travel benefits are supplied to Canada's 4th largest city. With CPKC Rail relocating its headquarters to Calgary, I occasionally can spot its private passenger train running out to Banff, and the headquarters building does have two stainless steel cars on static display - but no national rail option for Calgarians. Our service was cancelled by the Mulroney Conservatives in 1990 and never restored by Liberals or Conservatives. Such treatment is yet another source of the rising feeling and experience of Western Alienation and exploitation. We pay the same taxes, but get far less back. Why is that?

[@luislaplume8261]

In America all of the stainless steel Railroad passenger trains from the 1930s til the 1959s are either scrapped or in museums. The first stainless steel railroad passenger trains had Bullseye indirect light lights like the PCC trolleys until 1948 when the first ones came with modern florescent lights like today.

[@POUNCEMAN1]

What a wonderful video, Travelled on Budds across Canada Most of my life, Long live the Budd's

[@aleu650]

Beautiful Budd cars. A great testament to the value of using stainless steel. If they were made of common sheet metal... It would be tin cans a while ago. It's also a bit sad that a first world country can't replace a couple of cars per year (I guess due to lack of budget). It will be difficult to find a manufacturer that produces with such quality as those Budd of the 50s, but everything can be done with commitment and money. Think that the UP revived the Big Boy... and China operates trains in Tibet 👍

[@Dexter037S4]

Siemens or Stadler would probably be the two builders, and honestly? I'd just get the Budd Car Blueprints and make new ones, The Canadian is that iconic.

[@aleu650]

@@Dexter037S4 👍❤

[@joncalon7508]

@@Dexter037S4Bombardier - now Alstom - I believe have the blueprints, but to tool up and make new stainless steel cars would be very likely prohibitively expensive. And would not incorporate any of the accessibility standards needed in new equipment.

[@jwillisbarrie]

Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf

[@cofeebeing]

Good information here. Thanks to Rail Fans Canada.

[@josephschuster1494]

Very informative video depicting the planning and continued efforts needed to keep these magnificent trains on the rails to serve all of Canada. I look forward to future productions. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

[@RailFansCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback and comments.

[@SamsonOhsem]

Canada Rail so Amazing!!

[@RailFansCanada]

We do share this fascination with it! We love having the opportunity to share its stories and developments. -David

[@atubebuff]

9:00 I guess it never occurred to me but the cars seems to ride on those circular pads on the bogies and are otherwise not attached. Enjoyed this, thanks.

[@jaygatz4335]

I went across Canada in The Canadian in 1959 (when it was CP) and in 2017. You can't beat those dome cars! I wonder what they will replace this train with - hopefully they will keep some of the vintage cars in working order for historical excursions.

[@somedudeguytv]

I went on this train back in 2010. It was such an amazing journey! It's sad to me how there seem to be no plan by the government to replace these cars. But does it have to be this way? These Budd cars have been stripped to the shell and rebuilt and refurbished from the inside a number of times through out their lives. It is just now the structural integrity of the body shells are at their limits. Could Via Rail source a steel works to build exact replicas of these Budd cars based on their specifications and build from within in house like they already do with their refurbishment and rebuild programs to solve this problem?

[@joncalon7508]

A couple flaws with that. To tool up a complete factory like Budd did back in the day would be expensive. Even more expensive to make them like Budd did. As well, one does not really get any of the accessibility features that are needed but not done in the current fleet.

[@IanDoidge]

Good to see the results of craftspersons work to maintain passenger cars and locomotives. You feel a sadness in your heart when, further westl, at CAD lachine you see the stripped bodies of cars that cannot be economically rebuilt.

[@joncalon7508]

those cars you see at CAD are some of the cars which VIA sacrificed to test for ensuring the rest of the fleet could survive. Painful to see 2 Park cars, a couple sleepers, an RDC, coach, dining and skyline car to be torn apart to a point that they will not be safe to be rebuilt back into service.

[@christopherhood9241]

great video. as i watch i cant believe i survived Vancounver -> Toronto in 'ecomony' class for 4 days/4 nights !

[@RailFansCanada]

The experience of a lifetime nonetheless! Hopefully you get the chance to ride it again in the Sleeper / Prestige class! -David

[@christopherhood9241]

no - cattle class all the way. i want to interact with real people.

[@TubeDisabuser]

The older dining/dome car interior looks much better.

[@thelastdefenderofcamelot5623]

Wow, that's a huge project. They're literally overhauling everything and redoing things from scratch. This could take months. The problem is that there are no companies that can offer a sleeper cars, diner cars and dome cars. They have to build everything from scratch which is going to cost an exorbitant amount. The only players left are Bombardier and Siemens and if they want to replace them they better start on it now.

[@Canleaf08]

Alstom and Siemens. Stadler is also there with their Kiss and Flirt series. Recently saw a SBB dome car in Germany. The Austrians are ordering sleeper cars. There must be companies around.

[@user-bx7is3ke6t]

I rebuilt or built probably 100s of the diaphrams that are between those rail cars when I worked for IPS in the early 2000s.

[@johnburns6422]

Hi , in 2019 i went from Toronto to Vancouver stunning journey perfect sleeper car stopped for short while at Winnipeg had a cup of tea in nearby cafe went for short walk then back on train , The Food on the train was Shocking Bad when i got to the hotel in Vancouver i had my First Good Meal ,,The stop in Jasper was too short to get something to eat , The Canadian people were so nice very friendly which made up the {Food },I have been back to Canada twice in the last few years Beautiful Country and People , will i return again ? now at eighty years old the runway of life is very SHORT i,m not ???? . From ☘☘☘

[@user-sx8ul8ct2h]

Excellent video. My questions is: Will the new cars have berths, the upper and lower beds with curtains? They are the best value and most comfortable accommodations on the train, or any train.

[@RailFansCanada]

As of now, there is no indications of what will be offered on the new fleet as no RFP / RFQ has been issued. Once the government commits to one of the options presented by VIA, we might have some idea, until then it is only speculation! However, we’d expect to see a replacement of amenities (for the most part) with equivalent options in the new fleet, especially given the travel time on some of those routes. -David

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Want cars that are any newer than these classic Budds? See how many Amtrak Superliners are sitting idle at its Beech Grove facility. Offer to lease and repair em. Enough to form a couple consists for The Canadian. Keep enough ex CP cars for another consist.

[@RailFansCanada]

Even then, the Superliner 1 and 2 are getting quite old too (late 70s, early 90s respectively), Amtrak also issued a replacement program for them due to replace them by the early 2030s. While acquiring old cars might be seen as an option by VIA, I would assume it is not the preferred option given the need to maintain and refurbish cars that are still not produced anymore. Interesting idea though, would be interesting to see them operate on The Canadian! -David

[@robertkelly8106]

Do we know that the routes Via uses can accommodate the Superliners? There are lines in the US that cannot.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

@@robertkelly8106 any route that can take dome cars. Toronto-Winnipeg. The Rocky Mountaineer ultra domes are bigger than Superliners.

[@joncalon7508]

@@centredoorplugsthornton4112I believe the trainshed in Winnipeg is just a smidge too short to take Superliners. And they've already thinned up the ties through there to just squeak the Skylines and Parks through.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

@@joncalon7508 example: Washington DC Union Station during the 80s they lowered tracks to allow double decker cars including Amtrak Superliners and varieties of multi level cars at MARC and Virginia Railway Express. So try lowering a track at Winnipeg.

[@briansokoloski776]

High Speed Passenger Car Sets are being Scrapped after 10 years service in Europe Could these not be adapted to Canadian Rails with adjustments Details are on Utube about Surplus Equipment

[@cyberclaude]

Very nice video! 👍

[@RailFansCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@fragglerock5000]

Hi 👋 Can someone tell me if I could somehow get a tour of the Montreal Maintenance facility.,? Do they have tours for us engine Fans 😃😃 Many Thanks Art

[@RailFansCanada]

Hello Art, unfortunately VIA does not offer tours of the facility on normal occasions as it is an active facility and has multiple safety hazards. Whenever we have the chance to visit those facilities, we try to document them to the best extent possible as you could see in this video! -David

[@paulcastillo1310]

Great video

[@RailFansCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nicolasandres7872]

Will there be a french version?

[@RailFansCanada]

The french version is already online! Dans les coulisses de VIA Rail Canada au Centre de Maintenance de Montréal kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWG9haGIf7mZZtU

[@concorde2003]

Oui

[@BulletNoseBetty]

Has there been any discussion about using the stored Renaissance cars in Thunder Bay? I realize that most of them are not complete, but I wonder if having them would make a difference. (And, yes, I realize that there have been serious issues with these cars, but in a pinch, VIA might be able to use them for something.

[@RailFansCanada]

The Renaissance cars are, for the most part, considered as approaching their EOL at the same time as the rest of the long-distance fleet. For now, there is just enough cars to offer the current crop of long-distance routes. Unless the replacement plan includes more cars, the current fleet would not allow for increased or new services. Hopefully the new long-distance fleet allows for new services to be introduced!

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

There were 29 car body shells in Thunder Bay and at one point they were said to be scrapped.

[@shawnblack]

I've been applying for there passenger car cleaner position since 2017 and got zero response from them makes no sense

[@Go_for_it652]

Not half the facility of TMC in Toronto .All the Toronto .

[@TubeDisabuser]

Great that they're refurbishing dining cars -- too bad they now look so ugly inside.

[@ggreg2258]

Interesting. I have ridden the Canadian. The dining car refurbishment is very functional, not so beautiful!! Engines are amazingly complex. And t this age, not very efficient!

[@chrismcdonnell1695]

Elephant in the room - Why isn't via Rail replacing the aged / end of life cars cars? DOH !

[@RailFansCanada]

VIA is dependent on funding from the federal government for operations AND capital projects, as such any fleet replacement / service increase / service improvement must be financed through the Federal government. VIA’s subsidy has, at least since 1989, been subpar to the real need of the organization to offer more services. -David

[@fenus609]

VIA recently stated they are looking for funding now or they will be removing long distance service in 2035.

[@joncalon7508]

The reason why this tour was allowed for media is to get people to know what VIA is up against with maintaining the current fleet and to try to drum up support to get the federal government to fund a long distance replacement fleet.

[@jamiezhou5049]

Let's play a chicken game how lomg government can refuse to give more money to via.

[@bobjohnson205]

"End of life". Sigh! 😢

[@philcharles238]

Another typical Liberal Party blunder: It's the green economy, stupid!!! But get on this WW2-era train. LOL, it's always the cart before the horse with these guys.