Article content

OTTAWA – Via Rail Canada Inc. is looking for funding in the March 22 federal budget for a new fleet of cars costing upwards of $1.3 billion that would go with a dedicated Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal passenger rail corridor that could be operational in fall 2019 with the government’s blessing.

Via chief executive Yves Desjardins-Siciliano told the Ottawa Citizen the rail carrier also wants the federal government to allow it to proceed with plans to have large pension funds invest in the $2-billion construction of the corridor, a move that requires a cabinet order.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Via Rail seeking federal budget funding for $1.3B passenger car upgrade in Toronto-Montreal corridor Back to video

Any budget dollars for a new fleet of Via cars for the corridor could be a potential boon to Bombardier Inc., which is looking for some federal financial aid and whose rail division could produce the passenger trains the Crown corporation wants.

Channelling federal dollars and powers to separate freight and passenger rail networks to allow for a dedicated Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor was a key recommendation from a sweeping review of Canada’s transportation system, was tabled last week by the Liberal government.