VIA Rail

[trainspotter139]

So it looks like they're starting the RFQ process now, so I guess what we're seeing is purely conceptual. It does sound like they are looking to run DMUs, though, which seems practical. Does anyone know what the average size is for a VIA train in the corridor now?

Are they looking at DMUs?  The video seemed to depict a (sleek) locomotive with train cars.  And is the "push-pull" terminology used on DMUs?  Also, they want an electrification option, which I wouldn't imagine would be possible with DMUs, but it would be easy enough to switch out a diesel locomotive to electric.

I'm not sure about the average size on the corridor, but they vary a great deal, shortest I've seen is the 2 car trains run on the Kitchener line, and I've seen trains of at least 7 or 8 cars, and those are coupled together (to be decoupled in Kingston, where one continues to Ottawa, and the other to Montreal).

Given they're just procuring now, this kind of video seems a little premature.

That being said, why are they replacing the fleet now?  They *just* finished rebuilding all their locomotives and the LRC cars are in the process of being refreshed.  Is the fleet expanding or are they planning on decommissioning older cars on other lines?

They certainly aren't DMUs. That is a Siemens Charger loco on one end (with a streamlined nose cone) and a matching style cab car on the other.