VIA Rail issued a request for qualifications on January 30 for contractors wanting to work on projects in Toronto and Montreal.

The RFQ calls for contractors to issue responses by March 31 for work to build new buildings and make upgrades to the Crown corporation’s maintenance centres in Montreal and Toronto. This comes ahead of VIA Rail taking delivery of its new fleet in 2022.

The scope of work includes a combination of constructing new buildings and making upgrades at both centres, including the yard, civil engineering systems, structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical systems, communication systems, and refuelling equipment; and supplying and installing vehicle maintenance equipment.

“Upgrading our Montreal and Toronto maintenance centres is one of the core projects of our organization,” said VIA Rail president and CEO Cynthia Garneau. “In preparation for the introduction of our new fleet of trains, the modernization and upgrade of our facilities will also allow for the maintenance of the current fleet. Starting in 2022, our passengers will enjoy a renewed travel experience with a significantly lower environmental footprint, which also meets universal accessibility standards.”

This project will be funded with the money allocated to the fleet replacement program in the federal government’s 2018 budget. 

VIA Rail issued a market-sounding exercise in December to understand general contractors’ interest level in the project. The process helped the corporation gather information from the industry, and to promote the project.

It hopes to release a shortlist of qualified contractors in May and issue an RFP in the summer with the contract awarded next winter.