VIA Rail Canada is injecting almost $20 million into reconfiguring 12 of its stainless steel passenger cars used on its western transcontinental train, the Canadian, to increase its accessibility and market appeal.

Funded from the more than $400 million allocated for passenger rail improvements under the federal government’s Economic Action Plan, the contract for the rebuilding of VIA’s eight Chateau sleeping cars and four park sleeper-dome-lounge cars has been awarded to Avalon Rail of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Avalon will use various Canadian engineering, design and supply firms for a portion of the project, which will see the sleeping cars reconfigured with a new arrangement of six upscale cabins designed for up to three passengers each.

Each sleeping cabin will be self-contained and include an en-suite washroom with separate shower.

The new cabins will also feature wood paneling, sofa seating, a widescreen television and controls to enable passengers to raise or lower the beds.

The program will also substantially increase the train’s accessibility for travellers with special needs. The four existing park car bedrooms will be replaced by two large upscale cabins. One will be identical to those in the rebuilt Chateau sleeping cars, while the other will be an extra-large, fully accessible cabin with a separate washroom and shower facilities.

Each Park car will also feature an onboard wheelchair lift.

All cars will be delivered next year.

Chug on over to www.viarail.ca for details.