VIA Rail names engineer to analyze proposed high-frequency rail project

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 1/30/2020 Rail News: Passenger Rail
AECOM and Arup will support VIA Rail in obtaining an environmental assessment and undertaking site investigation studies.Photo – VIA Rail

VIA Rail Canada Inc. has selected a joint venture formed by AECOM and Arup as the owner’s engineer (OE) to analyze a proposed high-frequency rail service in the Quebec City-Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor.

The joint venture will support VIA Rail and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) in all technical and engineering matters during the pre-procurement phase of the project. Engineering and technical analysis is required for the project to receive final recommendation, VIA Rail officials said in a press release.

The OE will also support VIA Rail and CIB in obtaining an environmental assessment and undertaking site investigation studies, including geotechnical studies.

In 2019, the CIB committed CA$55 million in funding for planning and pre-procurement work to further explore VIA Rail's proposal for the rail project. The Canadian government added CA$16.1 million in funding for Transport Canada and VIA Rail to support the project.