Ontario Construction News staff writer
VIA Rail Canada has awarded contracts to Buttcon and Pomerleau to upgrade maintenance centres in Toronto and Montreal.
The Corridor Fleet Replacement Program includes revamping centres to serve as the home base for the maintenance of VIA Rail’s 32 new trains.
Buttcon will complete construction of the Toronto Maintenance Centre and Pomerleau work in Montreal.
“In partnership with VIA Rail, and its team, we are thrilled to have been awarded this incredible modernization project,” said Peter Di Gaetano, president and CEO, Buttcon Limited. “We bring to the table a qualified team of design and construction professionals offering a wealth of knowledge and experience.
“The Toronto Maintenance Centre Modernization Project aligns with our vast construction experience and philosophy with a hands-on project delivery approach and dedicated collaborative partnerships. Our partnership with VIA Rail is an example of how every team member contributes to the success of the project through innovation, collaboration, communication, experience and the sharing of expert professional skill sets. We look forward to transcending construction delivery, beyond industry standards, for the successful execution of the Toronto Maintenance Modernization Project.”
Both projects were included in the 2018 federal budget and construction is expected to start early next year in both locations.
“We are proud to work with two exceptional Canadian partners on these two projects,” VIA Rail president and CEO Martin Landry said in a statement.“The modernisation of our maintenance centres is an important step in the fleet replacement program and in VIA Rail’s overall modernisation process.
“These centres will allow us to maintain the new Corridor fleet that embodies the vision we have for the VIA Rail of tomorrow.”
Companies were selected through a “fair, open, rigorous, and transparent bidding process” under the supervision of an independent fairness monitor. The evaluation was based on criteria including previous experience delivering similar infrastructure, and the ability to safely complete the work on time.
“VIA Rail takes an active part in shaping the future of mobility. At Pomerleau, we share this vision of sparing no effort to create a better future for our communities. That’s why we strive to shape our industry by constantly improving our processes and construction methods,” said Martin Jacques, executive vice-president at Pomerleau. “For tomorrow. It is with this commitment in mind that we gladly put our expertise at VIA Rail’s disposal on the Montreal Maintenance Centre project which will be, once completed, a state-of-the-art facility.”