Passenger Trains > VIA Rail Sleeper Modernization

Here is an excerpt from a TrainsPro article, April 2, 2026. 
 
MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada today announced a Ca$150 million modernization program for its entire fleet of 56 Chateau and Manor series sleeping cars, a five-year program to extend the life of the stainless steel cars built by the Budd Co. in 1954-55.

CAD Railway Industries of Lachine, Quebec, will upgrade key systems and car interiors to improve comfort, reliability, and onboard amenities for passengers on the Canadian and Ocean, VIA said.

VIA launched the procurement process for new equipment for its long-distance trains in Dec. 2024. But the company says that process will now extend over the next decade, and the modernization program will ensure passengers continue to have a high-quality experience during the transition.

There's been discussions on TO about Amtrak perhaps 'piggy-backing' off a VIA Rail order for new LD equipment.  This would seem to move the goal post further back on that idea. Does Amtrak have the ability to match this kind of spending, at least for its sleeper cars in the next few years?
 

"Does Amtrak have the ability to match this kind of spending, at least for its sleeper cars in the next few years?"

Does Amtrak have the DESIRE to do so?
 

Amtrak slapped new stickers on it's fleet of Viewliners and didn't touch the inside or the guts. What more do you want? (Yes, being sarcastic). The Viewliner I cars are so ratty inside.

Posted from Android

prech786 Wrote:
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 MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada today announced a Ca$150 million modernization program for its entire fleet of 56 Chateau and Manor series sleeping cars, 

That is more than $2.5Ca per car, not bad 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/26 15:50 by Hou74-76.

Now, one would think that Amtrak might say, "Gee, rather than dispose of every Amfleet car, maybe there are some that are still in great shape that we could rebuild and use for another decade.  It will give us surge season capacity to add to trains!"

But no.

Amtrak has been updating its long distant cars.  I just took a trip on 14, 6, and 3.  I love the new look with the lounge cars, passenger cars, and sleepers. I love the new seat covers that can be cleaned up easily.  The new down stairs rest rooms are great.  I would assume they Will update all LD cars with in the next few years.

I fear this coud be the end of these fine cars as we have known them all these years.  For all that money, I doubt they will just get new paint, upholstery, and a truck rebuild.  Sounds like a bulldozer job (in other words, gut the cars and start over).  

I believe that VIA Rail was planning to have all of the rolling stock assigned to the long distance/adventure and essential service routes be replaced by 2035. I think that right now, it would be very good to have the existing sleeping cars modernized because it will still be a awhile until any next generation rolling stock for the overnight and essential service routes enter service. 

Woodman Wrote:
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> Amtrak has been updating its long distant cars. 
> I just took a trip on 14, 6, and 3.  I love the
> new look with the lounge cars, passenger cars, and
> sleepers. I love the new seat covers that can be
> cleaned up easily.  The new down stairs rest
> rooms are great.  I would assume they Will update
> all LD cars with in the next few years.

I seriously have to question why you’re praising this lackluster effort from Amtrak. Yes they got new seat cushions, and carpet. But it ended there. The superliner II cars with the nasty carpet on the wall panels and ceilings didn’t get touched. It’s still stained and filthy. They didn’t bother to replace the electrical outlets in the rooms that won’t hardly even hold a plug anymore. You plug it in and it falls out because they’re so worn out. They didn’t fix the broken ceiling air louvers that control the air-conditioning in the rooms. It was a very halfhearted effort. And then there’s the viewliner one sleepers. Oh yes, they’re coming out of Beech Grove with new exterior stripes. I’m sure the passengers will appreciate that. 🙄 But the inside of them is more rundown than a low budget motel would be. Absolutely disgusting inside.

Posted from iPhone

Topfuel Wrote:
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> I fear this coud be the end of these fine cars as
> we have known them all these years.  For all that
> money, I doubt they will just get new paint,
> upholstery, and a truck rebuild.  Sounds like a
> bulldozer job (in other words, gut the cars and
> start over).  

afraid they are going to get huge  windows, that in the past effected the structure it appeared , i like the glass, if they can do it with out compromising the structure.

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Topfuel Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I fear this coud be the end of these fine cars
> as
> > we have known them all these years.  For all
> that
> > money, I doubt they will just get new paint,
> > upholstery, and a truck rebuild.  Sounds like
> a
> > bulldozer job (in other words, gut the cars and
> > start over).  
>
> afraid they are going to get huge  windows, that
> in the past effected the structure it appeared , i
> like the glass, if they can do it with out
> compromising the structure.

VIA is allocating nearly $2.7M per sleeper car in this $150M rennovation. The Chateau cars certainly need it for life extension. But, I have to wonder if this will extend to the Park Cars that have not been rennovated that much and have sleeper compartments, as well potentially even the Skyline domes that were not ALL re-done. I doubt they will be totally butchering the cars, knowing that replacements ARE in the works.  

alan2955 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Woodman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Amtrak has been updating its long distant
> cars. 
> > I just took a trip on 14, 6, and 3.  I love
> the
> > new look with the lounge cars, passenger cars,
> and
> > sleepers. I love the new seat covers that can
> be
> > cleaned up easily.  The new down stairs rest
> > rooms are great.  I would assume they Will
> update
> > all LD cars with in the next few years.
>
> I seriously have to question why you’re praising
> this lackluster effort from Amtrak. Yes they got
> new seat cushions, and carpet. But it ended there.
> The superliner II cars with the nasty carpet on
> the wall panels and ceilings didn’t get touched.
> It’s still stained and filthy. They didn’t
> bother to replace the electrical outlets in the
> rooms that won’t hardly even hold a plug
> anymore. You plug it in and it falls out because
> they’re so worn out. They didn’t fix the
> broken ceiling air louvers that control the
> air-conditioning in the rooms. It was a very
> halfhearted effort. And then there’s the
> viewliner one sleepers. Oh yes, they’re coming
> out of Beech Grove with new exterior stripes.
> I’m sure the passengers will appreciate that.
> 🙄 But the inside of them is more rundown than a
> low budget motel would be. Absolutely disgusting
> inside.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Completely agree with alan2955. Amtrak applied lipstick on a pig for the Superliner cars and the Viewliner I sleeper cars, the second newest most sleepers in Amtrak's system, have not aged well nor has Amtrak kept up maintaining them as much as they could have. Who cares about the livery on the outside when the carpets and seat cushions on the interior are in horrendous shape. In general, these could be really nice cars if Amtrak did even a $100M renovation on the 50 Viewliner I production sleepers. 

Amtrak's LD fleet procurement now emphasizes coaches and lounge cars, prioritizing getting rid of Amfleet-2 ahead of older Superliners while the Superliner situation is far more desperate. They can easily be converted into corridor equipment.

Amtrak is too lazy to so much as shampoo tweed carpeting on the ceiling and sides that would take a couple of hours per car. Swapping out an AC outlet takes an electrician 20 minutes, probably should be done on safety grounds every 20 years anyway. Plastic and ceramic gets brittle with age. If the slots are loose, what else behind got loose ? They are likely hoping for few more derailments forcing tri-weekly operation, or a future Vance or Rubio administration in 2029 to just shut the whole thing down.  

The Viewliner sleeper and diner fleet has a 60% spare ratio. 50 Viewliner sleepers had 41 cars used per day. An additional 25 cars increased that to just 46. There should be enough to stick another on the Cardinal (2), an overnight WAS-BOS train (2), and convert the City of New Orleans (6) to low level, freeing up Superliners for the west if they ever overcome CN signal issues. 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/26 06:28 by joemvcnj.

• amtrak put new carpet in with there interior refreshes normally don't they?
• good points about seat cushions , outlets,  air loiuviers, thought amtrak did well with seat cushions as well, not a current rider if you can tell
• totally agree about getting the inside of the car in ship shape before these rebranding paint
• video below is in the siemens plant in NC
•      https://www.facebook.com/reel/1249284934005095

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/26 08:11 by dan.

I hope the Via Rail adds new cushions in the roomettes, my past rides in Manor roomettes, the seats were hard as rocks, always obtained extra pillows to set on.
The double bedroom chairs are wonderful !

skidroe Wrote:
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> I hope the Via Rail adds new cushions in the
> roomettes, my past rides in Manor roomettes, the
> seats were hard as rocks, always obtained extra
> pillows to set on.
> The double bedroom chairs are wonderful !

Agreed - those roomette seats on the Manor cars did not "age well."