Today, I am pleased to participate in the announcement that VIA Rail has taken a very big step toward meeting the goal of renewing the fleet with the purchase of 139 new passenger rail cars supplied by Alstom. This is the single biggest step so far as we move forward in revitalizing passenger rail service in Canada. It is good news for the travelling public, for VIA, and for passenger rail service in Canada. The addition of new rolling stock will mean significant improvements in VIA's passenger rail service. And we will begin to see those improvements almost immediately.
More cars mean more trains.
More trains mean more frequencies on key routes. All this means greater flexibility and convenience for rail passengers making the train a more attractive option for Canadian travellers. The new cars will be put to good use, in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor and on the Eastern Transcontinental. This will allow VIA to free up rolling stock to supplement its western service. And let me assure you, these are not just any old cars.