Regular Budd Car service to Chapleau will be sustained due to an extensive refurbishment program launched by Via Rail.
As part of its Renaissance Program, the national rail carrier is detailing a replacement Budd Car from New Brunswick for the Sudbury-to-White River run this winter, while its regular car is sent away to a rail car shop in Capreol for an overhaul.
Considered a lifeline to residents in Chapleau, and for many remote tourist operators, the 50-year-old car has deteriorated over the years, becoming increasingly unreliable and expensive to operate. But with a federal investment of $402 million for passenger rail, Via has earmarked $2.4 million for an equipment renewal program to modernize their rolling stock for local passenger service. Money will also be invested into tracks, signalling and other facilities needed for these operations.
Overall, Via employs five Budd Cars for passenger service on Vancouver Island and on the Sudbury-to-White River line, which includes a stop in Chapleau. The railway is overhauling all of its self-propelled diesel cars on an incremental basis to ensure regularly scheduled passenger service is maintained.
