Full Breakdown
Alstom’s La Pocatière Plant Finds New Life in Canadian Transit Orders
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Turnaround: Expanding Production and Workforce
Alstom’s rail-manufacturing facility in La Pocatière, Quebec, has moved from the brink of closure to a period of growth. The plant, which builds cars for Vancouver’s SkyTrain, Toronto Transit Commission subway trains and a new Quebec City tramway, is preparing to start a $4.7 billion contract to produce long-distance passenger cars for VIA Rail. Employment has risen from about 150 workers in 2021 to roughly 550 employees, a marked increase from the more than 1,000 staff the plant held in the 1990s.
Drivers Behind the Revival
Canadian government procurement policies that favour domestically built equipment are a primary catalyst.
Academic analysis supports the need for strategic investment. Dan Breznitz, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, notes that restoring rail manufacturing requires long-term commitment; without sustained effort over 20-30 years, essential skills risk being lost.
Key Figures and Their Roles
- Claude Michaud – Union president and 34-year plant veteran, emphasizes pride in building trains for Canadians.
- Olivier Marcil – Alstom vice-president of public affairs for Canada, highlights the impact of U.S. “Buy America” rules.
- Dan Breznitz – University of Toronto professor, provides context on manufacturing strategy.
- Frédéric Platteeuw – Alstom site manager in La Pocatière, oversees scaling up for the VIA Rail contract.
Economic Impact and Future Outlook
The plant’s workforce, once as high as 1,000 in the 1990s, fell to about 150 in 2021, threatening its viability. The current staff level of roughly 550 positions the facility to support the VIA Rail project for nearly a decade, complemented by a 15-year agreement for technical support and spare parts. Production will be complemented by final assembly in Thunder Bay, requiring a redesign of the plant’s layout and adoption of new technologies, according to site manager Platteeuw.
Official Perspectives
Alstom executives echo this sentiment, describing the contract as a “real challenge” that will push the plant to “rethink all the layout” and optimize its operations.