The Ontario government will spend nearly $500 million to refurbish 181 GO Transit bi-level rail coaches, a move that is expected to provide a significant boost to the Alstom manufacturing facility in Thunder Bay. The project will sustain hundreds of jobs for Unifor Local 1075 members at the plant, which has long been a cornerstone of the local economy.
“This investment extends the life of the manufacturing facility in Thunder Bay and introduces some near-term stability for hundreds of Unifor members and their families,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president.
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced the funding as part of the province’s ongoing GO Expansion program. The initiative aims to enhance service across the GO rail network, including two-way, all-day service to Oshawa, Burlington, Kitchener, Stouffville, and Barrie. Sarkaria said the project not only supports job stability in northwestern Ontario but also contributes to broader economic prosperity in the region.
Refurbishment work at the Thunder Bay plant will extend the lifespan of the bi-level coaches by 20 years, with the first vehicles set to arrive for updates in 2027.
Justin Roberts, president of Unifor Local 1075, welcomed the funding as a critical step in ensuring the plant’s future. “It puts our minds at ease that we do have a future going forward,” Roberts said. “It is also great to hear ministers that seem to understand our situation and how important Ontario and Canadian manufacturing is. I will take this as a great win today.”
The Alstom facility has historically been one of Thunder Bay’s largest private-sector employers, producing multi-level trains and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway cars. Unifor officials emphasized the importance of prioritizing Canadian-made transportation vehicles in government procurement. According to the union, every job maintained at the plant supports an additional 1.5 to 2.5 full-time jobs elsewhere in Canada.
Samia Hashi, Unifor’s Ontario regional director, said government investment in local manufacturing is vital for the economy. “Unifor has always stated that investing in Made-in-Canada transportation vehicles, prioritizing supporting our local industries and strengthening Canada’s economy and creating sustainable jobs should be a priority for all levels of government,” Hashi said.
In addition to the GO train refurbishment, Unifor is advocating for the federal government to allocate future transit vehicle procurement projects to the Thunder Bay facility. This includes a recently announced $758-million investment for 55 new TTC subway cars for Line 2 in Toronto.
Unifor represents 320,000 workers across Canada, including 2,000 members in the transit manufacturing sector. These workers are spread across facilities in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Sainte-Claire, Que., and Sainte-Eustache, Que., producing buses and light rail vehicles.
