Rail to Runway: VIA Rail Advances New Dorval Multimodal Hub

VIA Rail Canada has launched the co-development phase of a new multimodal transportation hub in Dorval that will bring passenger rail, regional transit and airport shuttle connections together in one location near  Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).

The Dorval Multimodal Hub will combine VIA Rail and exo passenger rail services with the shuttle connecting travellers to YUL. The site is also near the Dorval Terminus operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).

"The Dorval Multimodal Hub is a great example of how bringing different modes of transportation together can improve the passenger experience for Canadians. By better connecting passenger rail, public transit, and air travel, this project will increase the efficiency of the travel experience while making journeys smoother, more accessible, and more sustainable," said the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Transport.

According to VIA Rail, approximately 250,000 travellers pass through its Dorval station each year.

Plans call for the VIA Rail and exo stations to be brought together on the current exo site, while incorporating the airport shuttle and improving connections between the different transportation networks.

For travellers, the changes are intended to reduce the amount of travel required between facilities and shorten transfer times between rail, transit and the airport.

The co-development phase will be used to establish the hub's detailed design, map out the passenger experience and determine how the different transportation services will be integrated.

VIA Rail said the process will also allow the project partners to identify technical challenges, assess proposed solutions and develop more accurate cost and schedule estimates before construction begins.

The construction phase is currently planned for 2027.

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