This week’s Transit Highlights showcase initiatives making transportation more accessible for young people and strengthening Canada’s passenger rail network. Winnipeg is introducing free transit for eligible youth, Halifax is continuing its student transit pass program, and the federal government is making a major investment in new Canadian-made passenger cars for VIA Rail.

Winnipeg launches free transit pass pilot for youth

Winnipeg Transit is launching a Free Youth Transit Pass Pilot for the 2026–27 school year, providing free transit to students aged 11 to 21 enrolled in Grades 7 to 12 at Winnipeg-based public, independent and home schools. Valid from September 2026 through August 2027, the passes can be used for any trip at any time of day, helping reduce transportation barriers and improve access to school, employment, recreation and community activities.

Halifax continues Student Transit Pass Program

Halifax is continuing its Student Transit Pass Program for the 2026–27 school year, providing eligible students in Grades 7 to 12 with unlimited access to Halifax Transit buses, ferries and Access-A-Bus. This year, the program is transitioning from physical passes to the HFXGO mobile app, while physical cards remain available for students who do not have access to a smartphone or prefer not to use the app.

Federal government invests $4.7 billion in new VIA Rail passenger cars

The federal government is investing more than $4.7 billion for VIA Rail to acquire and maintain 313 new passenger rail cars from Alstom Canada, marking the largest investment in VIA Rail’s history. The new cars will be manufactured and assembled in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and La Pocatière, Quebec, with design and engineering work taking place in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. The investment will help replace VIA Rail’s aging long-distance, regional and remote fleet while supporting nearly 700 jobs in Ontario and Quebec.

Together, these initiatives highlight investments in more accessible and reliable transportation across Canada. From reducing barriers to transit for students to renewing the country’s passenger rail fleet, communities and governments are working to expand mobility while supporting the future of Canadian transportation.