VIA Rail Canada President CEO Mario Peloquin is a featured speaker at Next-Gen Rail Systems, the communications, signaling and advanced technology conference presented by Railway Age, and formerly known as Next-Gen Train Control. Peloquin’s presentation, “On Track to Tomorrow: VIA Rail’s Vision for a Safe, Modern, and Sustainable Passenger Rail Service,” will focus on advanced technology initiatives such as Enhanced Train Control (ETC) and new trainsets.
“VIA Rail is building the future of passenger rail in Canada,” says Peloquin. “We’re a Crown corporation that delivers more than 400 intercity passenger rail services connecting Canadians across more than 8,000 miles of track. Working in collaboration with our rail partners, VIA Rail plays a central role in ensuring safe, reliable, and sustainable mobility for communities across the country. ETC, Canada’s adaptation of advanced train safety systems, is a key part of the future of passenger rail in Canada. Designed to complement the expertise of train crews, ETC uses technology to further reduce the risk of human error and improve operational safety. VIA Rail is actively working with its partners, regulators, and technology providers to ensure a safe, harmonized rollout of these systems across the country.
“Introduction of 32 brand-new trainsets in central Canada and plans for the replacement of the Long Distance and Regional trains that serve Canadians, is a generational investment in Canada’s passenger rail system. These state-of-the-art trains bring greater efficiency, comfort, and accessibility for passengers, while supporting VIA Rail’s sustainability goals.”
Meet Mario Peloquin
Mario Péloquin, appointed VIA Rail President and CEO in June 2023, has 37 years of experience in the railway industry. At VIA, he is setting a clear roadmap for the future of Canadian passenger rail, aligning investments, technology and partnerships to deliver a world-class passenger rail experience for Canadians. By carefully navigating the technical, operational, and regulatory dimensions of modernization, VIA Rail is positioning itself as a cornerstone of sustainable transportation and a driver of innovation in Canadian mobility. Péloquin began his career as an operator and then a rail traffic controller before he rose to hold senior roles focused on rail safety at Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board. He then transitioned into executive positions with Siemens Mobility, AECOM, Thales Canada and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, leading significant and transformative transportation projects. Before joining VIA Rail, he was Executive Vice President, Major Projects for Paris-based Keolis Group. Péloquin believes profoundly that effective public transit is the key to solving many societal problems. His extensive experience and commitment to safety, operational efficiency, and innovative technology position him well to lead VIA Rail into a new era of innovation and operational excellence. Péloquin holds an MBA from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He has also served on the boards of the Canadian Consortium for Urban Transportation Research and Innovation (CUTRIC), the Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers (CARS), the Toronto Railway Club and the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA).
Evolution to NGRS
“Next-Gen Rail Systems expands the focus of Next-Gen Train Control, the communications, signaling, and advanced technology conference presented by Railway Age since 1995,” says Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. “The new name reflects the evolving state of rail technology. Over the years, rapid technological developments such as AI (artificial intelligence), deep data analysis, machine learning, cybersecurity and telematics have transformed train control to become just one element of a complex, integrated platform. That’s why we’ve expanded the program to encompass the entire system. Sessions will examine how signaling and train control is constantly undergoing improvements and enhancements that deliver better safety, functionality, interoperability, versatility, and reliability, at lower life-cycle costs.
“Next-Gen Rail Systems is an essential gathering for all those involved in the growing rail systems market—whether your focus is transit, main line passenger, or freight. We are proud to present a rebranded, expanded event that features the same in-depth technical sessions and comprehensive project updates that attendees have come to expect. This conference, since its inception, has always been a ‘must attend’ event.”
In addition to Mario Peloquin, leading experts in the NGRS lineup are keynote speaker Tom Prendergast, CEO of Gateway Development Commission; Kris Kolluri, President and CEO of New Jersey Transit; Dustin K. Lange, P.E., Senior Director of Engineering, Norfolk Southern, Mark Salsberg, Co-Principal of WDG Consulting; Michael Godfrey, Co-Principal and Chief Technology Officer, WGD Consulting; Matthew Kim, Assistant Vice President Enterprise Strategy, Canadian Pacific Kansas City; Wilson Milian, P.E., President and CEO of Milian Consultants, LLC; Pete Tomlin, Independent Consultant, Jonathan Kirby, Senior Director, NJT PTC, New Jersey Transit; Clarelle DeGraffe, General Manager, PATH; Steven Vant, Chief Signal Engineer, Conrail, Mike Palmer, Senior Project Manager, Parsons; Brian Yeager, Director Advanced Technology & Train Reliability, Norfolk Southern; Yousef Kimiagar, Vice President, Institution of Railway Signal Engineers; and Catherine Campbell-Wilson, Principal, StrategyFive.
Register now for Next-Gen Rail Systems, to be held Oct. 30-31, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J.
Railway Age conferences are known for providing valuable opportunities: networking with professionals from around the world; learning about innovative approaches to implementing advanced technologies; discovering new methods for procurement and contracting; providing input on standards development; becoming better-informed about ongoing and planned projects; and discovering what regulations are coming and how they could impact business.
Supporting Organizations
Industry support for Next-Gen Rail Systems is strong, including sponsorships from: 4AI Systems, Alstom, CSA – Critical Systems Analysis, Hitachi Rail, HNTB, KB Signaling, Parsons, Piper, SATS, and Milian Consultants, LLC. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224.
