Thursday, December 11, 2025
As major rail initiatives ramp up across the country, there is an urgent need for a new generation of engineers to replace retiring professionals and build additional capacity.
Ontario Tech University has stepped up to address this challenge by delivering advanced training and education for future engineers who will play a key role in this expansion. The university’s Railway Engineering specialization, developed with leadership from Alstom, AtkinsRéalis and a network of industry partners, and launched in September 2025, is Canada’s first and only English-language program of its kind. It includes industry-integrated courses, research opportunities and site visits, which will prepare engineers for a rail sector experiencing historic national investment.
“This partnership underscores Ontario Tech University’s priority of preparing both our graduates and the wider Canadian workforce with the competencies essential for success in the 21st-century labour market. The direct engagement with industry provides our students with invaluable insight and momentum, enhancing their learning and empowering them to step confidently into this growing sector,” said Dr. Hossam Kishawy, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Ontario Tech University.
To celebrate the collaboration behind the specialization, on November 28 the university brought together its founding industry partners, government representatives and first cohort of railway engineering students for an interactive event that combined networking, real-time insights, and candid conversations about the future of transportation.
“Working alongside Ontario Tech and its students is an investment in the future of Canada’s railway network. These emerging engineers bring fresh ideas and curiosity, and these events allow us to mentor, collaborate and help equip them with the practical perspective needed to lead tomorrow’s infrastructure projects,” said Laurence Lebel, Technical Director, Rail, Transit Systems and Telecoms, AtkinsRéalis.
The event featured a rapid-fire question-and-answer (Q&A) session where industry partners answered student-submitted questions about career pathways, new technologies and workplace expectations. A networking session followed, enabling students to meet employers and explore opportunities for roles in electrification, automation and climate-resilient infrastructure.
“Our government is committed to building the skilled workforce Ontario needs, and the launch of Ontario Tech University’s new Railway Engineering Specialization supports that mission. This first-of-its-kind program will help prepare students for in-demand careers, strengthen our transportation sector, and advance our government’s plan to build a stronger, more competitive Ontario.” said Lorne Coe, MPP Whitby.
The Canadian Mobility and Infrastructure (CMAI) Council announced a new bursary supporting students in the Railway Engineering specialization, emphasizing its commitment to strengthening Canada’s transportation workforce.
“This partnership with Ontario Tech reflects our commitment to supporting the next generation of railway engineers. Seeing students engage so enthusiastically with industry challenges reminds us why collaborations like this matter. We’re gathering knowledge together and opening pathways to meaningful careers in a sustainable and rapidly evolving sector.” sais Vincent-Pierre Giroux, Global Learning & Talent Development Director, Alstom.
“Ontario is proud to support the next generation of railway engineers who will help build the modern, interconnected transportation network our province needs. By connecting students directly with employers and emerging technologies, Ontario Tech is helping develop the talent that will drive major transportation projects for decades to come,” said Hardeep Singh Grewal, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation.
Ontario Tech’s Railway Engineering Specialization aims to ensure this talent can be sourced from Canada, at a time when the country finds itself in an unprecedented nation-building infrastructure boom and with a renewed desire to rely on domestic goods and services, including engineering talent. Prior to the launch of the program in September 2025, running jointly in English at Ontario Tech University and in French at Polytechnique Montréal, Canada was the only G7 country without undergraduate rail engineering training.
The Railway Engineering Specialization program was created in close collaboration with practicing rail engineers. This industry-driven approach ensures students gain fundamental competencies in rolling stock, passenger rail infrastructure and systems design, systems safety, and concepts of operations and maintenance. By integrating real-world expertise and industry perspectives, the program prepares graduates to contribute immediately to Canada’s rapidly evolving rail sector and its major infrastructure projects.
The Railway Engineering Specialization curriculum incorporates industry site visits, and guest lectures from experienced railway engineers working in the industry. Students will leave the program equipped with a strong foundation in systems thinking, and collaborative problem-solving across technical disciplines. This will prepare them to contribute effectively to complex rail projects and to thrive in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary industry, establishing a foothold for a well-paying and secure career of building the future of Canadian infrastructure.
Featured image: (L to R) Dr. Scott Nokleby, Associate Dean and Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS), Ontario Tech University; Vincent-Pierre Giroux, Global Learning & Talent Development Director, Alstom; Sarah El Kontar, Director, Canadian Mobility and Aerospace Institute; Hardeep Singh Grewal, Parliamentary Assistant (PA) to the Minister of Transportation; Lorne Coe, MPP Whitby, PA to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and PA to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security; Dr. Hossam Kishawy, Dean, FEAS, Ontario Tech; Laurence Lebel, Technical Director, Rail, Transit Systems and Telecoms, AtkinsRéalis; and Jennifer Alsop, Director, External Relations and Partnerships, Ontario Tech. (AtkinsRéalis)
