The LRC cars were built by Bombardier, along with a separate Bombardier loco that "matched" the look of the LRC. However, the loco was underpowered and was replaced by the EMD (GM Diesel in Canada) F40PH which had been developed by EMD for Amtrak.
The LRC cars are used on the Quebec (City) - Windsor corrider - oops, let me correct that. The LRC cars are now used on the Montreal Windsor corridor as the Montreal - Quebec routes are now served by the newer Renaissance cars. The Renaissance cars main service area are the Montreal - Moncton - Halifax transcontinental route, Quebec - Montreal, and Toronto - Montreal. Some Renaissance cars may wander between Toronto and Windsor.
VIA introduced their new colour scheme with the purchase of the Renaissance cars and the GE P42 Genesis units. The P42 units were purchased to both power the Renaissance cars and to replace the F40PH units. The P42s first appeared pulling the LRC units while the Renaissance cars were being assembled by Bombardier, I believe at their Thunder Bay shops. They were a Canadian design which Bombardier tried to sell in the US to Amtrak. I believe one complete train was leased by Amtrak but was returned. I believe that this train has since been rebuilt to VIA specs and is now in VIA service, although it was sitting in the Montreal area gathering dust for quite a long time.
The Renaissance cars were originally Britains contribution to the chunnel express trains between London and Paris. However, they never saw service. Canada (VIA) bought them (about 140 cars) for about $140 - $160 million. Some cars were assembled but most of the cars were in the form of "scratch-built kits". They were shipped over in intermodal containers for assembly and modification to meet Transport Canada specs. If you get a chance to see them, take a look at the coupler between the loco and the cars. Also, the first car is a "collision" car to dissipate the crash energy in case of a head-on crash.
There is still debate and I believe legal action being taken on the accessibility for wheel-chairs. There is a very large space for persons confined to a wheel-chair and their companions at one end of the car right next to the washrooms. VIA assists with helping persons onto the cars at all of their stations. Unlike the LRC cars, the aisles are very narrow and will not permit a wheel chair to be rolled from one end of the car to the other. The Renaissance cars are very narrow along the European style. If modifications are made to the cars, VIA will lose a large amount of seating per car.
As it is, the seats are very narrow and you feel as if you are sliding into a coccoon. which is why VIA has attached a "lounge car" on the VIA1 (first class). This car is used to store baggage, prepare meals, and allows VIA1 passengers to stretch their legs and watch the scenery go by.
I've done the trip between Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec quite a number of times. The Ottawa Montreal leg is via LRC. The Montreal - Quebec leg is usually by Renaissance. IMHO, it's the only way to go, particularly when the plane trip is a turbo-prop Dash-8. As soon as the meal is finished, I make my way into the lounge car. Most people don't know that the car is there. This is where you can talk to the conductor and the rest of the crew and pick up lots of information about the train service.
First photo is the "collision car" behind the P42 loco. There are no windows in the car. It is also used for baggage. Second photo is a standard Renaissance car. Both photos are in the Limoulou yard which is just before the Gare du Palais (Palace Station) in Quebec City. An excellent place to do some railfanning right up close but behind fencing.
Bob M.
PS - Nobody's commented on that nice B-unit behind the F-40PH?
) in the Niagara Peninsula will be in full blossom. 
