The completion of a $6.9 million project to restore VIA Rail’s heritage train station in Vancouver was celebrated today by Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), Wai Young, Member of Parliament for South Vancouver, and David Hoff, member of VIA Rail Canada’s Board of Directors.
VIA Rail has completed major renovations to the station, paying strict attention to preserving the heritage features of the building, which was built in 1919. First, the platform canopies and lighting were improved alongside the tracks where the trains arrive and depart, and station columns were repaired. This work was finished in 2010. Then a full restoration of the Vancouver Station building was undertaken. From top to bottom, the exterior masonry of the building was repointed and cleaned, the roof rebuilt, the exterior windows and doors restored or replaced and the iconic “Pacific Central” sign on the roof stabilized as well as security improvements made. This second phase was recently completed.
“We continue to transform passenger rail in Canada with new stations, tracks, trains and technology,” said David Hoff. “We remain focused on what counts: responding to markets and the needs of our customers in the most efficient way possible.”
Funding for the upgrades to Pacific Central Station includes $2.3 million from the Economic Action Plan as part of a total investment of $923 million by the Government of Canada to VIA Rail to improve passenger rail services.
Designated a Heritage Rail Station by the Government of Canada in 1991, Vancouver Station has been a landmark in downtown Vancouver since 1919. It was named Pacific Central Station in 1993, when VIA began operating the facility as an integrated intermodal terminal serving Amtrak trains from Seattle and intercity bus services, as well as VIA’s passenger trains.