Vancouver station restoration complete

Written by jrood

The completion of a CA$6.9 million (US$6.89 million) project to restore VIA Rail Canada's heritage train station in Vancouver, B.C., was celebrated on April 13.

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 of VIA Rail. “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 included CA$2.3 million (US$2.297 million) from the stimulus phase of the Economic Action Plan as part of a total investment of CA$923 million (US$921.8 million) by the Government of Canada to VIA Rail to improve passenger rail services.

Tags: