St. Marys station (Ontario) explained

St. Marys
Style:Via Rail
Country:Canada
Coordinates:43.2604°N -81.1365°W
Structure:Staffed station
Tracks:1
Parking:Yes
Opened:1907
Accessible:Yes
Other Services Header:Former services
Other Services Collapsible:yes

St. Marys station in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada is a staffed[1] railway station used by Via Rail's Corridor intercity train service. The station is served by one daily train in each direction between Toronto and Sarnia via London.[2]

History

St. Marys station was opened in 1907 by the Grand Trunk Railway to provide convenient access to the town centre of St. Marys. The station architect was E. Chandler of Stratford, Ontario. When the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) was built in 1858, St. Marys was served only by St. Marys Junction station, located 1.5 km north of the current station in an otherwise undeveloped area.[3] Following pressure from local residents to provide a convenient station closer to the town centre, the GTR opened St. Marys Town station in 1879, located roughly 400 metres south of the current station where the railway crosses James Street South.[4] However, residents were still not satisfied with the location, leading the GTR to construct the present St. Marys station in 1907, replacing St. Marys Town.

In the 1980s, the Town of St. Marys acquired ownership of the station to protect it from possible closure or demolition. It completed a restoration and renovation of the station building, with an official reopening on 26 September 1988.[5] The station is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since 1987. [6]

On October 18, 2021, GO Transit started weekday train service though St. Mary's, with one daily round trip between Toronto and London via the Kitchener line. Two years later in October 2023, the service was discontinued.

Station facilities

The station consists of a single side platform serving a single track. St Marys station is owned and maintained by the Town of St Marys as a gallery/recreation centre.[5]

In addition to ticketing and waiting facilities, the station building houses the St Marys Station Gallery.[1]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Marys Station . Town of St Marys . 2016 . 6 January 2019.
  2. Web site: Corridor Schedule: Toronto-London-Sarnia . VIA Rail . 18 November 2018 . 6 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Grand Trunk Railway Station . Canada's Historic Places . n.d. . 6 January 2019.
  4. Web site: The Station at the Switch . Picture St. Marys . n.d. . 6 January 2019.
  5. Web site: History of St. Marys Station . St. Marys Station Gallery . 2018 . 6 January 2019.
  6. Web site: Grand Trunk Railway Station . . historicplaces.ca . July 24, 2022 .