Government of Canada and VIA Rail Unveil New Cobourg Station Design

-- Total Investment of $33.8M in Four New Ontario Stations --

New Cobourg Station Design: http://files.newswire.ca/907/Cobourg_MAIN.jpg

COBOURG, ON, Nov. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - Northumberland-Quinte West Member of Parliament Rick Norlock, Peter Delanty, Mayor of Cobourg, and Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, General Counsel and Secretary of VIA Rail Canada, unveiled the design for VIA's enhanced and expanded Cobourg passenger rail station today.   

Representing an estimated investment of $9 million, the project will receive $1 million in funding from the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan. This investment will provide modern, attractive facilities for passengers, with capacity to meet potential future growth. "The new station will bring lasting economic benefits to the people of Cobourg and surrounding areas," MP Norlock said. "It reflects our government's commitment to improve passenger rail services."

Earlier this week, the Government of Canada and VIA unveiled designs for three other new Ontario stations, in Windsor, Belleville and Brockville. With today's announcement in Cobourg, the four stations represent a combined investment of some $33.8 million.

"Cobourg has benefited from passenger rail service for well over 150 years," Mayor Delanty added. "Beyond the immediate job benefits for our community, this project will strengthen that relationship - providing better access to and from Cobourg, with service that is both efficient and more environmentally sustainable for the future."

The design for the enhanced passenger station, developed in consultation with the community, will preserve the existing heritage station, while upgrading facilities and adding a new "island" boarding platform, connected by an overhead footbridge complex serviced by elevators and stairs. The new facilities will harmonize with the current heritage architecture. Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano said "VIA is proud to work with Cobourg to build on that heritage. We are ensuring that Cobourg will enjoy the best possible quality of service as passenger volumes grow in the future, and VIA continues to add faster, more efficient, more reliable and frequent train services throughout the Ontario-Quebec corridor."

With construction scheduled to begin this year, the enhanced station is designed to integrate with current and planned infrastructure improvements, including a $300 million project to expand and improve track between Montreal and Toronto. 

"The station design reflects VIA's commitment to deliver the best possible travel experience for our customers," Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano said. "That is critical as we continue to enhance our service to meet the needs of people who look to passenger rail for transportation that is safe, convenient, reliable, and more environmentally sustainable."

The Ontario-Quebec corridor is critical to VIA's success. As a result of the capital investment by the Government of Canada, VIA is revamping services while becoming more efficient and improving its environmental footprint and operational performance.

Station and infrastructure improvements have been made possible by an unprecedented $923 million capital investment in passenger rail by the Government of Canada. This is stimulating job creation, skills development and private sector activity. Additional infrastructure projects are aimed at improving service quality and cost efficiency at points across VIA's network.

Station Design Highlights

• A fully accessible and welcoming environment with comfortable, relaxing waiting areas.
• Restoration of the existing Heritage building, based on concepts from local professionals, with the approval of Parks Canada.
• A new island boarding platform to accommodate expanded track lines, with a connecting footbridge in keeping with the heritage architecture.
• A convenient passenger drop-off and pick-up area.
• Landscaping that preserves and reinforces the natural environment.

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient and cost-effective passenger transportation to Canadian travellers - in both official languages. Every week VIA operates 503 intercity, transcontinental and regional trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500-kilometre route network. The demand for VIA services is growing as travelers increasingly turn to train travel as a safe and reliable alternative to congested roads and airports. VIA safely transports over four million passengers annually.

Backgrounders:

To learn more about VIA's Capital Investment Program please visit http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-company/capital-investment

For further information:

Catherine Kaloutsky           VIA Rail Canada [phone]

Robert Lynch Office of the Minister of State (Transport) [phone]