Stratford station (Ontario)

Stratford station in Stratford, Ontario, Canada is served by four Via Rail trains daily running between Sarnia, London and Toronto. The station, though outside the immediate downtown area, is relatively central. The station building is wheelchair accessible. Via accommodates wheelchair access into the trains provided 48 hours' notice.

Stratford
Current buildings, constructed by the GTR in 1913
General information
Location101 Shakespeare St, Stratford, Ontario
Canada
Coordinates43°21′52″N 80°58′33″W
Owned byVia Rail
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus interchange Stratford Transit
Construction
Structure typeUnstaffed station; Historic railway station
ParkingYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeGO Transit: SF
History
Opened1856
Rebuilt1913, opened August 1914
Previous namesGrand Trunk Railway
Services
Preceding station Via Rail Following station
St. Marys
toward Sarnia
 Sarnia–Toronto Kitchener
toward Toronto
Preceding station GO Transit Following station
St. Marys
towards London
 Kitchener
(express)
 Kitchener
towards Union Station
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
St. Marys
toward Chicago
 International Kitchener
toward Toronto
Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station
St. Pauls
toward Sarnia
 Sarnia – Toronto
via Lucan Crossing		 Shakespeare
toward Toronto
St. Pauls
toward London
 London – Stratford Terminus
Sebringville
toward Goderich
 Goderich – Stratford
Terminus Stratford – Fort Erie Tavistock
toward Fort Erie
Designated1993
Reference no.15767
Official name101 Shakespeare Street VIA Rail Station
DesignatedJune 13, 1988

On October 18, 2021, GO Transit started weekday service though Stratford, between Toronto and London. The pilot service does not offer Presto access and riders need to purchase e-tickets. Two years later in October 2023, the servie ended.[1]

History

From the fall of 1863, a young Thomas Edison worked as a telegrapher at the Stratford, Ontario station of the Grand Trunk Railroad.[Conot, Robert: Thomas A Edison, A Streak Of Luck, Da Capo Press, p. 16] Edison's father was from Canada and fled to US after the Rebellion of 1837.

Historic 1913 GTR station

Two structures remain that were built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR): a two-storey, brick-clad, railway station building, and a one-storey express building linked by an overhead canopy. The GTR merged into the Canadian National Railway in 1920. In addition to serving regional trains, it served international trains to Michigan and Chicago, including the Grand Trunk's long-running Maple Leaf.

The station buildings were designated as a Heritage Railway Station in 1993.[2] The station is also designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since June 13, 1988.

The Ontario Heritage Act designation notes that the station is built in the Prairie Style of architecture, influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright.[3] It was erected by the Grand Trunk in 1913 and opened in August 1914. The designation covers the exterior of the whole structure, roof, masonry, windows, original doors and brick platforms (these were covered at the time of the designation in 1988). The building included a tower, that has since been removed.[4]

The International Limited was operated jointly by Via Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto. The service operated from 1982–2004.[5]

See also

References
  1. metrolinx (2021-09-15). "GO Transit expansion pilot to London brings new connections to Southwestern Ontario". Metrolinx News. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  2. Former Canadian National Railways (VIA Rail) Station . Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved March 2014.
  3. "Address: 101 Shakespeare Street VIA Rail Station" (PDF). .stratfordcanada.ca. City of Stratford. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  4. "By-law Number 111-88 of the Corporation of the City of Stratford" [(Can be read at Stratford City Hall or via email from the City Clerk's office)]. By-law No. 111-88 of June 13, 1988.
  5. Melzer, Matt (23 April 2004). "Final Run of the Amtrak / VIA International". TrainWeb.org. Retrieved 4 August 2015. From 1982, Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada had jointly operated the International train between Chicago and Toronto

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