Misplaced Pages

Stratford
Current buildings, constructed by the GTR in 1913
General information
Location	101 Shakespeare St, Stratford, Ontario Canada
Coordinates	43°21′52″N 80°58′33″W / 43.36444°N 80.97583°W / 43.36444; -80.97583
Owned by	Via Rail
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Stratford Transit
Construction
Structure type	Unstaffed station; Historic railway station
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	GO Transit: SF
History
Opened	1856
Rebuilt	1913, opened August 1914
Previous names	Grand Trunk Railway
Services
Preceding station Via Rail Following station St. Marystoward Sarnia Sarnia–Toronto Kitchenertoward Toronto
Former services Preceding station [REDACTED] GO Transit Following station St. Marystowards London Kitchener(express, 2021-2023) Kitchenertowards Union Station Preceding station Amtrak Following station St. Marystoward Chicago International Kitchenertoward Toronto Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station St. Paulstoward Sarnia Sarnia – Toronto via Lucan Crossing Shakespearetoward Toronto St. Paulstoward London London – Stratford Terminus Sebringvilletoward Goderich Goderich – Stratford Terminus Stratford – Fort Erie Tavistocktoward Fort Erie
Future services Preceding station Via Rail Following station St. Marystoward Sarnia Sarnia–Toronto Kitchener CentralOpening 2027toward Toronto
Heritage Railway Station (Canada)
Designated	1993
Reference no.	15767
Ontario Heritage Act
Official name	101 Shakespeare Street VIA Rail Station
Designated	June 13, 1988

Stratford is a Via Rail train station in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. It is served by one daily round trip between Sarnia and Toronto via London.

History

From the fall of 1863, a young Thomas Edison worked as a telegrapher at the Stratford, Ontario station of the Grand Trunk Railroad. Edison's father was from Canada and fled to US after the Rebellion of 1837.

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. 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. 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.

Between 1983 and 2004, Stratford was served by the International Limited, an international train service operated jointly by Via Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto.

Between October 2021 and October 2023, Stratford was served by one weekday round trip on the GO Transit Kitchener line which operated between London and Toronto.

See also

• Quebec City–Windsor Corridor (Via Rail) – trans-provincial passenger rail corridor which includes Stratford
• Rail transport in Ontario
• List of designated heritage railway stations of Canada

References

1. "Kitchener transit hub now expected to cost $130M, Phase 1 to start later this year". CBC News. 7 February 2024.
2. Conot, Robert. Thomas A. Edison: a streak of luck. Da Capo Press. p. 16.
3. Former Canadian National Railways (VIA Rail) Station . Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved March 2014.
4. "Address: 101 Shakespeare Street VIA Rail Station" (PDF). .stratfordcanada.ca. City of Stratford. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
5. 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 111-88). June 13, 1988.
6. 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
7. metrolinx (2021-09-15). "GO Transit expansion pilot to London brings new connections to Southwestern Ontario". Metrolinx News. Retrieved 2021-09-16.

External links

[REDACTED] Media related to Stratford Via Rail Station at Wikimedia Commons

• Via Rail station page for Stratford station (Ontario)

• Via Rail stations in Ontario
• Buildings and structures in Stratford, Ontario
• Rail transport in Stratford, Ontario
• Grand Trunk Railway stations in Ontario
• Designated heritage railway stations in Ontario
• Designated heritage properties in Ontario
• Former Amtrak stations in Canada
• Prairie School architecture
• Railway stations in Perth County, Ontario
• Railway stations in Canada opened in 1856
• Railway stations in Canada opened in 1914