Government of Canada and VIA Rail announce new station for Cobourg

COBOURG, September 10, 2009 - At a ceremony in Cobourg, Ontario, Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock, Mayor Peter Delanty and John Marginson, VIA Rail Canada's Chief Operating Officer, announced VIA's plans for a new station with improved and expanded facilities. VIA estimates that it will invest as much as $7 million for the new station and related improvements from recent capital funding for VIA announced by the Government of Canada. $1 million of the project's cost will come from the government's Economic Action Plan.

"Investment in a new VIA station for Cobourg will not only create new jobs and stimulate the economy, but also allow VIA to provide better service to the people of this region." said Rick Norlock, MP for Northumberland-Quinte West. "By investing in rail services and facilities such as those here in Cobourg, our government is stimulating economic activity and job creation, contributing to environmental sustainability and improving Canada's passenger rail system for years to come."

VIA's John Marginson added, "The investments here in Cobourg and across our coast-to-coast route network will create a top-notch passenger rail service. A rail service that is safe, swift and sustainable. A rail system built by and for Canadians - for the 21st century. We - the 3,100 employees of VIA - are delighted that the citizens of Cobourg are going to be a part of this new era in rail travel."

VIA's new Cobourg station will be a fully-accessible and aesthetically-pleasing structure adjacent to the existing building. VIA is currently studying options for the design of the new station, with the final design to be selected later this year.

Whatever design is selected for the new Cobourg station, the preservation of the existing structure is assured. Discussions will soon begin with the Town of Cobourg regarding the preferred future use of this historic building. The existing heritage-designated building, opened in 1911, is no longer large enough to accommodate all customers at peak travel periods.

Furthermore, VIA's previously-announced, $300 million Kingston Subdivision Project will add new main line tracks and will include rearranging the track layout in some locations to increase safety, capacity and service reliability. In Cobourg, this involves adding one new main line track and a second platform, which cannot be done while still making use of the existing station.

"Cobourg's connection with and affection for the railways goes back to 1856, when the Grand Trunk's first train steamed into town," said Cobourg Mayor Peter Delanty. "It brought with it so many opportunities for this town to grow and prosper. I'm convinced these VIA projects can and will do the same today."

VIA's Cobourg Station Project is linked with other work now or soon to be underway throughout the Quebec-Windsor Corridor, which generates almost 90% of VIA's ridership and 75% of its revenue. In combination, these projects will allow for increases in VIA train safety, frequency and on-time performance, as well as reductions in travel time.

Major upgrading work is also underway on key elements of VIA's locomotive and rolling stock fleets for intercity, transcontinental and remote service. Other infrastructure projects are aimed at improving service quality and cost efficiency at other points across VIA's coast-to-coast route network. These upgrades are part of an unprecedented $923 million capital investment in passenger rail modernization and expansion by the Government of Canada that is stimulating job creation, skills development and private sector activity across the country.

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective passenger transportation, both in Canada's business corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. 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 travellers increasingly turn to train travel as a safe, hassle-free and environmentally responsible alternative to congested roads and airports. In 2008, VIA safely transported 4.6 million passengers - the most since 1989 - and set an all-time record of $299 million in revenue.




Backgrounders:

VIA's CN Kingston Subdivision Project
Other Capital Investment Backgrounders