August 21, 2014

Official Opening of the Overhead Walkway and Central Platform at Cobourg Station

Cobourg, Ontario, August 21, 2014– Today, as part of VIA Rail’s many projects to modernise the corporation, MP Richard Norlock, Member of Parliament for Northumberland – Quinte West, Paul G. Smith, Chairman of the Board of VIA Rail, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO of VIA Rail and Gil Brocanier, mayor of Cobourg officially opened a new overhead walkway and central platform at Cobourg Station.

Over the past few years, Cobourg Station has been the site of a major construction project leading to improved accessibility, security, and safety, as well as a better travel experience for passengers. The new accessible walkway was created to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. The overhead walkway, which is equipped with elevators to access a new heated central platform, was completed in late December 2013, and put into service in early 2014.

“VIA Rail is proud to offer passengers travelling through Cobourg greater comfort, better accessibility, and increased security,” stated Paul G. Smith, Chairman of the Board of VIA Rail, “This walkway, made possible thanks to financing from the Government of Canada, is an important asset from which everyone will benefit. Not only did this renovation project stimulate job creation, it also demonstrates our commitment increasing passenger rail transport in the region. This new walkway will respond to increased demand for, and ridership on, our trains.”

The 14 million dollar project was funded in part through an unprecedented Government investment in VIA Rail of over one billion dollars. Of the 14 million, one million dollars was funded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The total capital investment, which began in 2007, was used to fund projects to improve and modernize VIA Rail’s rolling stock, infrastructure, stations and technology.

Cobourg, ON, August 21, 2014 - (left to right) Gil Brocanier, Paul G. Smith, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano and Rick Norlock, officially open the accessible walkway at Cobourg Station. Photo - Alessandro Garofalo, LASC

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada and its 2,500 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking 450 communities across Canada, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years, and was the recipient of the 2012 Agent's Choice Award voted by Canadian travel agents and presented by Baxter Travel Media. Since 2007, the Government of Canada has invested almost a billion dollars in VIA Rail. Read about our transformation at viarail.ca/TransformingVIA.