Where are the Major Stations in Your City?

[esquire]

There were a few midcentury beauties that went up in Canada... Ottawa, Edmonton, Saskatoon... all are still standing even though Edmonton's no longer functions as a train station. I think London had one too, although that one was demolished. Ottawa's is the purest expression of the form that I can think of, though, at least in Canada... it is an impressive piece of work. John Parkin's firm was behind it, which speaks to the design quality.

There were even more impressive airports built during that era, but most have been demolished (old Toronto T1, YWG) or renovated beyond recognition (YEG). Gander is probably the best example of an almost fully-intact 60s terminal.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by esquire

There were a few midcentury beauties that went up in Canada... Ottawa, Edmonton, Saskatoon... all are still standing even though Edmonton's no longer functions as a train station. I think London had one too, although that one was demolished. Ottawa's is the purest expression of the form that I can think of, though, at least in Canada... it is an impressive piece of work. John Parkin's firm was behind it, which speaks to the design quality.

There were even more impressive airports built during that era, but most have been demolished (old Toronto T1, YWG) or renovated beyond recognition (YEG). Gander is probably the best example of an almost fully-intact 60s terminal.

Our old Uplands Airport was a nice example of mid-century modernism, though maybe not the same caliber as our train station.


http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/12/uplands-airport.html


Source:https://www.facebook.com/LostOttawa/...type=3&theater


No one posted a picture of our bus station yet. It's 2 kilometers south of downtown right off the Queensway:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Central_Station

It's been "renovated" since. it is now gray (brick) and blue (siding). See Google maps link:

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ott...09225c7b8dd632

[Franco401]

Fredericton Train Station:

In its heyday:


Before renovation, circa 2010:




Today:


It now serves as a conference centre, and is owned by Alcool NB Liquor, who built the liquor store annex during renovations.. JD Irving Limited owns the surrounding land that was once the rail yard, but won't develop it unless they know they can profit. There has been a push for the city to buy and develop the land, creating a neat midtown neighborhood of mixed-use, high-density developments.

[red-paladin]

Vancouver's Waterfront station doesn't serve Via trains or private buses like Greyhound, but it still serves the West Coast Express commuter train from as far as Mission (outside Metro Vancouver).

From this site, lots more pics too: http://subwaynut.com/canada/vancouve...front_station/

[SkahHigh]

^I really like the exterior of Pacific Station. Beautiful

[casper]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Just to add to this, it is actually quite easy to get to downtown Victoria from the ferry terminals, it is a single direct bus service connecting the two, essentially just a straight line down a single highway.

The two main BC ferry routes between the mainland and the Island are massive operations. It would be a terrible idea to dump those traffic loads (commercial / freight and personal vehicles) into the downtown cores of Victoria / Van. Also these ferries are not acting as commuter services (as if Vic is a suburb and Van is the core) but are servicing as the Trans Canada Highway connection between the entire Island and the mainland. Many people accessing the ferries are coming from the interior of BC / Washington state / etc... Again, traffic you really don't want near the city cores.

Such ferry operations are very different than a train station.

Victoria does have a downtown train station, however until the E&N Railway starts operating again it will remain un-used. If the railway service restarts it may also terminate is Esquimalt as the bridge that connects to the downtown core may not exist in the future.

Source: Wikipedia....

What would make sense at some point in the future is a rail link between downtown and downtown Victoria.

[TownGuy]

Cobourg's one and only little station complex. The older building is still used for tickets, etc. The modern building is more or less a fancy overpass.


http://nesphotos.zenfolio.com/p900348738





Source: http://www.eliteconstructioninc.com/....zMjH54SD.dpbs

[Beedok]

I'd always loved how massive the Cobourg train station seems relative to size.

[esquire]

Interesting that they didn't just replace the entire Cobourg station, especially seeing that it probably wouldn't have meant having to build a much bigger new structure. Isn't it a bit awkward to have a fairly small station spread over two buildings?

At any rate, it's nice to see some smaller cities along the corridor get station upgrades. It's embarrassing to visit other countries overseas where even small towns have proper modern stations while we have some actual cities where the station infrastructure looks pretty much like it would have a hundred years ago.

[White Pine]

Originally Posted by esquire

Interesting that they didn't just replace the entire Cobourg station, especially seeing that it probably wouldn't have meant having to build a much bigger new structure. Isn't it a bit awkward to have a fairly small station spread over two buildings?

At any rate, it's nice to see some smaller cities along the corridor get station upgrades. It's embarrassing to visit other countries overseas where even small towns have proper modern stations while we have some actual cities where the station infrastructure looks pretty much like it would have a hundred years ago.

I think they're planning on joining the two buildings.

[TownGuy]

They are starting renovations on the old station but I don't think they are joining the two.

Replacing the old one outright wouldn't have been too popular with the historic preservation crowd.