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Halifax station (Nova Scotia)

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1152:, now the Westin Nova Scotian. The South End Container Terminal balloon track used to turn locomotives and passenger cars was taken out of service in late 2020 to create more storage space for containers and the balloon tracks were severed in the fall of 2021. As a result, the two F40PH passenger locomotives are coupled "back to back", unique for Via Rail trains, to allow the locomotives to couple to the opposite end of train in Halifax for the return trip to Montreal. This also resulted in the dropping of the iconic Park car (customarily the trail end dome car on Via's long-distance trains) from the Ocean train consist as it needed to be turned after arrival. 928:
ticketing/baggage counters. At the time of its construction, the station had a massive covered train shed which extended for 1,500 feet south over the station tracks to protect passengers boarding and disembarking from the weather. The earlier 1920 "temporary" station was converted to an attached baggage and express shed. CNR also had a coach yard with repair/service shop facilities for its passenger train equipment immediately southwest of the station's trainshed. Finally, a turn-table was located immediately southeast of the trainshed to permit locomotives and cars to be turned around, since the station was a stub-end terminal.
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Major budget cuts were announced to Via Rail in the 1989 federal budget which resulted in over 50% of Via services cut on 15 January 1990. The impact on the Halifax Railway Station included cancellations of Dayliner service on the routes from Halifax to Sydney, Yarmouth, Saint John, Edmundston, and
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ocean liner passenger terminal by an overhead walkway that crossed the numerous sidings feeding the ocean terminal sheds. Frequently, CNR passenger trains connecting to ships would operate to the Halifax Ocean Terminal, then back into the Halifax Railway Station afterward, or vice versa. A booking
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The station saw intensive traffic during World War Two, moving military personnel to East Coast bases and overseas. Station use declined in the postwar period as part of the broad loss of rail passenger traffic. Locals runs, which also served as suburban trains for Halifax, were the first to be
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The station building was renovated at a cost of C$ 1.6 million over six months in 1988, a project that restored many of the original heritage features. The passenger waiting area was increased in size, from 5,000 square feet to over 8,500 square feet. The false ceiling was removed, exposing the
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The new, and present, station opened on June 19, 1930 at the south end of Hollis Street, opposite Cornwallis Park. The structure is constructed of white limestone and has a colonnaded entry off Hollis Street. Inside, the Ticket Lobby has a high arched ceiling with a seated waiting area and
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was designed by David Stirling, who also designed the Provincial Building and St. David's Presbyterian Church on Grafton Street. The station was faced by the King Edward Hotel, located immediately west of the station, which stood roughly beneath the present-day
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During the 1980s, Via Rail continued to implement changes to the Halifax Railway Station. The train shed was demolished after requiring major repairs to its roof. The former CN coach yard facilities were closed and the site razed after a Via opened its new
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a rebuild of Canadian Naitional's old car shops near the turntable southeast of the station. The maintenance centre was responsible for overhauling and repairing the numerous Dayliners and many of the cars that operated on the long-distance trains in the
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intercity bus company shifted its service from its Bus Station on Almon Street to the Halifax Railway Station, taking over the stub of the station's old baggage and express shed. The station remains connected by an interior walkway to the old
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on 6 December 1917. Passenger trains were temporarily diverted to the unfinished south end terminal tracks for two days. However the North Street Station was quickly repaired to enable it to operate another two years before closing in 1920.
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The official start of construction is dated 31 July 1913 and equipment was moved into Halifax by the fall. Crews proceeded from the north, with trains hauling the rock to the southwestern corner of
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The ICR's owner the Government of Canada, announced at a Halifax Board of Trade luncheon on 30 October 1912 that plans were being drafted for a major railway and shipping terminal at Greenbank, near
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by F.W. Cowie, a government engineer. This project required a deep cut extending up to 100 feet deep through solid Halifax slate for 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to connect with the main line at
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in 1858. The location was a considerable distance northward from downtown Halifax. The extension of the line to the south was blocked by concerns that locomotive embers would threaten the
1331: 856:(CNR) in 1918. The CNR opted to locate a temporary new passenger station in the Halifax Ocean Terminal project at the south end of the city that fall and on 22 December 1918, the 1093:
original 24-foot ceiling, which was restored along with the original skylight. The station building was officially reopened on 20 June 1988 by Halifax member of parliament
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located to the south. The first station was a large, plain wooden building with enclosed platforms. A horse-drawn street railway connected the station to the downtown.
81: 974:, was also built as part of the same project, although it opened 2 years later on 23 June 1930 and has a markedly different, yet complementary, architecture style. 748:(ICR), opened a magnificent new terminal railway station at the foot of North Street, south of Richmond and much closer to the city's downtown. This impressive 1270: 687:
The Halifax railway station continues the history of passenger rail service to the city and is the eastern terminus of North America's passenger rail network.
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also gradually reduced departures to a single daily voyage in each direction from the Halifax Railway Station to Yarmouth via Kentville and Digby.
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The plans to shift to a south end station were accelerated in late 1917 when much of the North End tracks and facilities were badly damaged by the
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The Halifax station was given federal heritage protection in 1991 when it was designated a Heritage Railway Station under the newly passed
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was also cut from 7 days/week to 3 days/week, but restored to its eastern terminus at the Halifax Railway Station, and the
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inter-city bus company moved its Halifax terminal from Almon Street in the North End to the Halifax Railway Station.
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The station was a long, single-story brick structure. Although considered "temporary", it operated for ten years.
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passenger terminal near the Halifax Ocean Terminals which included the new ocean liner passenger terminal at
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office for immigrants and platforms at Ocean Terminal served as an auxiliary station for special
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A trans-Atlantic Ocean liner passenger terminal was planned for the Ocean Terminal piers (later
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upgraded to 6 days/week, however the train frequency at Halifax was not affected. In 2000, the
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and the North Street Station continued to be the only railway station serving the city.
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is North America's longest running "named passenger train" as it was introduced by the
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By the mid-1920s, CNR and the federal government were able to agree on building a new
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Ware, Beverley (21 June 1988). "VIA Rail station goes back in time for renovations".
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The new station and the adjoining Hotel Nova Scotian were connected to the nearby
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The NSR was taken over by the Government of Canada in 1867 as one of the terms of
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discontinued. CN cut one of its three daily Halifax-Montreal trains, the
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in 1904 to provide first-class rail passage between Halifax and Montreal.
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was cut from 7 days/week to 3 days/week, sharing its equipment with the
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Meanwhile, the ICR was merged into a new federal Crown corporation, the
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In 1978, CN and CP turned over their passenger services to new federal
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The newly built station alongside the Hotel Nova Scotian in 1931, with
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departed for the first time from the new (temporary) south end station.
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was dropped from Halifax when its eastern terminus was moved west to
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A route for the railway was chosen along the western side of the
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where it crosses Barrington Street opposite the main gate to
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service cancelled, however it was restored in 1985 and the
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A 1994 change to Via Rail routes in the Maritimes saw the
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Displayed beside the new station was the 1839 locomotive
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Via Rail station page for Halifax station (Nova Scotia)
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The first railway station in Halifax was opened by the
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Budget cuts in 1981 saw the 848:The "Temporary" station (1920–1930) 478: 470: 434: 426: 392: 379: 318: 305: 1231:Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act 1172:, Ottawa: Trackside Canada (2004), p. 61 1130:Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act 667:The Halifax Railway Station adjoins the 1170:The Ocean Limited: A Centennial Tribute 1161: 1006:, along with various local services to 586: 553: 1284: 1223:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( 1216: 720:North Street station (1877–1920) 27:Railway station in Nova Scotia, Canada 1271:Halifax railway station (Nova Scotia) 994:during the early 1970s, leaving only 904:which operated passenger trains from 620:is an inter-city railway terminal in 162: 146: 7: 1254:Nova Scotia Railway Heritage Society 18:Halifax, Nova Scotia railway station 696:Richmond station (1858–1877) 25: 1327:Transport in Halifax, Nova Scotia 1300:"VIA Rail Guide: Halifax Station" 1125:'s South End Container Terminal. 1337:Via Rail stations in Nova Scotia 1293: 1264: 1026:Changes in the late 20th century 946:Ocean Terminals in 1934 the RMS 808:where it was dumped in front of 585: 578: 552: 545: 383: 309: 161: 145: 924:to the Halifax Ocean Terminal. 1: 1054:with a former CP train, the 900:'s Nova Scotia subsidiary, 270:; 96 years ago 1358: 1082:Halifax Maintenance Centre 854:Canadian National Railways 774:South End terminal project 740:. In 1877, a new federal 673:Canadian National Railways 287:Canadian National Railways 1292: 1101:, and VIA Rail president 1050:. Via Rail replaced the 1020:Dominion Atlantic Railway 902:Dominion Atlantic Railway 759:Angus L. Macdonald Bridge 669:Westin Nova Scotian Hotel 539: 528: 524: 520: 516: 475:Dominion Atlantic Railway 431:Canadian National Railway 364: 360: 356: 301: 292: 43: 898:Canadian Pacific Railway 812:to create the ICR's new 660:In the early 2000s, the 183:Heritage Railway Station 937:Stellarton, Nova Scotia 810:Mt. St. Vincent College 752:structure known as the 569:Show map of Nova Scotia 566:Location in Nova Scotia 253:Halifax railway station 1039: 963: 885: 822:Halifax Ocean Terminal 733: 628:, Canada, operated by 1273:at Wikimedia Commons 1168:Douglas N. W. Smith, 1139:discontinued and the 1033: 945: 876: 746:Intercolonial Railway 727: 655:Intercolonial Railway 97:44.63944°N 63.56806°W 754:North Street Station 730:North Street station 691:Predecessor stations 1241:"Lost Connection", 1038:at Halifax in 2008. 962:is at lower centre. 916:into Halifax using 814:classification yard 780:Point Pleasant Park 714:Royal Navy Dockyard 702:Nova Scotia Railway 102:44.63944; -63.56806 93: /  53:General information 1150:Hotel Nova Scotian 1040: 972:Hotel Nova Scotian 964: 956:Hotel Nova Scotian 886: 734: 602:Show map of Canada 599:Location in Canada 479:Following station 471:Preceding station 435:Following station 427:Preceding station 393:Following station 380:Preceding station 319:Following station 306:Preceding station 197:Bicycle facilities 61:1161 Hollis Street 1315: 1314: 1269:Media related to 1109:Campbellton. 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Archived from 1196: 1190: 1189: 1179: 1173: 1166: 1097:, Halifax mayor 992:Maritime Express 922:Windsor Junction 914:Annapolis Valley 859:Maritime Express 603: 589: 588: 582: 570: 556: 555: 549: 530: 387: 377: 366: 313: 303: 278: 276: 271: 255: 169:(public transit) 165: 164: 153:(inter-city bus) 149: 148: 128:island platforms 108: 107: 105: 104: 103: 98: 94: 91: 90: 89: 86: 48: 30: 21: 1357: 1356: 1352: 1351: 1350: 1348: 1347: 1346: 1317: 1316: 1299: 1294: 1288:External videos 1262: 1250: 1249: 1240: 1236: 1215: 1209: 1207: 1200:"Archived copy" 1198: 1197: 1193: 1181: 1180: 1176: 1167: 1163: 1158: 1123:Port of Halifax 1095:Stewart McInnes 1028: 918:trackage rights 871: 850: 833:First World War 818:Halifax Harbour 776: 722: 706:Halifax Harbour 698: 693: 685: 638: 618:Halifax station 607: 606: 605: 604: 601: 600: 597: 596: 595: 594: 593:Halifax station 590: 573: 572: 571: 568: 567: 564: 563: 562: 561: 560:Halifax station 557: 535: 492: 448: 406: 371: 370:Former Services 332: 274: 272: 269: 251: 221:Staffed station 167:Halifax Transit 101: 99: 95: 92: 87: 84: 82: 80: 79: 70: 62: 39: 38: 37: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1355: 1353: 1345: 1344: 1339: 1334: 1329: 1319: 1318: 1313: 1312: 1290: 1289: 1283: 1282: 1277: 1261: 1260:External links 1258: 1257: 1256: 1248: 1247: 1234: 1191: 1185:The Daily News 1174: 1160: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1027: 1024: 920:over CNR from 870: 867: 849: 846: 793:bordering the 782:in the city's 775: 772: 721: 718: 697: 694: 692: 689: 684: 681: 637: 634: 613: 612: 609: 608: 598: 592: 591: 584: 583: 577: 576: 575: 574: 565: 559: 558: 551: 550: 544: 543: 542: 541: 540: 537: 536: 533: 526: 525: 522: 521: 518: 517: 514: 513: 510: 509: 506: 505: 500: 498: 495: 493: 487: 481: 480: 477: 472: 468: 467: 462: 460: 451: 449: 443: 437: 436: 433: 428: 424: 423: 418: 416: 409: 407: 401: 395: 394: 391: 381: 373: 372: 369: 362: 361: 358: 357: 354: 353: 350: 349: 344: 342: 335: 333: 327: 321: 320: 317: 307: 299: 298: 294: 293: 290: 289: 284: 283:Previous names 280: 279: 266: 262: 261: 257: 256: 249: 245: 244: 239: 233: 232: 227: 223: 222: 219: 215: 214: 210: 209: 206: 202: 201: 198: 194: 193: 190: 186: 185: 180: 179:Structure type 176: 175: 171: 170: 159: 155: 154: 143: 139: 138: 135: 131: 130: 124: 120: 119: 114: 110: 109: 77: 73: 72: 59: 55: 54: 50: 49: 41: 40: 35: 34: 33: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1354: 1343: 1340: 1338: 1335: 1333: 1330: 1328: 1325: 1324: 1322: 1310: 1306: 1302: 1291: 1286: 1281: 1278: 1276: 1275: 1274: 1272: 1267: 1259: 1255: 1252: 1251: 1244: 1238: 1235: 1232: 1226: 1220: 1206:on 2006-10-30 1205: 1201: 1195: 1192: 1187: 1186: 1178: 1175: 1171: 1165: 1162: 1155: 1153: 1151: 1146: 1145:Acadian Lines 1142: 1138: 1133: 1131: 1126: 1124: 1120: 1116: 1112: 1106: 1104: 1100: 1096: 1090: 1088: 1083: 1077: 1075: 1071: 1067: 1063: 1059: 1058: 1053: 1049: 1045: 1037: 1032: 1025: 1023: 1021: 1017: 1013: 1009: 1008:New Brunswick 1005: 1004: 1003:Ocean Limited 999: 998: 993: 987: 985: 980: 975: 973: 969: 966:An adjoining 961: 957: 953: 949: 944: 940: 938: 934: 929: 925: 923: 919: 915: 911: 907: 903: 899: 895: 891: 890:Union station 884: 880: 875: 868: 866: 864: 861: 860: 855: 847: 845: 843: 838: 837: 834: 830: 825: 823: 819: 815: 811: 807: 806:Bedford Basin 802: 800: 796: 795:Northwest Arm 792: 787: 785: 781: 773: 771: 768: 764: 760: 755: 751: 750:Second Empire 747: 743: 739: 738:Confederation 731: 726: 719: 717: 715: 711: 707: 703: 695: 690: 688: 682: 680: 678: 677:Westin Hotels 674: 670: 665: 663: 662:Acadian Lines 658: 656: 652: 647: 645: 644: 635: 633: 631: 627: 623: 619: 581: 548: 538: 531: 527: 523: 519: 515: 504: 501: 499: 496: 494: 491: 486: 483: 482: 476: 469: 466: 463: 461: 459: 455: 452: 450: 447: 442: 439: 438: 432: 425: 422: 419: 417: 415: 414: 410: 408: 405: 400: 397: 396: 390: 386: 378: 375: 374: 368: 367: 363: 359: 355: 348: 345: 343: 341: 340: 336: 334: 331: 326: 323: 322: 316: 312: 304: 300: 295: 291: 288: 285: 281: 267: 263: 258: 254: 250: 246: 243: 240: 238: 234: 231: 228: 224: 220: 216: 211: 207: 203: 199: 195: 191: 187: 184: 181: 177: 172: 168: 160: 156: 152: 144: 142:Bus operators 140: 136: 132: 129: 125: 121: 118: 115: 111: 106: 78: 74: 69: 65: 60: 56: 51: 47: 42: 31: 19: 1308: 1263: 1243:The Bulletin 1242: 1237: 1230: 1208:. 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The 997:Scotian 979:Pier 21 952:Pier 21 894:Pier 21 883:Pier 21 829:Pier 21 732:in 1878 683:History 622:Halifax 488:toward 485:Armdale 458:Halifax 444:toward 441:Armdale 402:toward 328:toward 273: ( 260:History 248:Website 189:Parking 71:B3J 2P6 64:Halifax 36:Halifax 1012:Sydney 970:, the 960:Samson 933:Samson 744:, the 265:Opened 218:Status 134:Tracks 1141:Ocean 1119:Ocean 1111:Ocean 1070:Ocean 1036:Ocean 910:Digby 651:Ocean 643:Ocean 399:Truro 339:Ocean 325:Truro 1225:link 1034:The 1010:and 958:and 728:The 649:The 275:1928 268:1928 230:HLFX 1303:on 708:at 242:XDG 208:Yes 200:Yes 192:Yes 1323:: 1307:, 1221:}} 1217:{{ 1132:. 1105:. 1089:. 1076:. 1046:, 939:. 908:, 844:. 786:. 632:. 624:, 456:– 126:3 66:, 1227:) 1213:. 277:) 137:4 20:)

Index

Halifax, Nova Scotia railway station

Halifax
Nova Scotia
44°38′22″N 63°34′05″W / 44.63944°N 63.56806°W / 44.63944; -63.56806
Via Rail
island platforms
Maritime Bus
Halifax Transit
Heritage Railway Station
HLFX
IATA code
XDG
Halifax railway station
Canadian National Railways

Via Rail
Truro
Montreal
Ocean

Via Rail
Truro
Montreal
Atlantic
Canadian National Railway
Armdale
St. John
St. John
Halifax

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