Media Advisory - Gare du Palais: VIA Rail celebrates 100 years

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 22, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume will join Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) to celebrate 100 years of the Gare du Palais on Wednesday, August 24, at 11 a.m.

100 years of history
This prestigious structure – built by Canadian Pacific during World War I, from plans by American architect Harry Edward Prindle – is now a designated heritage building with a rich history. The company sought to provide Quebec City with a rail terminal that would rival the grand stations of North America. Quebec City has long been considered a hub of Canada's rail network. A hiatus in passenger rail service in the downtown area began in 1976, since the trains hampered the free movement of automobile traffic. The station was re-opened in 1985.

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and its 2,600 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 over 400 communities across Canada and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, 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. For more information, visit About VIA Rail at www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.