Goose
Joined: 02 May 2006
Posts: 421
Location: N45.44630 W075.735408
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 Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: Happy 150th Canadian Passenger Rail |
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Montreal, October 26, 2006 - Tomorrow marks a major milestone in the history of passenger rail in Canada - the 150th anniversary of what is now known as VIA Rail's "Quebec City-Windsor Corridor". On October 27, 1856, at 7:00 AM, the first passenger train left Toronto and travelled to Montreal in 14 hours. That same day, the first train left Montreal at 7:30 AM and travelled to Toronto in the same amount of time. This was the first stretch of track linking the two largest cities in Canada.
The Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada was formed in 1852 as a consolidation of several railways, some under construction, others only projected. It became one large system stretching from Levis, Quebec (already connected to Montreal) all the way to Sarnia, Ontario (later extending to Windsor). Just three years after the amalgamation of the railway, the line from Montreal to Toronto was complete and open for service. The Kingston Advertiser, on October 28, 1856, wrote that "the Grand Trunk Railroad will henceforth be the great commercial artery of Canada". Grand Trunk Railroad was eventually fully merged into Canadian National, which later spun off passenger rail with the creation of VIA Rail Canada in 1978.
Today, the 1150-km Quebec City-Windsor Corridor in central Canada is a spine travelling through the most densely populated and heavily industrialized area of the country. This region contains over half of Canada's population - 16 million - and some of its largest cities.
1851 - On August 30 an act was passed to build a railway the length of the province of Quebec
1852 - Plan made public and birth of the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada
1854 - Construction began on the Victoria Bridge, the largest project of the Grand Trunk network
1854 - Work began on the main line, from Montreal to Toronto
1856 - In September, last gaps were closed and rushed to finish the project on time
1856 - On October 27, first passenger trains travel between Montreal and Toronto
1920 - Grand Trunk Railway fully merged into Canadian National Railways
1978 - VIA Rail set up as independent Crown Corporation to operate passenger rail in Canada, taking over from CN. |
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