West Harbour GO Station

West Harbour
Progress on the construction of the station
Location 353 James Street North
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada
Coordinates 43°15′59″N 79°51′55″W / 43.26639°N 79.86528°W / 43.26639; -79.86528Coordinates: 43°15′59″N 79°51′55″W / 43.26639°N 79.86528°W / 43.26639; -79.86528
Owned by Metrolinx
Platforms 2 side platforms
Tracks 2
Connections Hamilton Street Railway
Construction
Parking 300 in multi-storey car park[1]
Bicycle facilities Yes
History
Opened July 9, 2015 (2015-07-09)
Services
Preceding station   GO Transit   Following station
Lakeshore WestTerminus

West Harbour GO Station[2] is a railway station in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on the Canadian National Railway line through the north end of the city. The station is on GO Transit's Lakeshore West line, and service began on July 9, 2015.[3] The station is expected to be a stop on the A-Line, part of a rapid transit system being planned by Metrolinx.[4] Via Rail service may eventually be provided.[5]

Construction

The line is double tracked and was constructed west of James Street North with the platform running under the Bay Street and McNab Street bridges. Construction is estimated to cost $3 million[5] and phase one was completed on July 9, 2015, in time for the 2015 Pan American Games. Construction of phase two was proposed to begin in August 2015 after the games are over. Details were revealed May 31, 2013 by Ontario's Minister of Transportation.[1]

Metrolinx announced on February 28, 2014 that Kenaidan Contracting of Mississauga had been awarded a $44-million contract to build the station. Work has already begun in clearing the site and the existing railway bed will be lowered so that double-decker trains can pass under bridges and a terraced retaining wall will be built along the steeply sloping south side of the site. Construction of the new station and multi-storey car park structure was expected to start in April 2014.[6]

History

Former CNR station building

The neighbouring Hamilton Canadian National Railway Station, on the east side of James Street North at Murray Street, was built between 1929 and 1931.[7]

The property is a National Historic Site and has been designated under the Federal Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act and under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act by City of Hamilton By-law 95-115.[8] Portions of the building were protected by the Ontario Heritage Trust in 1999.[7]

In 1967, GO Transit took over CN's commuter service between Toronto and Hamilton, and in 1978 all other CN passenger service was transferred to Via Rail.[9]

In 1992 Via Rail closed its Burlington (formerly the GTR/CNR Freeman/Burlington Junction Station, built around 1910 and located near Brant Street), Hamilton and Dundas stations and consolidated service at the new Aldershot GO Station.[9]

GO Transit closed the James Street station in 1993 and moved remaining service to the Hamilton GO Centre,[9] one and a half kilometres directly south on James Street.

The Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) bought and renovated the station, and in 2000 the station was reopened as LIUNA Station, an events centre with catering facilities for weddings, dances, and other special events.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "An official GO for GO station on James North". CBC News. May 31, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  2. ↑ West Harbour (James St. N.) - New Hamilton GO Station
  3. ↑ "First commuters ride GO from Hamilton's new West Harbour station". CBC News. 9 July 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ Ontario Investing Up to $1 Billion for Light Rail Transit in Hamilton
  5. 1 2 "James Street North GO/VIA Station Gateway to Niagara". Quick Wins. Metrolinx. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ Meredith MacLeod (28 February 2014). "Metrolinx announces $44-million GO Station on James Street North". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Hamilton CNR Station". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  8. ↑ "List of Designated Properties and Heritage Conservation Easements under the Ontario Heritage Act" (PDF). Hamilton's Heritage, Volume 1. City of Hamilton. March 2007 [August 2002]. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "CNR James Street Station/LIUNA Station". Hamilton Transit History. Retrieved November 1, 2012.

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