VIA Rail completes Union Station restoration

VIA Rail Canada Inc. officials recently marked the completion of renovations to the 100-year-old Union Station in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The $6 million project (in Canadian dollars) at VIA Rail's largest station took 14 months to complete, railroad officials said in a press release.

Upgrades included cleaning, repairing and repainting the most distinctive feature: the central rotunda. The rotunda's restoration emphasizes the station's heritage status and its new look resembles that of the original rotunda, VIA Rail officials said.

Funding for the project was provided by the Canadian government and tops the $3.5 million already invested in many renovation projects carried out since 2007, including a full roof replacement and repairs to heating and cooling systems, they said.

"Thanks to this major work, we can now offer an improved work environment to our employees, a new experience to our passengers and a promising future to Winnipeg Station," said VIA Rail President and Chief Executive Officer Yves Desjardins-Siciliano.