Stratford station (Ontario)

Stratford is a Via Rail train station in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. It is served by one daily round trip between Sarnia and Toronto via London.

Stratford
Current buildings, constructed by the GTR in 1913
General information
Location	101 Shakespeare St, Stratford, Ontario Canada
Coordinates	43°21′52″N 80°58′33″W
Owned by	Via Rail
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Stratford Transit
Construction
Structure type	Unstaffed station; Historic railway station
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	GO Transit: SF
History
Opened	1856
Rebuilt	1913, opened August 1914
Previous names	Grand Trunk Railway
Services
Preceding station Via Rail Following station St. Marys toward Sarnia Sarnia–Toronto Kitchener toward Toronto
Former services Preceding station GO Transit Following station St. Marys towards London Kitchener (express, 2021-2023) Kitchener towards Union Station Preceding station Amtrak Following station St. Marys toward Chicago International Kitchener toward Toronto Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station St. Pauls toward Sarnia Sarnia – Toronto via Lucan Crossing Shakespeare toward Toronto St. Pauls toward London London – Stratford Terminus Sebringville toward Goderich Goderich – Stratford Terminus Stratford – Fort Erie Tavistock toward Fort Erie
Future services Preceding station Via Rail Following station St. Marys toward Sarnia Sarnia–Toronto Kitchener Central Opening 2027[1] toward Toronto
Heritage Railway Station (Canada)
Designated	1993
Reference no.	15767
Ontario Heritage Act
Official name	101 Shakespeare Street VIA Rail Station
Designated	June 13, 1988

History

From the fall of 1863, a young Thomas Edison worked as a telegrapher at the Stratford, Ontario station of the Grand Trunk Railroad.^[2] Edison's father was from Canada and fled to US after the Rebellion of 1837.

Historic 1913 GTR station

Two structures remain that were built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR): a two-storey, brick-clad, railway station building, and a one-storey express building linked by an overhead canopy. The GTR merged into the Canadian National Railway in 1920. In addition to serving regional trains, it served international trains to Michigan and Chicago, including the Grand Trunk's long-running Maple Leaf.

The station buildings were designated as a Heritage Railway Station in 1993.^[3] The station is also designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since June 13, 1988.

The Ontario Heritage Act designation notes that the station is built in the Prairie Style of architecture, influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright.^[4] It was erected by the Grand Trunk in 1913 and opened in August 1914. The designation covers the exterior of the whole structure, roof, masonry, windows, original doors and brick platforms (these were covered at the time of the designation in 1988). The building included a tower, that has since been removed.^[5]

Between 1983 and 2004, Stratford was served by the International Limited, an international train service operated jointly by Via Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto. ^[6]

Between October 2021 and October 2023, Stratford was served by one weekday round trip on the GO Transit Kitchener line which operated between London and Toronto.^[7]

See also

• Railways portal
• Ontario portal

• Quebec City–Windsor Corridor (Via Rail) – trans-provincial passenger rail corridor which includes Stratford
• Rail transport in Ontario
• List of designated heritage railway stations of Canada