Belleville station (Ontario) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belleville
Location	220 Station Street Belleville, Ontario Canada
Coordinates	44°10′46″N 77°22′29″W / 44.17944°N 77.37472°W / 44.17944; -77.37472
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	3
Construction
Parking	Outdoor, pay, long term
Bicycle facilities	bicycle box
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	1856
Rebuilt	2012
Services
Preceding station Via Rail Following station Trenton Junction toward Toronto Toronto–Ottawa Napanee toward Ottawa Toronto–Montreal Napanee toward Montreal
Former services Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station Trenton Junction toward Sarnia Grand Trunk Railway Main Line Shannonville toward Montreal Corbyville toward Toronto Toronto– Belleville via Peterboro Terminus
National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	1973
Reference #:	7368
Heritage Railway Station (Canada)
Designated:	1992
Reference #:	4552

The Belleville railway station is a busy train station in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. It's a key stop for Via Rail trains traveling between big cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. At the station, you can buy tickets, use vending machines, and find washrooms. The station is also easy to use for people in wheelchairs, making it accessible for everyone.

History

The Old Grand Trunk Station (1856)

Front view of the station in 1989.

The original Belleville station was built in 1856. It was made from bluish-grey limestone from Trenton. Thomas Brassey built it for the Grand Trunk Railway, which later became part of Canadian National Railway.

This old station is very important. In 1973, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a special place that helps tell Canada's story. Since 1992, it has also been protected by the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act.

The station was once part of a much larger train yard. By 1864, about 100 people worked there. It even had one of the first places to fix train engines for the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1867, a new engine shop was built.

At its busiest, the railway was Belleville's largest employer. Over a thousand people worked there. In 1876, there was a disagreement among the workers. This stopped all the trains for a short time. Soldiers from Toronto came to help end the problem in 1877.

The old station building at 220 Station Street was used for passengers. It opened on October 27, 1856. This building was used until a new, modern station opened in 2012. While the building has always been for passengers, some of its original inside parts were changed during renovations in 1987 and earlier.

Belleville's old station is special because it's one of the few original Grand Trunk stations from the 1850s that are still standing. Other similar old stations are in Georgetown, Port Hope, and Napanee. Belleville's station is larger and is the only one of its kind that was expanded with a second floor.

The New Via Rail Station (2012)

On November 10, 2010, Via Rail showed off plans for a brand new station. This modern building cost $18 million to build. It was designed to be easy for people in wheelchairs to use. It also had more space for extra train tracks.

The new station is located at 250 Station Street, right next to the historic old station. It welcomed its first passengers on March 20, 2012. MP Daryl Kramp officially opened the station on September 12, 2012.

The original 1856 station now has a special plaque from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. As of 2012, people in Belleville are looking for new ways to use the beautiful old station building.