Guelph Central Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guelph
The heritage Grand Trunk Railway building
Location	79 Carden Street Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A4
Coordinates	43°32′39″N 80°14′49″W / 43.54417°N 80.24694°W / 43.54417; -80.24694
Owned by	City of Guelph
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
Bus stands	22
Bus operators	Guelph Transit GO Transit Guelph Owen Sound Transportation Kasper Transportation
Construction
Parking	No
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	GO Transit: 02519 IATA: XIA
Fare zone	39
History
Opened	1911 (1911)
Rebuilt	May 13, 2012
Services
Preceding station Via Rail Following station Kitchener toward Sarnia Sarnia–Toronto Georgetown toward Toronto Preceding station GO Transit Following station Kitchener Terminus Kitchener Acton towards Union Station
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Kitchener toward Chicago International Georgetown toward Toronto Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station Mosborough toward Sarnia Sarnia– Toronto via Lucan Crossing Rockwood toward Toronto Marden toward Owen Sound Owen Sound– Hamilton Guelph Junction toward Hamilton
Heritage Railway Station (Canada)
Designated:	1992
Reference #:	4569

Guelph Central Station is a major transportation hub in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It's a busy place where different types of transportation meet up. You can catch VIA Rail and GO Transit trains here. It's also a stop for Guelph Transit local buses, GO Transit regional buses, and other long-distance buses. The station is located at 79 Carden Street. It includes the old Guelph Railway Station building and the spot where the Guelph Bus Terminal used to be.

Station History

The Grand Trunk Railway Station

The International train at Guelph in 2004

The main station building you see today was built in 1911. It was constructed by the Grand Trunk Railway, which had been serving Guelph since 1856. This building is a great example of how railway stations looked in the early 1900s in Canada. It's so special that it's protected as a heritage building.

The building has a unique style called Romanesque Revival architecture, with a cool tower that looks Italian. It was officially recognized as one of Canada's Historic Places in 1992. In 1923, the Grand Trunk Railway joined with the Canadian National Railway.

Between 1982 and 2004, a train called the International Limited used this station. This train traveled between Chicago and Toronto. It was run by both Via Rail and Amtrak.

GO Transit trains also served Guelph between 1990 and 1993. At that time, Guelph was the last stop on the Georgetown line. However, due to budget cuts in 1993, GO Transit stopped its service to Guelph. It only went as far as Georgetown.

Good news came on December 19, 2011! GO Train service returned to Guelph. Two daily trains in each direction were extended to Kitchener on what was then called the Georgetown line.

The Intermodal Terminal

The idea for a new "Intermodal Transit Terminal" first came up in 2002. The goal was to bring all bus and train services into one convenient location. Before this, the downtown bus stop for Guelph Transit was three blocks away.

Studies began in 2004, and the city decided to build the new terminal at the Carden Street spot. The project got funding from the government in 2009. Construction started in April 2010.

The name "Guelph Central" was chosen after asking people in the community and the transit companies for their ideas. The station officially opened on May 13, 2012. The project cost about $8 million. Most of this money came from provincial and federal funds.

The bus part of the station opened a bit later than planned. This was to make sure the old railway station building was fully renovated. More renovations happened between 2016 and 2017. This work cost $2.1 million and helped keep the historic look of the building.

Station Services

Guelph Transit

On January 1, 2012, all Guelph Transit bus routes changed. The new routes were designed to meet at the new station. This change happened on May 6, 2012. Since September 2016, Guelph Transit also offers early morning shuttle services. These shuttles help people connect with early GO Trains. You can use your PRESTO co-fare card for GO service in Guelph.

Via Rail

Via Rail runs two trains each day in both directions. These trains travel on the line between Sarnia, London, and Toronto. One of these trains only goes between London and Toronto.

GO Transit

• GO Train service: Trains run on the Kitchener line to Toronto Union Station.
• GO Bus service: Buses go to York Mills Bus Terminal and Union Station Bus Terminal (GO Bus routes 31 and 33).
• Other GO Bus service: Buses also go to Square One. They stop at Aberfoyle park & ride, Milton Carpool Lot, Winston Churchill Station, and Erin Mills Station (GO Bus route 29).

Guelph Owen Sound Transportation

Since August 31, 2020, the GOST (Guelph Owen Sound Transportation) operates a bus service. This service runs between Guelph Central Station and Owen Sound Transit Terminal twice a day.

Kasper Transportation

Kasper Transportation also offers a bus service. It runs twice a day between Guelph Central Station and Owen Sound Transit Terminal.

Bus Platforms

Guelph Central Station is a busy place for buses. It connects local buses with regional bus services. There are many different spots, called bays, where buses pick up and drop off passengers. Bays 1-20 are on a special island platform. Bays 21 and 22 are on Macdonell Street, right next to the island platform.