The train station in Fredericton was built in 1923 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and served CP until 1962 when passenger service to Fredericton ended. The station was used by CP office staff and maintence-of-way personnel until 1981, when VIA Rail brought rail passenger service to Fredericton through 1985.
When rail service to Fredericton ended in 1993, the station was vacated and stood dormant for almost two decades. The structure deteriorated, especially the roof, and there were serious concerns about the viability of the station.
Several groups attempted to find a use for the station to save it. The last group, the Fredericton Friends of the Railway, met with J.D. Irving Limited and provincial officials to encourage discussions. I was a member of that group and the president for a period of time.
At almost the last minute, the New Brunswick Liquor Commission stepped up and leased the building to be part of the new downtown liquor store. The station was refurbished in 2010 and 2011 and is part of a complex that includes the store and a wine tasting / demonstration area.
Other Train Stations in Fredericton
CN had a train station just south of the railway bridge over the Saint John River, pictured above. They also had a station in South Devon north of that bridge.
The original CP train station still stands in Fredericton. It was relocated a few blocks away and is a two story building that has been used as an apartment building.
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