SMITHS FALLS, ON, March 5 /CNW Telbec/ – Media are invited to attend a short media briefing at the Smiths Falls VIA Rail train station. Mayor Dennis W. Staples, Mr. Michael Murphy, Vice-president, Public Affairs, Canadian Pacific Railway and Mr. Magdy Fahmy, VIA Rail Canada’s Senior Director, Purchasing and Real Estate, will be announcing an important investment in the Smiths Falls VIA Rail station and the rail infrastructure. Read the full story

The federal government is investing $6.3 million in a new Via Rail station in Windsor, Ont.

The station is to be built by the fall of 2011 near the existing site at the foot of Walker Road, a news release says.

The Walkerville station was built by Canadian National in the early 1960s and expanded by Via in 1982. The majority of the funding for the station replacing it will come from the federal economic action plan. Read the full story

Firefighters are at the scene of a blaze at the Halifax train station. Crews were called to the Via Rail station on Hollis Street at 3:23 p.m. after workers inside reported a strong smell of smoke, fire spokesman Dave Meldrum said. They building’s fire alarm system hadn’t yet sounded, but was ringing when firefighters arrived, he said. The train station and offices were evacuated and firefighters got to work. Read the full story

VIA Rail Canada is proud to show its support for athletes preparing to represent the country in Vancouver this February and March. From January 25th to March 28th up to two family members of Canadian athletes can travel in economy class to/from Vancouver for free. Those wishing to travel in sleeper touring class will receive a 75% discount off the adult regular fare. Included in the offer are parents, siblings, children, grandparents, spouse and/or partner. VIA is also offering a special fare for confirmed 2010 volunteers heading to Vancouver to welcome visitors from around the world. Read the full story

U.S.-bound travellers from several Canadian cities stand to benefit from $8 billion in funding awarded Thursday by the Obama administration to speed up passenger-rail service and introduce high-speed trains across more than a dozen routes in the United States. Read the full story

A historical former Ottawa train station may welcome rail passengers again in coming years.

Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien told CBC News Wednesday that the city is looking to buy the downtown Union Train Station, which was Ottawa’s main railway station from 1912 to the mid-1960s. The stately stone building would be used as one of the downtown stations for the city’s proposed light rail transit line.

“It would be a very exciting addition,” said O’Brien. Read the full story