4 November 2007
N.B. Rail Station on Fast Track to Nowhere
Fredericton New Brunswick - The York Street railway
station, once a hub of activity in New Brunswick's capital city, now sits empty, worn by the elements and in disrepair.
The last train left Fredericton in the 1980s.
"I feel terrible," said Don Roberts, who grew up next door to the station. "When I look at the station and see the roof
caving in and the disrepair, I feel bad because many times I travelled (through the station)."
The future of the former railway station, built in 1923, has recently become a hot topic in Fredericton as many are concerned that the
structure might not last through the winter.
A committee was formed recently to address the future of the station and includes station owner J.D. Irving Ltd., the federal,
provincial, and municipal governments, and the community group Fredericton Friends of the Railway Inc.
"I don't see how it is going to survive this winter," Mr. Roberts said. "The roof is really just hanging there. It's a
sad situation."
The York Street resident remembers the train station as being anything but dilapidated when he was growing up.
"It certainly was very important," he said. "We didn't have an airport back then and that sort of thing, so that was the
way you travelled, and travelling on the train was very comfortable."
Mr. Roberts said he remembers many historic events at the train station, such as the arrival of then-princess Elizabeth in
1951 and the departure of troops for the battlefields of Europe about a decade earlier.
"When you would hear the band coming up York Street during the war and the soldiers were marching, my mother would say, We have to
go out to the station and see the boys off because some of these boys won't return. So we went off to the station and saw them
off," Mr. Roberts said.
He said he hopes the station building survives, and he believes it could still play an active role in the city.
"It could be turned into a library (or) it could be turned into a restaurant," he said.
Several other New Brunswick centres have restored their former train stations, he said.
An office complex was proposed for the Fredericton site in 2000. J.D. Irving would not disclose the name of the company that looked
into buying the structure but it was reported to be a Canadian bank that needed a home for a call centre.
"We continue to believe that a commercial development is the best way to help underwrite the estimated $2-million
restoration costs," said Mary Keith, spokeswoman for J.D. Irving.
Ms. Keith said her company has received several expressions of interest in buying the station since 2000.
"In 2005, we did receive an expression of interest to purchase the station for $1 with the intent to restore the structure,"
she said. "A formal letter of sale was signed by our company but the purchaser did not proceed. Later in 2006, a prospective
developer of a retirement complex expressed interest but walked away because of concerns regarding the extensive costs and regulations
regarding restoration of the station.
"Most recently, we have been in discussion with another prospective tenant of a commercial development that our company would
build and that would help underwrite the cost of restoring the station. Despite best efforts by all parties, an agreement could not be
reached."
Ms. Keith said J.D. Irving continues to work at finding a solution for the station.
"Two engineers and an architect were on the site last Friday to review what might be done to safely winterize the structure,"
she said.
"Their report is expected shortly."
"We have to be optimistic," Mayor Brad Woodside said, pointing out that the recent formation of the committee is a positive
step.
Tim Scammell, acting president of the Fredericton Friends of the Railway Inc., said the station is a key part of the city's history and
frustration is now turning into hope.
"I feel that the next few months will be exciting times," he said. "I am really looking forward to
it."
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