Allandale Waterfront GO Station

Allandale Waterfront GO Station
Allandale Station in 2004
Station statistics
Address	285 Bradford Street Barrie, Ontario
Coordinates	44°22′27″N 79°41′16″W
Lines	formerly The Canadian, Northlander
Platforms	1
Tracks	1
Other information
Opened	June 19, 1905
Closed	1980; rails lifted 1996
Rebuilt	2011
Accessible
Owned by	City of Barrie
Fare zone	69
Presto card	Yes
Formerly	CHUM Limited
Services
Preceding station   GO Transit   Following station Terminus Barrie Barrie South toward Union Station

Allandale Waterfront GO Station, formerly known as Allandale Station, is a historic and, until recently, unused train station that occupies a large property on the southern shore of Lake Simcoe in the waterfront area of Barrie, Ontario, Canada.

Renovation work on the facility began in 2009. GO Transit announced on 15 June 2011 that the station would open in autumn 2011, but construction delayed its opening until January 2012. Bus service to the station began on the 28 January 2012, with the train service following two days later.

A ceremonial train trip from Allandale Waterfront GO Station to Bradford GO Station officially opened the station on 29 January 2012.

History

Early years

The Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Union Railroad (OS&HURR) first built a station here in 1853. The current structure, the fourth station building on the site, was built in 1904 by Richard Scruton, and opened by then-operator Grand Trunk Railway on June 19, 1905. The station provided passenger service for the Grand Trunk and later the Canadian National Railway and Via Rail until closing in 1980. It briefly reopened as a GO passenger facility from 1990 to 1993. In 1996 the CNR lifted rails between Allandale and Longford.

ACDC

The Allandale Community Development Corporation or 'ACDC' (with City interests) purchased the buildings and adjacent 7 acres (28,000 m²) from CNR after train service discontinued in the 1980s. ACDC then sold the station to CHUM Ltd in 2000.

CHUM ownership

CHUM Ltd. purchased the 6.9 acres (28,000 m²) of land, including the station buildings for $1,050,000 in 2000. CHUM planned to restore the Allandale Station building as part of their plan to develop of a new broadcast centre on the site, though changed their plan in 2004. In 2007 CHUM agreed to sell the property to the City for the same amount CHUM originally paid. CHUM received a Charitable Donation Tax Receipt reflecting the increased value of the property since 2000 largely due to the restoration and site works completed by CHUM.

Redevelopment

Construction of the new Allandale Waterfront GO Station (located adjacent to the historic Allandale Station) broke ground in spring 2010 and the station officially opened on 28 January 2012.

The area of the historic station is currently undergoing two remaining stages of redevelopment: (i) the City of Barrie is undertaking the restoration of the historic Allandale Station, and (ii) the City of Barrie is undertaking the restoration of Gowan Street, which borders the southern edge of the station lands. The area is expected to become a new transportation and cultural hub of the city once all the construction is complete.