Montreal Central Station
Canada’s second-busiest rail hub, serving nearly 11 million passengers annually as the vital gateway to the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor.
At a glance
Montreal Central Station stands as a major inter-city and commuter rail hub in downtown Montreal. Its main concourse spans nearly an entire city block, anchored by De la Gauchetière Street, Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, René Lévesque Boulevard, and Mansfield Street. The station welcomes nearly 11 million passengers each year, second in Canada only to Toronto Union Station.
History
Opened in 1943, Montreal Central Station was owned and operated by Canadian National Railway from its inception until 2007. Homburg Invest Inc. (later renamed Canmarc) then held ownership from November 2007 to January 2012, when Cominar REIT acquired the station and associated properties. Today, Via Rail and Amtrak operate inter-city services, while Exo manages commuter rail operations.
What you see
The station building is distinguished by art deco bas-relief friezes adorning both interior and exterior surfaces. The main concourse occupies almost the entire city block, with street-level vehicular access via de La Gauchetière and multiple pedestrian connections through neighbouring buildings that integrate the station into the urban fabric.
Cultural significance
Central Station anchors the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor, Canada’s busiest inter-city rail service area. The station connects Montreal to major centres across eastern Canada and to the United States via Amtrak. Its integration with the Montreal Metro and the Réseau express métropolitain (opened July 2023) reinforces its role as a multimodal transportation hub shaping regional connectivity.
Key facts
- Country: Canada
- City: Montreal (Ville-Marie)
- Opened: 1943
- Coordinates: 45.4996, −73.5668
- Station codes: Via Rail (MTRL), Amtrak (MTR), IATA (YMY)
- Annual passengers: Nearly 11 million
Practical information & getting there
Montreal Central Station is accessible by foot from downtown Montreal, with principal vehicular access via de La Gauchetière Street. The station connects to Montreal Metro lines and the Réseau express métropolitain. You can reach the station through numerous pedestrian links embedded in neighbouring buildings, making it a well-integrated part of the downtown core.
Sources & resources
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