Queen station (Kitchener)

Queen is a stop on the Region of Waterloo's Ion rapid transit system.[1] It is located alongside Charles Street, just east of Queen Street, in Kitchener. It opened in 2019.

Queen
Station structurally complete, October 2017
General information
LocationKitchener, Ontario
Canada
Coordinates43°26′55″N 80°29′23″W / 43.44871°N 80.48961°W / 43.44871; -80.48961
PlatformsSide platform
Tracks1
Bus routes5
Bus operatorsGrand River Transit
Connections 204 iXpress  Highland-Victoria
 1  Queen-River
 3  Ottawa South
 6  Bridge-Courtland
 7  King
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusOpen
History
OpenedJune 21, 2019 (2019-06-21)
Services
Preceding station Grand River Transit Following station
Victoria Park
One-way operation
Ion Kitchener Market
toward Fairway

The station serves southbound trains only; the nearest northbound platform is at Frederick station, about 150 metres (490 ft) away up Charles and Benton streets.

The station's feature wall consists of ceramic tiles in a pattern of teal, gray, orange and blue.

The platform is connected with Charles Street's sidewalks at either end, and pedestrians passing through walk along the platform.

History

edit

The current rapid transit station is the second train station in Kitchener which is named after (and located near) Queen Street. The Grand River Railway's main Kitchener station, which was located near the current Iron Horse Trail crossing with the street, was in service until 1955. The station building was demolished in the 1970s.[2]

The station was structurally complete in October 2017, but only opened on June 21, 2019 along with the rest of the Ion light rail system.

In 2020, the City of Kitchener committed to a set of pedestrian infrastructure improvements on Queen Street near the station, which were designed to improve walkability in the area. These included wider sidewalks, more seating, and new trees and planters, as well as creation of a new parkette at Charles and Queen.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Queen". About ION. GrandLinq Contractors. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  2. ^ Roth, George; Clack, William (1987). Canadian Pacific's Electric Lines: Grand River Railway and the Lake Erie & Northern Railway. British Railway Modellers of North America. ISBN 0919487211.
  3. ^ Doan, Phi (January 31, 2020). "Kitchener's Queen Street getting revamp". KitchenerToday.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
edit