Parry Sound station

The community of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada has two railway stations, both of which are currently in use by Via Rail.

Parry Sound
CN (northbound) Parry Sound station
General information
Location	70 Church Street (CN) 1 Avenue Road (CP) Parry Sound, ON
Coordinates	45°21′02″N 80°02′14″W (CN) 45°20′45″N 80°02′16″W (CP)
Owned by	Engel & Völkers Parry Sound
Other information
Status	Shelter (CN) Sign post (CP)
History
Opened	1932 (CN)
Services
Preceding station Via Rail Following station Sudbury Junction toward Vancouver The Canadian Washago toward Toronto
Former services at "north" station Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station Waubamic toward Capreol Capreol – Toronto South Parry toward Toronto Terminus Parry Sound – Algonquin Park South Parry toward Algonquin Park
Former services at "south" station Preceding station Via Rail Following station Rutter toward Vancouver The Canadian before 1990 Washago toward Toronto Preceding station Canadian Pacific Railway Following station Nobel toward Sudbury Sudbury – Toronto Deekmure toward Toronto

In December 2005, CN and CP implemented a plan to reduce train congestion on their parallel lines in central Ontario through the Parry Sound area. Consequently, westbound trains from both railways use the CP tracks while eastbound trains use the CN tracks. This has resulted in Via Rail using the CPR station for passengers taking the westbound Canadian and using the CNR station for eastbound trains.

CNR station

The Tudor Revival Canadian National Railway station is located at 1 Station Street in Parry Sound, Ontario. Built in 1932, it has been used as the primary stop for Via Rail's Canadian transcontinental passenger train service since the massive Via budget cuts on January 15, 1990. From 1955 to 1990 (except 1981–1985) it was a stop on the Super Continental, operated by CN from 1955 to 1977 and by Via from 1977 to 1981 and from 1985 to 1990.

The historical Station has been home to the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce, the MTO, and the Park to Park trail association. In 2021, the station was acquired by global luxury real estate brokerage, Engel & Völkers Parry Sound. In 2022, Engel & Völkers Parry Sound donated the property to Rotary International for use as an orientation and donation centre to assist in the arrival and integration of Ukrainian refugees into the surrounding area during the Russian-Ukrainian War.

CPR station

The Canadian Pacific Railway station is located at 1 Avenue Road. It was used as a stop for Via Rail's Canadian from 1978 until January 15, 1990, after which it sat vacant for a decade until being reactivated as a private art gallery named the "Parry Sound Station Gallery" in 2001. The station was reactivated following the rearrangement of track usage. The art gallery announced in fall 2007 that it would be closing due to financial problems. Via refers to this station as "Parry Sound South" in their reservation system in order to differentiate it from the former CN station.

Parry Sound Station Gallery

External links

• Engel & Völkers donates station to Rotary Intl to welcome refugees
• Via Rail station page for Parry Sound Station
• Via Rail station page for Parry Sound Station Gallery