The Rail Station at Sarnia is a two-storey, brick railway station, built in 1891.
The Rail Station at Sarnia has played a vital, ongoing role in international trade, transportation and immigration between Canada and the United States for over 100 years. Known as “Tunnel Station”, the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) built it as the Canadian terminus and maintenance depot for the St. Clair Tunnel, the world’s first international underwater train tunnel. The station was a key immigration centre for western settlers travelling by train between Canada and the United States. It also served as a major international transfer point for cross-border trade.
The Rail Station at Sarnia is an excellent example of the design work of GTR Chief Engineer Joseph Hobson, with its symmetrical proportions and emphasis on height rather than bulk. The station is also an example of the construction work of George H. Proctor, who provided the requisite late-19th-century detailing.
The Rail Station at Sarnia is highly prized by the community. It maintains its symbolic connection with the St. Clair Tunnel.