Canada Trip Day 15: Gare du Palais, Quebec City

27 June 2010 - We started our tour in Quebec City by first making a stop at Gare du Palais, the train station, to confirm that the strike by ViaRail has stopped and that we can travel on the 29th June to Montreal.

Earlier on 25th June, we received the following email with the subject titled "Potential work stoppage by VIA Rail unionized employees – Immediate action required":

"Due to a potential work stoppage by a portion of VIA Rail’s unionized employees who are members of the Canadian Auto Workers' union (CAW) as of Monday, June 28 at 00:01 a.m. (EDT), VIA Rail has implemented a contingency plan to ensure basic services on all its routes. Please note that only Economy class services will be offered on all routes...." - ViaRail Canada

Thank God, the strike was over and our train ride was not affected. It was later that day after we had already visited the train station did an email titled "VIA Rail and CAW reach tentative agreement - no work stoppage" arrived in my inbox stating the following:

"VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) representing a portion of our unionized employees.

All services, on all trains to all destinations will continue as normal...."

Train stations buildings are sometimes a fascination to me as some cities have really beautiful historic train station buildings such as Gare Du Palais with its French châteauesque architectural style of elaborate spires, just like the famous Chateau Frontenac, and there was the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.




How to get to Gare du Palais from Auberge Internationale de Québec

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Walking along Rue Saint Jean before turning at Cote du Palais
3D Murals along Cote du Palais

View of rooftops and chimneys from Cote du Palais, across Hotel Dieu De Quebec, a teaching hospital.

Hotel Dieu De Quebec, a teaching hospital along Cote du Palais. Photo by Sakana

Quebec City Staircase Challenge (Défi des escaliers de Québec) on 27th June 2010. Photo by Sakana

View of Gare du Palais with fountain from Rue Saint Paul. Photo by Sakana

Gare du Palais from Rue de la Gare du Palais

A bit of the park in front of Gare du Palais

Clock on the roof

Inside of Gare du Palais with nice old tiled brick walls and pretty and old ivory-coloured balusters

Plain glass and stained glass ceiling

ViaRail counter where I was inquiring on our train ride on 29 June. Photo by Sakana

Pretty ornamental clock. Photo by Sakana

Waiting Area

Cafe Cheminot

Staircase to get to Cafe Bistro

Cafe Bistro at the upper floors with a unique European ambiance surrounded by red brick walls and gridded window panes.

Charbon Steakhouse

Dental Clinic at Gare du Palais

A whole row of cafes and eateries

Recycling bins

Waiting room just next to the platform


Fountain in front of Gare du Palais. Photo by Sakana

Cathedral-minor basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec (Our Lady of Quebec City). Photo by Sakana

Statue in a park in front of Notre-Dame de Québec. Photo by Sakana

Statue of a ship on a floral vase.

  Côte de la Fabrique

Chapelle du Musée de l'Amérique française

Université Laval. Photo by Sakana