DAUPHIN, Manitoba, Canada — At 101 First Ave., N., stands the former Canadian Northern Railway station built in 1912. Often called “Manitoba’s most beautiful station,” the building is of the Château style and is covered in local Tyndall stone. The Dauphin Rail Museum occupied the baggage room, telling the story of the region’s railroads. Outside, the station platform is a stop for VIA Rail — Canada’s Amtrak equivalent — along the Gladstone Subdivision of the Canadian National Railway. For VIA Rail, Dauphin is a lesser stop, not rating facilities, an agent, or waiting room. Passengers wait in the elements, that was until earlier this week when the museum extended its hours to accommodate them.
In a new program and partnership with the City of Dauphin, the rail museum plans to open its doors 30 minutes before scheduled VIA Rail trains arrive and remain open until the train departs. Passengers will have access to the museum’s washrooms, a warm waiting space, and the opportunity to explore Dauphin’s rail heritage.
“Over the last two or three years ridership has been going up quite a bit comparatively and especially during the colder months, there is nowhere for people to sit, stand, use a bathroom facility … ” Jason Gilmore, rail museum president, told the Dauphin Herald. “[Last winter] I was out there shoveling and there was a woman with two small children, a stroller, a blind guy, some elderly people, and I did a social media post — and it wasn’t blaming — it was just we need to do better as a community. We should be welcoming, especially for travelers.”
Gilmore and David Bosiak, Dauphin mayor, are also hoping VIA Rail notices the city’s efforts, especially as it implements its 2030 strategic plan, which includes replacement of its entire fleet.
“We want visitors arriving by train to feel welcome in Dauphin, and this program also shines a light on the important work of the Rail Museum in preserving our community’s history,” Bosiak said in the Herald.
“I’m … trying to get a meeting with VIA reps in regards to the strategic plan. I have letters from all levels of government, Travel Manitoba, all the major stakeholders here that would benefit like the festivals and Northgate Trails. I’m really excited about the potential and I think this is a good first step.”
The museum plans to share VIA Rail arrival and departure updates for Dauphin through its Facebook page.
The pilot program will be evaluated in spring 2026 to determine future opportunities.
