New Panorama Lounge opens at Toronto’s Union Station

VIA Rail Canada and several partners recently celebrated the completion of VIA Rail’s new Panorama Lounge, a major project to modernize VIA’s passenger facilities and a significant milestone in the revitalization of Toronto’s historic Union Station. As the first piece of heritage restoration and improved infrastructure at the station, the 630-square-metre Panorama Lounge has over twice the capacity of the previous lounge. The new lounge is one of many projects underway at VIA to increase the safety, efficiency and reliability of passenger rail service. Located near the Great Hall with views over Front Street, the new Panorama Lounge provides modern amenities while retaining original architectural and design elements such as marble-covered walls and plaster ceilings that tie in with other work to renovate and improve the station. The $4.2 million improvement to the Panorama Lounge is the first major completed element of the overall work that is underway to revitalize Union Station, a $640 million project managed by the City of Toronto.