Via Rail now offers a regular direct service between Montréal and Haute-Mauricie.
In Quebec, the railway network played a vital role in both the colonization and industrialization of towns by linking them and opening up new markets.
Railway line linking Québec City and Lac Bouchette, 1887–1890.
Around 1870, the land surveyor Horace Dumais identified for the Quebec government a straight-line route to the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region that would cross the Laurentians. His efforts led to the construction of a railway that made Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean less isolated and also provided access to Mauricie’s forests and lakes.
The first operational train line connected Saint-Raymond to Roberval via Lac Édouard. The railway tracks were made of maple wood topped with metal plates and, after an inauspicious start, the line resumed service in 1885 with help from government subsidies.
Lac Édouard station played an important role in the history of Haute-Mauricie. As of 1886, many rich American sports enthusiasts drawn here by the quality of the fishing could be spotted on the train platforms. The railway line linking Québec City and Lac-Saint-Jean was not completed until 1907. Starting in 1910, the first pioneers in the Parent region settled on the transcontinental railway construction site. The first train pulled into the station in 1913.
Following the development of the railway lines, private clubs in the region developed and expanded at lightning speed. These included Laurentide House and the Paradise Fin and Feather Club, which later became the Lake Edward Fish and Game Club. During this time, thanks to the train network that provided access to major centres, the private clubs generated significant economic benefits for the region and provided work and housing for many families.
The present-day railway, which is owned by Canadian National, was used exclusively for goods transportation for a long time. VIA Rail now offers regular passenger services that link Montréal to Jonquière (with a stop at Lac Édouard) and to Senneterre (with stops at La Tuque, Parent and Clova).
An interesting fact: the locations of certain outfitters and private cottages along the Montréal-Senneterre route are indicated by mile markers and it is not uncommon to see passengers boarding or disembarking the train in the middle of nowhere. One thing is sure: whether there is a station or not, everyone should enjoy this mythical journey at least once.
