Toronto Union Station Revitalization | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto | NORR

[nightstreak]

I’m not seeing that passageway in the architectural plans, I’d absolutely love a direct connection right there so I hope you’re right!

View attachment 642872

This definitely isn’t happening, platform 28 ends west of Bay Street, nothing being built right now will connect directly to any of the CIBC Square buildings or Bay East Teamway, unfortunately

You're right. Upon closer inspection, the hole in the wall is one level below the platform. I guess Union Station will always rely on Scotiabank Arena for access to the bus terminal which is an awkward arrangement for a major transportation hub. This reliance could become a problem if MLSE decides on an inevitable upgrade from Scotiabank Arena's stump office building to a full fledged tower which would close this bridge to the GO bus terminal for a year or years but could eventually improve the atrium with a more direct connection to the South Concourse.

Just look at the little guy, this stump's days are numbered. It's a matter of time:

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Sorry if already posted, but there is a cool LEGO mural in the Skywalk.

 

[DSCToronto]

This on Metrolinx...

How we’re upgrading platforms at Union Station

Improvements at platform and concourse levels will help reduce crowding.

www.metrolinx.com

 

[DSCToronto]

This on Metrolinx...

How we’re upgrading platforms at Union Station

Improvements at platform and concourse levels will help reduce crowding.

www.metrolinx.com

 

[nightstreak]

This on Metrolinx...

How we’re upgrading platforms at Union Station

Improvements at platform and concourse levels will help reduce crowding.

www.metrolinx.com

Thanks for finding and sharing this. There's a lot of detail in here. What you won't find is an updated timeline. But there are hints:

Over the next year, crews will work on new, wider platforms and enclose the new concourse below. This will pave the way for the installation of new tracks.

If I had to guess, we're looking at 2027 or 2028 before we can use the new platforms and South Concourse. What's next, The Great Hall? The Streetcar loop? When will Union Station be construction free? The mid 2030s?

 

[Northern Light]

. What's next, The Great Hall?

Up to the City, not Mx, but maybe, we can live in hope.

The Streetcar loop?

Even design is not funded.............so no.

When will Union Station be construction free? The mid 2030s?

Excluding the streetcar loop, and any HSR work.........things should be wrapped by 2030.

The loop...... who knows..........

HSR....depends on what options are chosen.......the more elaborate ones could easily result in work into the late 2030s

 

[Willybru21]

Excluding the streetcar loop, and any HSR work.........things should be wrapped by 2030.

Don’t forget OnCorr, that’s another 5 or so years of work that’s gonna start right after USEP

 

[nightstreak]

HSR....depends on what options are chosen.......the more elaborate ones could easily result in work into the late 2030s

Will Alto need a dedicated Union Station platform? Won't it just be a standard rail gauge? They're not considering anything as advanced as maglev are they?

 

[T3G]

And of course, once all these projects are wrapped up there will invariably be a part of the station whose renovation has run out the clock and needs to be done again!

 

[Northern Light]

Will Alto need a dedicated Union Station platform?

TBD

Won't it just be a standard rail gauge?

Yes.

They're not considering anything as advanced as maglev are they?

No

***

The issue is how frequently the service is operated, and sufficient time for board/de-boarding, crew changes, brake tests and re-supplying as needs be. They need a certain amount of platform time. How much will depend on their service model; and then you have to fit that in to a post-ONCorr Union Station that will be very busy.

 

[bearcat]

TBD



Yes.



No

***

The issue is how frequently the service is operated, and sufficient time for board/de-boarding, crew changes, brake tests and re-supplying as needs be. They need a certain amount of platform time. How much will depend on their service model; and then you have to fit that in to a post-ONCorr Union Station that will be very busy.

As I've talked about in the Alto thread the level boarding height is also different between current VIA standard and planned GO standard. Not sure what Alto will use. I guess they can design compatible with both. I am not 100% sure if GO and Alto will even be able to share a platform.

And what about the current VIA fleet? These are designs for VIA level boarding or no level boarding at all, can they work with the GO level boarding which is in the middle? I am still not sure how that will work.

In fact as far as I know the new platforms currently being constructed at South side of Union will not level boarding right away? Or am I wrong? They will have to be closed and raised at some point?

Is the planned future platform consolidation and widening going to have level boarding platforms as soon as it opens?

 

[Civdis]

Up to the City, not Mx, but maybe, we can live in hope.



Even design is not funded.............so no.



Excluding the streetcar loop, and any HSR work.........things should be wrapped by 2030.

The loop...... who knows..........

HSR....depends on what options are chosen.......the more elaborate ones could easily result in work into the late 2030s

Personally, I don't think construction will ever be "done". These types of massive infrastructure facilities are always being maintained, upgraded and expanded.

 

[Northern Light]

As I've talked about in the Alto thread the level boarding height is also different between current VIA standard and planned GO standard. Not sure what Alto will use. I guess they can design compatible with both. I am not 100% sure if GO and Alto will even be able to share a platform.

And what about the current VIA fleet? There are designs for VIA level boarding or no level boarding at all, can they work with the GO level boarding which is in the middle? I am still not sure how that will work.

In fact as far as I know the new platforms currently being constructed at South side of Union will not level boarding right away? Or am I wrong? They will have to be closed and raised at some point?

I'll let @Willybru21 handled the infrastructure questions.

I will note, the service demands on Union may be very, very high.

****

GO/OnCorr, including all publically discussed/underway service improvements.

GO/OnCorr also featuring 2-way, all-day Niagara Service, 2-way all-day Milton Service, and a Bolton line.

Existing VIA services

Amtrak/Maple Leaf increasing from once to twice daily.

Additional Amtrak run from Chicago/Detroit.

Return of Ontario Northland, possible overlapping service Toronto-NB only.

Extension of HSR to the west.

That's a lot of train traffic, and a lot of people.

 

[nightstreak]

I wonder if Alto will largely replace Via Rail on the Toronto to Quebec corridor and what effect that'll have on Union Station. I mean, who would want to take a slow Via Rail train when Alto is here?

In which case we may have hope for a much nicer Via Rail Hall. Cross country travellers are already boarding in the Via Rail Business Lounge. The HSR project will be showered in cash by Carney's government, specially if he lasts 2 or more terms. I could see the Via Rail Hall being converted to the Alto concourse given its central location just off the Great Hall. And perhaps it'll function more like an airport with a departures board and PA announcements in the Great Hall. As an avid rail traveller in my youth, it's dispiriting how Union Station is so dysfunctional when compared to rail stations from (many) decades ago.

 

[Northern Light]

I wonder if Alto will largely replace Via Rail on the Toronto to Quebec corridor and what effect that'll have on Union Station. I mean, who would want to take a slow Via Rail train when Alto is here?

As currently contemplated, Alto is on a new ROW.

VIA would still (presumably) serve Kingston, Port Hope, et. al.

Even if that service were rebannered, the train movements would likely remain.