GO Transit: Union Station Shed Replacement & Track Upgrades (Zeidler)

[just east of the creek]

Re the above question. I would also ask if the heritage train shed would be an impediment? I have/ am a staunch supporter of preserving heritage where possible, and supported the preservation of the train shed. However, depending on those answers, it may be time to look at alternate preservation I.e. dismantling portions needed to enable modern electrified operations and moving those portions or parts of those portions to an alternate site and/or use.

 

[Urban Sky]

As Alto HSR proceeds and we talk about station placement, I have a question, does Union have the capacity to host an Alto terminus?

While also hosting current rail service and GO Expansion and UPE?

The global standard procedure is that you would first accommodate the intercity/HSR services and then add as many regional services until the line is full. If the amount of GO trains Metrolinx wants to add to its Corridors exceed the available capacity at Union, then they can start to identify alternative stations to be served downtown (with diverting a few peak-hour train from the Milton Corridor to Summerhill and beyond being a very obvious example).

ALTO does not have such luxury nor should it be pushed to contemplate such alternatives…

 

[Voltz]

As Alto HSR proceeds and we talk about station placement, I have a question, does Union have the capacity to host an Alto terminus?

While also hosting current rail service and GO Expansion and UPE?

At the very least leaving room in the design for the current platform rebuilding for high level platforms for Alto and Via should be required.

 

[kEiThZ]

At the very least leaving room in the design for the current platform rebuilding for high level platforms for Alto and Via should be required.

I am not even thinking about platform height. Just the raw numbers of tracks and platforms.

I assume the goal is for each service to have it's own track. By that measure GO might need something like 6-8 tracks even if services are through-running (for example Lakeshore West becomes Lakeshore East at Union). Throw in 2 tracks for VIA, 2 for Alto and one for UPE. I am wondering if there's enough room.

Going by US' assertion of priority for VIA and Alto, how would GO manage?

 

[crs1026]

As Alto HSR proceeds and we talk about station placement, I have a question, does Union have the capacity to host an Alto terminus?

While also hosting current rail service and GO Expansion and UPE?

That depends on what you expect it to look like.

On a tph basis, it is such a small increment to overall flowthrough that it will barely move the needle, especially considering that Alto is only one route to the east and likely never more than two or three routes to the west (assuming very far off ideas such as Toronto-NYC, Toronto- Chicago, and maybe two Toronto- London routes)

Assuming the rebuild of signalling thru the depot is successful, and physical changes that overcome the "must wait downstairs and queue up" constraints, Alto could flow through Union just like any GO train route. Dwell times in the depot do not need to exceed 4-5 minutes. If layovers are required for the equipment, do that outside the trainshed. That is very much the reality for HSR elsewhere. Alto does not need to dwell in the depot the way VIA has traditionally done.

But if you are looking for a branded, fully marketable, separate face to the customer from regional transit level amenity - and I would argue for such - then I would argue against even trying, and try to place Alto in a new Annex somehow, Brightline, Eurostar and UPE are examples.

Much as I love Union, the intercity passenger amenities are not first rate, and not much can be done with the existing building especially the lower concourse and the trainshed. I would look for something new. As an increment to project budget, it's affordable; as a city building component, it would sell easily. Above, below, alongside.... it will fit somewhere.

- Paul

 

[Dan416]

I think it has to go through Union. Nowhere else has the connections that Union has. Maybe I'm biased though. If it was something newly built but part of the Union complex, I suppose I could live with it. Though Union Station Bus Terminal is something that I would say is too disconnected. If it was worse than that, I'd call it a failure. It should at least be as connected as USBT and ideally better connected.