Toronto Spadina Subway Extension Emergency Exits | ?m | 1s | TTC | IBI Group

[Hipster Duck]

If the TTC is going with bare concrete interior walls like on the Sheppard line--not artistically cast like Montreal Metro stations in patterns--then they're still failing at design even upon hiring the world's greatest architects. That's just not acceptable.

Agreed. It's not like they lack money. Not finishing the walls is a cardinal mistake. It's the one thing that people invariably spend time looking at when they're in the subway system and it's the first thing that has the potential to look seedy, dirty and decrepit.

The interior walls of a subway station are the little thing that determine the aesthetics and experience of the whole package. They're analogous to good shoes as part of a complete wardrobe. You could be wearing a bespoke suit with a terrific shirt, tie and marvelous cufflinks but if you're wearing ratty sneakers then you end up looking like a bum. Your subway station could be designed by Norman Foster, but if you don't line the walls with something, they'll be sprayed with brake grease and cracked by water damage and scarred with limescale in 5 years time and that's all people will be staring at when they wait for their trains.

 

[blur]

After speaking to a TTC representative at an open house, I was told that all stations would have the similar bare "architectural concrete" finish. They compared it to the stations on the Sheppard Line. This was a couple of years ago so perhaps the design plans have changed... not sure. I just hope that the final product on the station trainway walls don't end up looking like oppressive concrete commie walls! It would be a wasted opportunity to do something wonderful at each station!

 

[innsertnamehere]

I have a feeling this was way long ago before the final station designs were released? I suggest you take a look at the renders for the stations in the Database!

 

[W. K. Lis]

They can always stucco the stations to give them a more artistic look and colour. If not now, maybe later when they have to do repair or maintenance work.

 

[kd86]

Tunnelling is 98 % done! I would awesome there will be some sort of completion ceremony next week. I wonder if Rob Ford will be there?

 

[Adjei]

Tunnelling is 98 % done! I would awesome there will be some sort of completion ceremony next week. I wonder if Rob Ford will be there?

No. He will probably looking to score some crack.

 

[gweed123]

Tunnelling is 98 % done! I would awesome there will be some sort of completion ceremony next week. I wonder if Rob Ford will be there?

Unless he resigns before then, I would imagine he would be. It would combine two of his favourite things: subways, subways, subways!, and taking credit for other people's work.

 

[salsa]

Today I went on a site visit and I decided to share what I saw.



A construction area across from Downsview station.

Heading down the extraction shaft.

Behind the plywood is the tail track of Downsview station that will eventually be linked with the new tunnel.

This picture is not the best but I wanted to show the transition from the cut and cover to bored tunnel section.

Entering the southbound tunnel. This is the tightest curve on the whole subway extension, however trains can still travel at full speed

Workers are installing ties in the northbound tunnel.

Next stop: Sheppard West station

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Thanks salsa - really appreciate the photos of the visit!

AoD

 

[innsertnamehere]

Great photos! the line is really starting to take shape there!

 

[gweed123]

Much appreciated! Not very often we get 'inside views' like that for transit projects. Normally when we see inside photos like that, it's for a new condo, hahaha.

 

[Edward]

Awesome photos.

 

[kd86]

Amazing photos. Thanks for taking them.

 

[Ozman]

I have some questions:

1) The new Wilson Yard connecting track. Is it just a single track leading south from the crossover south of Downsview (future Sheppard West) station? It has its own tunnel and is the track running south directly west of the main line or does it veer away to the west? Does it emerge from it's own portal far west of the main line portal and where exactly does it connect to Wilson Yard?

2) I believe they finally decided to move the storage track location to south of Downsview (future Sheppard West) station and have the trains short-turn at Wilson once the extension opens. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Where exactly will this storage track be located? Is it partly/fully underground and is it between the main-line northbound and southbound tracks like most storage tracks?

I'm just curious; any and all info. is always appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[smallspy]

I have some questions:

1) The new Wilson Yard connecting track. Is it just a single track leading south from the crossover south of Downsview (future Sheppard West) station? It has its own tunnel and is the track running south directly west of the main line or does it veer away to the west? Does it emerge from it's own portal far west of the main line portal and where exactly does it connect to Wilson Yard?

Yes, it is single tracked, and will connect from the south-west switch of the current Downsview double-crossover to a point several hundred feet due-west of the current mainline portals. There is currently a project to expand Wilson Yard to the north into the land that had been cleared for some time, and along with the south "build-up" parallel to the mainline there will be a new "build-up" hostlers platform at the new portal.

2) I believe they finally decided to move the storage track location to south of Downsview (future Sheppard West) station and have the trains short-turn at Wilson once the extension opens. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Where exactly will this storage track be located? Is it partly/fully underground and is it between the main-line northbound and southbound tracks like most storage tracks?

I'm just curious; any and all info. is always appreciated.

Thanks.

The plan, as I seem to recall, involves building a new section of track to the east of the mainlines at a point north of the south entrance to Wilson Yard. It is entirely in the open.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.