My guess at the Union Station Rail Corridor redevelopment status:
- Everyone has signed off on a target Trains Service Plan (TSP) - Metrolinx management, the Metrolinx Board, the Provincial Government, OnXpress management
- A track layout similar to WillyBru21's posted maps has been agreed upon as capable of supporting the TSP
- Metrolinx has signed the contract with OnXpress Operations and Maintenance co based on:
- A comparable station layout being delivered
- A staged migration to the TSP, over a number of years, as the USRC is redeveloped by the OnXpress Development team
- Taking over operations and maintenance of GO Trains on 1-Jan-2025
- The OnXpress development team has been doing site investigation (e.g. drilling cores through the slab below the tracks) to support preliminary design of the future station, and preparation of the Development Agreement, which has yet to be signed.
- The final layout of Union Station will be dictated by the TSP and the site investigations, it will be included in the Development Agreement, and will include:
- A slightly smaller number of, wider, platforms
- Some bay tracks for trains that terminate at Union (e.g. 13W)
- Some through tracks with cross-overs at mid-point to allow a train to stop at each end of the platform but have operational flexibility to depart by crossing to the other track if it's clear
- Agreeing the final layout is a key decision that will allow the Metrolinx-OnXpress Development Agreement to be finalized and signed off.
