So, how would one get to Union Station if Toronto is not your final destination?
Just transfer to one of the two subways.
Remember that most people are transferring to TTC anyway after you arrive to Union. Like a doctor on Bloor, or business on Sheppard/StClair, or a hospital on University Avenue.
Now, if you transfer at Richmond Hill or Langstaff (which would be a sort of a Union Station North in this perspective), you would still have the same number of transfers. You'd be simply transferring at a northern interchange station (Richmond Hill interchange station), rather than double-backing via TTC at a southern interchange station (aka today's Union station)
Meaning, Northlander (or whatever future merged Richmond Hill + Northlander modern diesel replacement trains) would be connected to two subways routes that provides many stopping choices!
If you look at Google Maps, the Richmond Hill Line (Northlander Line) almost touches Yonge at Langstaff.
Imagine two subways converging there.
- Yonge Extension reaching the Richmond Hill Line (Northlander Line)
- DRL using the Richmond Hill Line
Now add a major transfer station
where all three meets simultaneously
-- Northlander/"RH-GO-North" (south terminus)
-- Yonge Subway (north terminus)
-- Relief Line Subway (north terminus)
All of them meeting at one point. Easy transfer!
Imagine Northlander reaching the terminus of two different subway routes going in two different directions, providing many choices of transfers to the rest of GTA.
Most people
have to transfer to TTC at Toronto Union Station anyway after arriving at Union Station. So why not have people transfer here, at a kind of miniature "Union Station North"? Saves time, saves double-backing, win-win?
Eventually, both Northlander and RH-GO needs to replace their old diesel trains. What if they pair up and use the same new diesel trains (when the time is right -- i.e. 25-year masterplanning) to this new mini "Union Station North" interchange terminal?
If we're losing Don Valley, isn't this the best alternative?
Doesn't increase transfers because people have to transfer at the original Union Station anyway.
And still cheaper than flood-meditating Don Valley.