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

[TOareaFan]

"Settle" might have been the wrong word, but perhaps Union would give downtown some much-needed mall space.

you are, literally, the first person I have ever heard suggest that what Downtown needs is more "mall space".

 

[Sandpit]

you are, literally, the first person I have ever heard suggest that what Downtown needs is more "mall space".

I don't personally think that, I just thought it might be in demand by retailers.

 

[innsertnamehere]

What is in huge demand downtown is large format retail space - there is relatively little and dozens of large format retailers looking for it. Small food court like spaces, a little less so.

 

[TransitBart]

I thought it was only 'on hold' not definitely scrapped.

Yes, I thought this too. Scrapped would be a PATH fail.

 

[TransitBart]

With all the people who are living and will live in the South Core, a second large downtown mall - and actually a third large retail cluster is not inconceivable. If you live at Queen's Park. Yorkville, Bloor/Yonge you shop Manulife Centre, Mink Mile, Yorkville and Hud Bay Centre.

If you live on Gerrard or Dundas or Kensington or Leslieville you can head to the Eaton Centre.

And if you live on King West, Harbourfront, Southcore, the 1 Yonge precinct, St. Lawrence Market or King East, you can head to new Union Mall.

Works better with a functioning RL, but I'll leave that for another thread.

 

[Megaton327]

I thought it was only 'on hold' not definitely scrapped.

Yes, I thought this too. Scrapped would be a PATH fail.

I believe what happened was the first stage of the northwest PATH expansion (across the Front/York intersection to ground level, and to Citigroup Place) went significantly over budget, and while the expansion was initially funded jointly with some percentage from the Province, they refused to assist with any of the cost overruns leaving the City with a massive bill and a half finished PATH tunnel.

Due to paying for the 1st phase overrun, and concerns of another overrun and the province screwing them again, I recall the City de-funded the 2nd phase up to Wellington. It is now on a list of unfunded "nice to have" projects to be completed when we have spare cash to burn. I'd be shocked if it's completed before 2025, maybe even 2030 or far beyond that--it's probably not permanently scrapped, but it might be decades before it's reconsidered. The only thing I can see changing that is the Province realizing that RER needs better access to/from Union, and pitching in a larger percentage/signing a contract binding them to cover an equal percentage of any overruns.

 

[DSC]

Last night about 5 they had removed the fabric covering the scaffolding on south side of the Great Hall - presumably the scaffolding will be coming down soon.

 

[Leo_Chan]

 

[Richard White]

I was at Union earlier and managed to get a few photos.

It's been awhile but I am liking what I see in the departures concourse. It is coming along well.

 

[Mr.Tang]

I find the smell of Cinnabon revolting. And mixing it with infrequently cleaned subway concourse does not improve it.

 

[Richard White]

I find the smell of Cinnabon revolting. And mixing it with infrequently cleaned subway concourse does not improve it.

Every place has its aroma. Eastern Europe has Vodka and Cigarettes, India smells like various spices and Union smelled liked Cinnabon.. Need I say more?

With that in mind.. who even goes to Cinnabon anymore? I always found them to be a icing covered nightmare. Didn't the one at Sheppard-Yonge close up shop due to low sales? I know the one outside College and Dundas Stations did.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Q will the departures area be closed to the public once construction is done or will it continue to serve as a "secret" pass through point.

I.e. Only VIA passengers with tickets would be permitted into the departure hall. This could be one step towards having Union become a USCBP point of entry for the VIA Maple Leaf line to New York rather than stopping for 45+ mins at Niagara.

 

[smallspy]

I.e. Only VIA passengers with tickets would be permitted into the departure hall. This could be one step towards having Union become a USCBP point of entry for the VIA Maple Leaf line to New York rather than stopping for 45+ mins at Niagara.

That's only possible if the train doesn't stop anywhere else along the route in Canada.

And considering that it is a VIA train from Niagara Falls, Ontario to Toronto, I don't think that's likely to happen.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

 

[innsertnamehere]

That's only possible if the train doesn't stop anywhere else along the route in Canada.

And considering that it is a VIA train from Niagara Falls, Ontario to Toronto, I don't think that's likely to happen.

Dan
Toronto, Ont.

One way around this is having international train cars that do not open anywhere else in Canada, even if the train makes the stop. In a 6 car train you can have 3 cars that are "locked" at Union, 2 cars that are for domestic travel, and 1 that picks up international travelers along the way. When it actually reaches Niagara Falls, they then only have to clear that 1 car instead of the whole train. You could cut that 45 minute stop to 10 or so.

When it enters the US, all train cars are then "unlocked" to pick up passengers in Buffalo.

 

[smallspy]

One way around this is having international train cars that do not open anywhere else in Canada, even if the train makes the stop. In a 6 car train you can have 3 cars that are "locked" at Union, 2 cars that are for domestic travel, and 1 that picks up international travelers along the way. When it actually reaches Niagara Falls, they then only have to clear that 1 car instead of the whole train. You could cut that 45 minute stop to 10 or so.

Except that cars can not be locked, as the end doors are primary exits in the event of an accident.

Dan
Toronto, On