[Reidfenwick]

Metrolinx owns that part on the south side, but has not yet built it yet. It will presumably be built as an expansion in the future as demand warrants. For now it's just the relatively small lot on the north side of the tracks. This is air imagery from early April:

View attachment 671271

Out of curiosity why would Metrolinx have chosen to develop the north side of the tracks if track loading is on the south side? Its hard not to realize how overbuilt this made the project with underpass tunnels and escalators, even so with the Confederation bus stop on the N side entering the picture only a few years ago.

 

[ScreamingViking]

Out of curiosity why would Metrolinx have chosen to develop the north side of the tracks if track loading is on the south side? Its hard not to realize how overbuilt this made the project with underpass tunnels and escalators, even so with the Confederation bus stop on the N side entering the picture only a few years ago.

I think it's probably because the north side is more accessible to Centennial Parkway and the QEW, especially for GO buses. Plus CN may have wanted it that way, to keep their mainline straighter.

It may seem overbuilt now, but if more parking is added to the south side it won't be. And I doubt escalators will be installed -- they've been removed from older GO stations, probably because they become a maintenance nightmare during the winter with all the salt put down on platforms. The elevators will provide service for those with accessibility needs.

If the tracks were in a trench like at West Harbour we'd see much more being built. But this more "conventional" layout will be similar to other stations with tracks at grade (like Burlington and Appleby).

 

[BrenWilson]

I think it's probably because the north side is more accessible to Centennial Parkway and the QEW, especially for GO buses. Plus CN may have wanted it that way, to keep their mainline straighter.

It may seem overbuilt now, but if more parking is added to the south side it won't be. And I doubt escalators will be installed -- they've been removed from older GO stations, probably because they become a maintenance nightmare during the winter with all the salt put down on platforms. The elevators will provide service for those with accessibility needs.

If the tracks were in a trench like at West Harbour we'd see much more being built. But this more "conventional" layout will be similar to other stations with tracks at grade (like Burlington and Appleby).

over use of salt is a huge issue here, I wonder why they didn't bother heating the platforms enough to prevent ice forming. Sure there is cost to that, but there is also cost to continous salt application - direct and indirect.

 

[innsertnamehere]

IIRC GO usually installs heated platforms on it's new stations. I would be surprised if that wasn't here.

 

[Northern Light]

IIRC GO usually installs heated platforms on it's new stations. I would be surprised if that wasn't here.

I can confirm that a hydronic snowmelt system is under the Confederation Station platform.

 

[ScreamingViking]

IIRC GO usually installs heated platforms on it's new stations. I would be surprised if that wasn't here.

They do. But still pile on the salt. Burlington had a platform reno that added a snowmelt system and despite that, the salt is applied liberally.

Could be the system malfunctioned (that platform has a lot of cracks now), or it could be Metrolinx covering its arse if anyone slipped for any reason. But when it's dry, where that salt layer is thick, I do find it provides poor footing.