[T-Bor]

Apologies, as I'm sure this has been said elsewhere, but does that mean that major GO improvements would also likely start in 2029 once this is done?

I.e. is Union the biggest hurdle in getting GO expansion?

 

[WB62]

2029 sounds like GO expansion. Theres no way just the south part takes that long.
Remember they are working together with Onxpress with the north part

I made sure to confirm what was included in that estimation, it’s just the Union Station Enhancement Project stuff, none of the north stuff.

They’re really far behind on the east side right now, archeological excavations are still happening, the floor hasn’t been poured yet. Also remember that the east side has a utility level and a concourse level, so it’s even more work than the west side.

 

[chrisw]

So, in Reece Martins public substack he sharing that one of the problems with GO electrification is electrifying underneath the train shed. Such a big problem that they're considering battery trains for the ones that go under the shed.

I was at a rail industry convention this week when I heard publicly what I’d been hearing from quite some time.

Metrolinx’ GO Transit electrification program, which has gone by many names and has slowly hacked its way forward for over a decade, is to a large extent being held up because of problems electrifying railway tracks under the rather low, heritage-listed “train shed” at the station.

The solution to the unstoppable force of electric trains meeting the immovable hundred-plus-year-old steel structure is changing plans to route some trains around the shed for one cross-city line, and in the case of the other using battery trains — to be acquired, hopefully by the time my infant child is old enough to work at Metrolinx.

The Union Station Train Shed Should Go.

A historical structure that hurts Toronto.

open.substack.com

 

[WB62]

Before leaving Toronto tonight I thought it would be a fun idea to check how many individual wayfinding standards are being used across Union Station. Turns out theres 8 different standards in use!

1. The CIBC Square standard is used across the Bay Street bridges and in the Bay East Teamway entrances:

2. The former GO Transit standard is used inconsistently at platform level:

3. The Union Station standard version 2 is inconsistently used across the station in all areas besides the Skywalk, York West Teamway, and UP Express station:

4. The TTC standard is used in the TTC station (shocking, I know):

5. The UP Express standard is used in the Skywalk and UP Express station:

6. The Union Station Standard version 1 is used in the York West Teamway and the Skywalk:

7. The Metrolinx standard is used inconsistently at platform level:

8. The Union Station standard version 3 is used inconsistently in all areas areas besides the Skywalk, York West Teamway, UP Express station, and Union Station bus terminal:

I can’t be the only one that thinks this a big contributor to why Union is so hard to navigate?

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

So, in Reece Martins public substack he sharing that one of the problems with GO electrification is electrifying underneath the train shed. Such a big problem that they're considering battery trains for the ones that go under the shed.

The Union Station Train Shed Should Go.

A historical structure that hurts Toronto.

open.substack.com

From @Reecemartin 's mouth to God's ears. This quote is particularly sallient:

It also says a lot about the way these projects are undertaken that core decisions like “what will the main train station look like” that will have ripple effects over the whole project still have not been decided. Track and electrification planning is interdependent, and you can’t have a true solution for any given spot out on the network if you don’t know what Union looks like. It seems pretty clear that deciding on a “masterplan” like fifteen years ago would have produced much better outcomes than these constant attempts to optimize for whatever the priority of the day is. Even a suboptimal masterplan that offers clarity probably would have been much further along right now (under construction) instead of still being batted around whiteboards — potentially delivering massive benefits years or a decade earlier.

They should just tear it all down. I can't wait to see how much enthusiasm there will be for legal action post hoc for violating that garbage of a space. I for one will be rather eager for the day I can **** in the grave of that wretched shed, which I won't be shedding a tear for.

AoD

 

[bearcat]

They should just tear it all down. I can't wait to see how much enthusiasm there will be for legal action post hoc for violating that garbage of a space. I for one will be rather eager for the day I can **** in the grave of that wretched shed, which I won't be shedding a tear for.

AoD

Man this shed needs to go like yesterday. Since all the platforms will have to be closed to be redone anyways, might as well use the opportunity to remove it. I don't think anyone will shed a tear if it's gone .

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Man this shed needs to go like yesterday. Since all the platforms will have to be closed to be redone anyways, might as well use the opportunity to remove it.

Like Reece's piece (Reese pieces?) said - they should have a clear masterplan [one that would enable REB and general transit expansion] first - instead of rebuilding the station without reorganizing the tracks, platforms and access and rebuilding the shed more or less as is. It's the epitome of dumb.

AoD

 

[rdaner]

So, in Reece Martins public substack he sharing that one of the problems with GO electrification is electrifying underneath the train shed. Such a big problem that they're considering battery trains for the ones that go under the shed.

The Union Station Train Shed Should Go.

A historical structure that hurts Toronto.

open.substack.com

Reason 658 to replace the heritage shed and move it elsewhere.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Reason 658 to replace the heritage shed and move it elsewhere.

Do not pass GO - head straight to the scrapyard.

AoD

 

[junctionist]

I used to support preserving the shed (as it does have some historical value), but if it's going to be that big of an impediment to electrification, then it's ridiculous to keep it. I'm sure some other North American city could install at least part of it in their Union Station to preserve it. We could also keep it over one or two platforms and scrap the rest.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I used to support preserving the shed (as it does have some historical value), but if it's going to be that big of an impediment to electrification, then it's ridiculous to keep it. I'm sure some other North American city could install at least part of it in their Union Station to preserve it. We could also keep it over one or two platforms and scrap the rest.

If anyone want to see it, they can head to Winnipeg. No need to afflict any other place with it.

AoD

 

[WB62]

We could also keep it over one or two platforms and scrap the rest.

I’d rather not, that would be the 4th canopy design used Union (assuming the historic shed is replaced with something that doesn’t look like the centre glass atrium). It would just be a mash of different designs at that point

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Before leaving Toronto tonight I thought it would be a fun idea to check how many individual wayfinding standards are being used across Union Station. Turns out theres 8 different standards in use!

1. The CIBC Square standard is used across the Bay Street bridges and in the Bay East Teamway entrances:

View attachment 651420


2. The former GO Transit standard is used inconsistently at platform level:

View attachment 651421


3. The Union Station standard version 2 is inconsistently used across the station in all areas besides the Skywalk, York West Teamway, and UP Express station:

View attachment 651422


4. The TTC standard is used in the TTC station (shocking, I know):

View attachment 651423


5. The UP Express standard is used in the Skywalk and UP Express station:

View attachment 651424


6. The Union Station Standard version 1 is used in the York West Teamway and the Skywalk:

View attachment 651425


7. The Metrolinx standard is used inconsistently at platform level:

View attachment 651426


8. The Union Station standard version 3 is used inconsistently in all areas areas besides the Skywalk, York West Teamway, UP Express station, and Union Station bus terminal:

View attachment 651427

I can’t be the only one that thinks this a big contributor to why Union is so hard to navigate?

Too much cr*p - trying to put everything including the kitchen sink in limited space that requires legibility, clarity and information hierarchy. Like giving me three slightly different icons of trains that nobody could differentiate tells the users what, exactly?

AoD

 

[daptive]

So, in Reece Martins public substack he sharing that one of the problems with GO electrification is electrifying underneath the train shed. Such a big problem that they're considering battery trains for the ones that go under the shed.

The Union Station Train Shed Should Go.

A historical structure that hurts Toronto.

open.substack.com

If London's oldest railway station can move its trainshed, so can we.

"London Bridge Station | The Old Trainshed | to be preserved, but not in situ" —

London Bridge Station | The Old Trainshed | to be preserved, but not in situ

London Bridge Station | The Old Trainshed | to be preserved, but not in situ

ralphhaussler.weebly.com

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

If London's oldest railway station can move its trainshed, so can we.

"London Bridge Station | The Old Trainshed | to be preserved, but not in situ" —

London Bridge Station | The Old Trainshed | to be preserved, but not in situ

London Bridge Station | The Old Trainshed | to be preserved, but not in situ

ralphhaussler.weebly.com

Grade 2 listed?

...either way, that thing is far more deserving of preserving than our shed. So if they can do something about it then we should have no problem of doing something about ours, IMO.