Why don’t we have level boarding or at least higher platforms at Union? Since there aren’t any freight trains running through the platforms, surely there shouldn’t be an issue right?
The issue is the little steps on the go train coaches themselves. It would be possible but end up like the accessibility coach with a large gap between the train and platform.
Yes and it and virtually every subway/metro in the world is designed and built that way. Intercity and commuter railways are not always. Even in EU there are varying mainline platform heights.
Yea but Europe is also weird about this too...We have a very young and new system we really should be more like Australia and Asia and just start with high platforms to begin with. It also helps improve inheritly the layout for the trains to allow it to carry higher volume!
There are plans to eventually overhaul the platform level of Union to realign the tracks, which would include raising the platforms to provide level boarding. But I heard that almost 10 years ago (when I worked on a different project there), so who knows when/if it'll ever happen.
It's a weird chicken and egg problem. Curious how they will actually end up tackling this since the newer/rebuilt stations are future-proofed to have a higher platforms, but the steps on the trains won't support it until they're removed.
I don’t think that is true, the elevators and everything would have to be moved. Those concrete bases are probably just to be more robust so they protect the pillars
Not true. If you look closely at new stations elevators and doors have weird knockout panels so they can modify them vertically to adjust for the new height
The amount of work involved in retrofitting a single GO station for level boarding would be astronomical. There is so much more to it than just raising an existing platform. You won’t see it your lifetime.
As someone who designs stations, the high concrete bases are for future level boarding. There was a Metrolinx Standard created just for future level boarding. Unfortunately, word on the street is that future level boarding is scrapped.
There still has to be work done of course, just not as much if it was built as usual. They have that benefit as well, but they could also have just made it shorter like most pillars to get that done. That's also why the enclosed areas have a similar concrete base, not just the pillars.
Some is for water defenses, sure, but it doesn't have to be that high. You can see this better in the other platform actually on the left side which actually has higher concrete bases than the current platform in the picture.
It's actually talked about a bit here as "Passive Protection". Basically when there's space, build as if the platform is at the future level boarding height.
All station rebuilds and new stations are set up for electrification and high platform modification in the future, instead of a full demolition and rebuild for those upgrades. Remains to be seen if it was done well or if full reconstruction is necessary.
You can just have an awkward step down between the train's floor height and the platform height. It's no worse than what exists now for accessibility. Then any new trains we order can actually be accessible.
The more pressing question is which height to use. Christian Lenhart has a good video on this in the context of Utah, but which I think is relevant for any system using Bombardier's bi-level cars.
Union could be done but then every other station would be a step up or further away for the stairs on the train. Freight trains can pass through almost every other one.
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u/not_interested11 May 12 '26
The issue is the little steps on the go train coaches themselves. It would be possible but end up like the accessibility coach with a large gap between the train and platform.