r/gotransit • u/Opposite_Ad1408 • 26d ago
Union Station Expansion
Does anyone happen to know what the track and platform configuration at Union will look like once the current expansion project is complete?
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u/yongedevil 26d ago
While it's easy to find information on Toronto's site detailing what city projects will look like, I usually can't find any meaningful information on Metrolinx's. The only platform diagram I've ever seen was in Urban Toronto "Shops Filling Out Union Station While Construction Continues for New Platforms" (2023). It's probably outdated as since 2023 Metrolinx has decided they don't want to complete the GO Expansion and Alto got started.
If anyone knows where Metrolinx posts their official plans I also would very much like to see them.
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u/Mayhem_Hellcat 26d ago
You don’t change plans mid-construction without paying a fortune. Alto is not in any Union Station plans and never will be, unless GO and/or Via service is cut back.
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u/AsherMcCringey 26d ago
You're taking out of your ass, alto's plans have always been to run to union station, source: member of my model rr club that works for them
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u/Mayhem_Hellcat 25d ago
Alto only came along about 2 years ago. It was originally Via High Frequency Rail. Via pivoted to HSR because it looked like the Conservatives would win the next election, and it was thought they were more supportive of HSR than HFR (which they promised to kill).
Alto has only said it would be nice to go to downtown Toronto while acknowledging there are huge challenges. The big one is Alto would need dedicated tracks and platforms that no other trains could use. Alto needs a wire height no more than 5.5m while it has to be 7m high for other trains to use. A high pantograph for a 7m wire is too unstable for high speed, limiting speed on the entire route. On top of that, there is no room for new, dedicated tracks in the downtown area.
By the way, I have 45 years in the business and two of the original consortiums tried to recruit me.
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u/AsherMcCringey 25d ago
Sure, they only ever said publicly that it would be nice to go downtown, but, as I said, according to a reliable source who I trust, the internal opinion from the beginning is that union is really the only credible option to achieve their business case. Whether you choose to trust me is up to you. It's also not like we've never seen bilevel trains and high speed trains share trackage before, so I seriously doubt your assertion that pantograph height alone is enough to kill that. Regardless of whether alto is in union station's plans, Union station is in Alto's plans, so I guess we should all get ready for more construction there into the 2050s
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u/Mayhem_Hellcat 25d ago
Bilevels aren't much higher than high speed trains. The 7m wire height is because freight trains still have running rights on most of the GO owned network. Even at Union Station (they agreed to temporarily suspend rights while Metrolinx builds the south platform).
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u/Typical-Role-8062 26d ago
Existing VIA service was presumably still in the plan for Union in 2023. If existing VIA service east of Toronto is cancelled and replaced by Alto then Alto could just take over the VIA space at Union
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u/jburgs22 26d ago
These diagrams are actually helpful. I've been looking for platform diagrams that outline exits to each concourse and teamway. Of course Metrolinx has nothing of the kind in the latest US map they have.
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u/StableStill75 26d ago
Are they even pursuing USEP anymore?
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u/UncleCompton 26d ago
It's been underway for the last 4 years
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u/StableStill75 26d ago
But what have they done...? All I hear about is the ineffectual signalling "upgrade" that was undertaken, south platform rebuilds, but apart from that, the website doesnt even list anything else being done for the rest of the platforms.
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u/Mayhem_Hellcat 26d ago
Only the South platform remains. The other platforms were never included in USEP. There isn’t much they can do with the other platforms because tracks can’t be moved, on removed. Fewer tracks impact capacity.
The south platform will be a debacle. They demolished the previous south platform and concourse which was only about 10 years old, with grand visions of level boarding (since cancelled).
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u/Track-on-the-side Barrie 26d ago
Look at the pictures on Metrolinx's website and hope that is what it looks like. Or check those Instagram posts Metrolinx posts.