Join me as I explore Toronto's Union Station. Canada's largest and busiest station is big and complex, but full of cool things, great food, and some hidden gems.
This is probably the best overview / guide video of the "new" Union Station I've seen on the internet, and I appreciate your critiques of signage/wayfinding and accessibility! While the joke of Union always being under construction is true, the station experience has come a long way thanks to the renovations to the point where it's probably one of the best overall train stations in the Americas now. And there's still a lot more yet to come! For example to the south of the three main concourses (York , VIA and Bay) they are building a fourth "South Concourse" which will also serve GO platforms and better connect to Scotiabank arena and maple leaf square. You can see the construction from the CIBC elevated park and it's quite cool! They are reconfiguring the platforms as part of the Go Expansion plans which will see subway-like train frequencies on many GO lines Also you didn't really cover the streetcar area (it's joined to the northbound Yonge Line platform) in this video but that will also be reconfigured to handle at least 4 streetcars simultaneously including the planned Waterfront East LRT
Little known fact: There was a gun range in Union Station. It was there so the railway police could practice, but it was also open to members of the CN employee's gun club. I used to be a technician with CN Telecommunications and some of my co-workers were members, though I never was. BTW, I commuted through Union Station for many years, going back to 1973.
Thanks for this video. I was in Union Station in July 2023. I walked over from the arts and crafts fair at city hall and was heading for VIA rail to get the train to Kitchener. I left a couple of hours to make sure I had plenty of time. I must say, the station was VERY busy and really confusing. I located where to line up for VIA rail (before you head to the platform) and then went to the food court for a snack. I was concentrating and carefully observing the route, but ended up circling around a few times on my way back to the VIA lineup, ending up back in the great hall. I thought, I'm in Canada, I'm Canadian, the language is English, and I'm having a hard time finding my way around. Glad that you agree - Union Station is confusing! Finally, I found my train
In my more than 20 years in Canada, I never was on a train, subway doesn't count. I worked in the Union station building. Crossed the station in all directions buzzilion of times, but never been on a platform. But I was on MagLev and bullet trains in China and on train platforms at Penn Station. I will never forget being in the crowd by the closed TTC entrance doors packed with people after the New Year firework. 😊
The way you explain this would have been so much easier for me than like many years of learning it myself while needing to be there anytime I was in the city 💀 I know all this now but it was still a learning curve for even us who live just outside the city a train-ride away
Most annoying is the fact that there is no full escalator pathway (along the Front St side) from the TTC exit through to the UPXpress station. One must carry luggage up the main station grand hall stairs to get to the street level leading to the Pearson Express station PATH. The elevators are hidden and not very helpful with the only route having escalators is convoluted: exit TTC through the Moat into the Bay concourse, turn right at the Nespresso boutique and continue through to the York food court where there is an escalator up to the VIA station street level and the path to the airport train! Adding 10-minutes to your walk if you have heavy or multiple bags. A major design oversight. But good overview video of a place I’ve finally mastered over the course of its multi-year rebuild.
Very well done video! I'm actually a team lead with the security team at the station, and will be definitely be recommending this video to our new hires/trainees prior to bringing them to the floor!
One thing, the eastern part of the station was originally a post office sorting station, which was used to send the mail out by train. There would also be employees sorting mail in mail cars, while traveling towards the destination. There was also a parking garage at the west end.
I love Union Station it's now a destination, I have made the Go Train journey from Hamilton to Union Station just to grab some eats walk around the station and head back to Hamilton lol. I also love that you can get to many parts of downtown Toronto from Union without ever needing to step outside! Great video, look forward The Path video I love exploring the The Path and getting lost down there!
You’re right, it’s definitely a destination now. I’m nervous about trying to tackle the PATH as I’ve never been able to navigate it well.. my wife somehow knows how to get through it easily so I’ll be relying on her knowledge again to teach me.
The signage is the worst part - you'll get to an intersection in the PATH and it'll be like , "Entertainment District West, Entertainment District East, Entertainment District North, Entertainment District South" , like ok I guess I have no choice regardless of the direction I go lol
I'm there at least 3 times a week. I use the Go and the Up. Up is towards York looks new, clean. Go it’s towards Bay (for me) and there’s still construction going on, smells and definitely not the best side. Finally, I definitely have to explore that space in the CIBC building. I didn’t even know it existed.
I come to Toronto two or three times a year for meetings, usually by the GO train into Union and I always get confused as to where to go. You are definitely not the only one.
Great video showing parts of Union Station I didn’t know about. I only wish the maps had stayed up, maybe at the side of the screen so I had a better idea of where we were. I’m still rather confused 😆
