Union Station Subway

Union Station Subway (TTC)

Union Station is on the Yonge University Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  The station opened in 1954 and today serves well over 100,000 a day.  Union station ranks 5^th out of 69 subway stations as far as traffic goes, but that is not including the entire building which is separated by a moat that brings you to the other segment of Union which saw its first passenger train departure in 1853.  I would have liked to know where that train went to.  If any anyone has better luck in researching this, feel free to drop me a line in the comment block.

Street CARS

75 years later, Edward, Prince of Wales opened Union Station in 1927 with a gold key that unlocked the doors.  He was sold the first ticket from Toronto to Alberta at a cost of $70 (today’s cost would be over $1000.00).  Shortly after that Union station was in full swing sending and receiving passengers.  A few more years ahead of that and in 1929 the Royal York hotel was built (and still stands). A tunnel was bored under the hotel linking it to Union station.  Actually the first of its kind and the new CN tracks were laid between Hamilton and Pickering. GO transit followed a couple years later with its first time to leave Oakville east bound to Toronto.

Union Station-Go Station

Today the Great Hall in Union Station sees arrivals and departures used by Via Rail, Amtrak and Ontario Northland for inter-city train passengers.  There is a concourse for GO Transit commuter train passengers, as well as access to the TTC subway and streetcar station.  The tunnel I spoke about underground linking Royal York Hotel has been extended to other buildings in the central business district. Union Station also features office space used by the TTR, GO Transit and CN and CP.

Great Hall - Union Station

“Transit City” (currently on hold) has plans to further extend Streetcar loops from Union along the Waterfront hoping to unclog congestion along the lakeshore.  

St. Andrews Subway Station

St Andrews Subway (click to enlarge)

Roy Thompson Hall/Metro Hall

St. Andrews Subway station is on the Yonge-University-Spadina line of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).  It was opened to the public in 1963 and serves about 55,000 people a day.  St. Andrews subway station enters into both the Financial District of Toronto on the west side of University Avenue and the Entertainment District on the East side of University Avenue.  This makes St. Andrews extremely busy during rush hour periods as it carries people to and from work and in the evening when people are going to the Entertainment district for theatre, dancing and dining.

Financial District (click to enlarge)

The Financial district expands from Queen to King Streets (north /south) and University to Yonge (east /west).  I took these pictures of the towering monetary monuments coming out of the St. Andrews station as you look up. Financial institutions such as The First Canadian Place, Scotia Plaza, TD Centre, Royal Bank Plaza, RBC Centre, Telus Tower and currently under construction is the Trump International Hotel and Tower.  I imagine that what will follow will be a Downtown Toronto Casino as well.  The Ritz Carlton is also currently under construction too. Of special Historical interest, the First Canadian Place was built over the Old Toronto Star building, which was built in 1929 and abandoned in 1970 when The Toronto Star moved to 1 Yonge Street.

 

The Entertainment District is along King Street just west of University Avenue.  The Prince of Wales, Royal Alexandra, Canon and Roy Thompson Hall are all within 1 block from the St. Andrews Station. Shows currently playing in Toronto are: 

Entertainment District(click to enlarge)

"Princess Queen of the Desert" Princess of Wales Theatre
"Rock of Ages" Royal Alexandra
"Wicked" Canon Theatre

Aroma Indian Buffet (click to enlarge)

Plus the Toronto International Film Festival has a new home called, The Bell Lightbox featuring Tim Burton's work (Edward Scissorhands)

Restaurants nearby are varied, the popular Dunn Street Pub and there is an awesome Indian Buffet, called "Aroma" which we ate lunch in.  I must warn you though, if you blink you might miss it and believe me you won't want to ;P It features Chicken Tandori, Marsala, Samosa, Butter Chicken and delicious Honey Balls !