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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Found my way without Bay

This morning I decided to try to find my way without the Bay Concourse.

Dudes. It will be fine.

For those who ride at the most eastern end of the trains coming from Oshawa and such, you'll want to move down the train to the coaches past the accessibility coach.

For other corridors, same thing, you'll want to position yourself on your train so you are more to the west end of Union when arriving. If you're one of those people who plan on using the Bay Teamways, nothing changes. You would continue to use the stairwells that take you outside.

Once at Union, take any of the stairwells marked "York Concourse". None of them appear to have doors, so you know you're headed in the right direction.

Once in the York Concourse, there's been some discussion it will be confusing to find the subway. What I found was best was to follow the signs for UPExpress and then go out through the VIA Great Hall onto Front Street, cross the street, go down the stairs into RBC Plaza, and use those doors to get to the subway.

All of this took me one extra minute to get to work.

The evenings should be more of the same as the PATH dumps everyone out at RBC Plaza so you'll want to use the staircases up to Front, cross the street and head to your trains using the VIA entrance of Union Station. And as I mentioned, all of the Bay Teamways will be open.

Good luck!

16 comments:

Squiggles said...

Gah! No! I use the VIA entrance. Have for the past 5 years! Please don't let people know. It will become insane.

C.J. Smith said...

It can't be a secret... there's no where else for people to go.

It was a best kept secret tho. All good things have to come to an end.

Bicky said...

It's only for three years! Think of all the space when Bay reopens! It will be glorious!

C.J. Smith said...

I like how you didn't say "two".

Anonymous said...

Haha. I don't want people to know either. My end of the train and the platform is going to get so much more crowded. Luckily I get on at a train that begins at Maple, so seating won't be an issue for me in the mornings. Because, clearly, it's all about me.

But I wonder how much longer it will take when it hits the fan and everyone else is going the same way you are? Time will tell, I suppose.

Shannon said...

I think some of the interior hallways will still be open so you can access the subway from the York concourse without going outside. Don't quote me though. If it's true, you'll have to squeeze through a few tiny doors to get there, however, which will suck. Big time. Welcome back to salmon spawning season. Elbows up, people! Between that and the push to get every person off the train via half the staircases, these next two (cough:three) years are going to be delightful.

Anonymous said...

From ALL of the GO (very confusing) messaging, this is the most helpful thing I've read in terms of offering directions to date. Thank you!

Al said...

Regarding the bay teamways, according to the flyer, you will not be able to access platform 24-25 or 26-27 from bay St. Could you clarify what you mean by open?

C.J. Smith said...

I was actually going to take pictures and do a photo essay...

C.J. Smith said...

Bay west teamway... "if the stairwell leads to the street, it will be open"

http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/improve/bay.aspx

As per the map: Bay west teamway - platforms 4 - 27

Al said...

This means absolutely no impact to my daily commute, well I may have to move the the easterly coach to exit to bay street but no chagne going home since the via concourse stays open.

C.J. Smith said...

For many people who exit to outside streets, correct.
For those who travel through the PATH, it will suck for the first week and then it won't be so bad... I think

Al said...

Get out at street level and walk to rbc plaza or BCE erm. Brookfield place.

C.J. Smith said...

I mean there are people who want to avoid the outside.

Bicky said...

I believe the moat to the TTC will still be open.

I'm living on the edge... I didn't trial run my new route in the morning, so Monday will definitely be an adventure!

Anonymous said...

As a new commuter to downtown TO, I find the lack of signs in Union Station to get from GO platforms to subway frustrating. It wouldn't be hard but there seems to only be signs between the major sections of the place. You have to know ahead of time and without detailed maps is confusing. The times I look for subway signs half the time I find myself outside on front street or york ... no more signs, might as well walk up to King. After a few months of finally figuring out my route through Bay Concourse I was annoyed when the news of closing for 2 years started. I've tried new routes and have not always been successful. I got a decent map handout on Friday and so I can see where my arrival platform stairs are so hopefully can find my way but when there is a sea of shoulders around me on Monday morning ... we'll see.