POINT OF DEPARTURE

UP’s four stations may have been inspired by the Ontario landscape, but each had to be designed to fit into established neighbourhoods

UNION STATION

The flagship UP station at Union has a footprint that is over 1,672 square metres (18,000 square feet), divided over two levels. From the moment they arrive, guests are greeted with postcard views of the city and amenities designed to make travel easier, such as airline check-in kiosks, flight info screens, unique retail and a lounge. The station is fully enclosed and climate-controlled so passengers move directly between trains and the level platform without ever being exposed to the elements. In fact, guests can travel from their building on the PATH downtown to Union Station, and all the way to their seat on a plane at Toronto Pearson, without ever being outside.

Sitting beside the Skywalk, the station is located between one of the busiest rail corridors and commuter stations in Ontario and a busy pedestrian thoroughfare. Occupied building space directly below also had to be factored in. So in order to provide level access to the trains, the main level of the platform was raised more than a meter above the existing Skywalk floor.

BLOOR STATION

One of two stops for the Union Pearson Express between Toronto Pearson and Union Station, the station sits on Bloor Street just east of Dundas Street West (just north of Roncesvalles). It shares the station with GO Transit’s Bloor Station, and is located at one end of the GO platform.

The new stop required significant upgrades. Customers can now access the station from Bloor Street and from a passenger pick-up/ drop-off area. The Bloor entrance is sheltered and features glass-enclosed areas for ticket sales, both for Union Pearson Express and for GO Transit customers.

WESTON STATION

The closest stop to Pearson, Weston Station is located near Lawrence Avenue West, just east of Weston Road on the GO Kitchener line. Like Bloor Station, Weston is shared with GO Transit and has been significantly upgraded to provide an enclosed area for ticket sales, a washroom and space for retail.

Station features include a new building and a new pedestrian plaza and bridge over Lawrence Avenue, not to mention a dedicated, accessible UP Express platform complete with canopies, heated shelters, elevators and a pedestrian tunnel.

PEARSON STATION

Pearson Station features a spacious, open plan stretching over 808 square metres (8,700 square feet). The ceilings are high and supported by six soaring Y-columns—a design element referencing the supports that used to hold up the train shed roof at Union a century ago. The high ceilings and soaring glass walls allow plenty of natural light to flood in.

The station is located in Terminal 1, directly adjacent to the Link Train that joins Terminals 1 and 3—a 2.5 minute ride. Offering level boarding for easy access, the platform is fully enclosed and features ticket-vending machines, fare card validators and, thanks to UP’s partnership with CIBC, foreign and domestic cash ATMs.

The proximity of Pearson Station to existing buildings and roadways presented construction challenges, especially because the build could not interrupt airport operations. It also required the construction of an elevated 3km spur line to connect the service to existing rail lines.

Local travellers should feel right at home when they visit any of the four UP Express stations. That’s because the materials used in the stations’ construction reflect Ontario’s history of forestry and mining—beaten copper, richly grained wood, granite, polished concrete and glass—and the colour palette is inspired by the province’s natural landscape, featuring the rich hues of evergreen and autumnal trees, snowy winters and Ontario stone.