1920’s – The north facade of Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast
Union Station is located at 65-71 Front St W, bounded by Bay St and York St, in downtown Toronto.
Previous Union Stations
Union Station, Toronto’s third, opened in 1927. The previous two Union Stations were also located on Front St; however, they were between York and Simcoe Streets and faced the water. The first was in existence from 1858 to 1873, while the second was in use from 1873 until 1927. Planners turned the entrance of the new station towards the City since the downtown was growing.
The Architecture of Toronto’s Beautiful Train Station
The station was a shared terminal of Canadian Pacific Railway and Grand Trunk Railway. The architects who designed the sweeping Beaux-Arts style gem included Montreal-based Ross & MacDonald as well as Hugh Jones and John Lyle. Construction of what is considered one of Canada’s finest examples of classical Beaux-Arts architecture began in 1913 but was delayed due to World War I.
2021 – The Great Hall and its grand coffered ceilings, inside Union Station
The exterior is clad with limestone, rising the equivalent of 7 stories from the base. There’s a raised attic covered by a hipped roof in the centre block. The main entrances are behind 22 columns. The adjoining wings have flat-headed windows decreasing in height each storey. The end pavilions have hipped roofs and oversized round-arched entrances.
On the interior, the Great Hall features vaulted, tiled and coffered ceilings, barrel-vaulted windows, marble floors, substantial round-arched openings, and carved-in-stone walls are the names of the cities once serviced by the railways. There are stairs and a ramp leading to the concourses.
Throughout the building, there are original finishes, fixtures and hardware.
Heritage Status & Union Station Today
1926 – Union Station on Front St W, looking southwest
On a regular day, over 300,000 people pass through Union Station to commute on GO trains, buses, TTC subway and UP Express.
Visit the Union Station website for more history and details on the now glass-covered moat (2019), the beautiful West Wing waiting area with the oversized skylight, the SkyWalk, the train shed, shops, food vendors and more.
Union Station Photos
1920’s – The north facade of Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast1966 – Union Station from Front St W & University Ave, looking southeast2022 – Looking southeast towards Union Station from Front St W and York St2021 – The Great Hall and its grand coffered ceilings, inside Union Station2020 – Entrance to the trains, inside Union Station2020 – The west side of the Great Hall, inside Union Station2021 – Looking towards the Great Hall, inside Union Station2020 – One of two main north entrances inside Union Station2021 – A corridor at Union Station2021 – A doorway in a corridor of Union Station2021 – A phone booth and seating inside Union Station2021 – World War 1 Commemoration plaque in Union Station2020 – Clock at Union Station2020 – Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast1918 – Construction progress showing the north-facing side of the exterior of Union Station, looking east1917 – Construction progress at the northwest corner and front facade of Union Station1980’s – Union Station on Front St at Bay St, looking west1926 – Union Station on Front St W, looking southwest1918 – Construction progress showing the north-facing side of the exterior of Union Station from a high vantage point, looking southwest1916 – Construction progress showing the structural steel framing for Union Station with previous (second) Union Station in the background, looking southwest1980’s – Union Station and the Royal York Hotel at Front & York Sts, looking east1986 – Aerial view of Union Station and the Royal York Hotel, looking northwest1949 – Royal York Hotel and Union Station on Front St W, looking east1932 – A streetcar in front of Union Station on Front St, looking southeast1930 – Traffic jam near Union Station at Front & Bay Sts, looking southwest1931 – Union Station (on right) and the Royal York Hotel (on left) on Front St, looking east1923 – Ticket wickets and lobby in Great Hall of Union Station1923 – Ticket wickets in the lobby of the Great Hall in Union Station1923 – Waiting room in Union Station 1916 – The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking northwest1915 – Excavation for Union Station with Queen’s Hotel in the background, looking northeast1915 – Excavation for Union Station with Queen’s Hotel in the background, looking northeast1911 – British immigrants standing on the Bridge of Sighs from previous (second) Union Station to Simcoe St1907 – The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking east1873 – The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking northwest (Toronto Public Library e1-24c)
