Unionville GO Station

Unionville
General information
Location155 YMCA Boulevard
Markham, Ontario
Canada
Coordinates43°51′06″N 79°18′52″W / 43.85167°N 79.31444°W / 43.85167; -79.31444
Owned byMetrolinx
Platforms1 side platform
1 island platform
Tracks3[1]
Connections GO Transit bus services
York Region Transit (incl. Viva Rapid Transit)
Construction
Structure typeStation building with public washroom and waiting room
Parking1620 spaces
Bicycle facilitiesRack
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeGO Transit: UI
Fare zone71
History
OpenedMay 6, 1991
Rebuilt2005, 2021-2022
Passengers
Apr–Jul 2019204,700[2] Decrease 5.6%
Services
Preceding station GO Transit Following station
Milliken
towards Union Station
 Stouffville Centennial
towards Old Elm
Former services at CN station
Preceding station Canadian National Railway Following station
Millikens
toward Toronto
 Toronto – Belleville via Peterboro Markham
toward Belleville
Toronto –
Port Hope via Peterboro 		Markham
toward Port Hope

Unionville GO Station is a train and bus station[3] in the GO Transit network located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is a stop on the Stouffville line. The station is also served by Highway 407 East Express buses, which run westbound to Highway 407 station, northbound to Mount Joy GO Station, and eastbound to the Oshawa GO station.

By late May 2022, the station had acquired a second track, a turnaround track and an island platform to support future all-day, two-way service on the Stouffville line. In the future, GO trains will run every 10 minutes to Unionville and every 30 minutes to Mount Joy GO Station.[1]

History

Old Unionville station

The original Unionville station, closed in 1991

The original Unionville station was opened in 1871 by the Toronto and Nipissing Railway. The railway line and station were acquired in succession by the Midland Railway of Canada in 1882, the Grand Trunk Railway in 1884 and Canadian National Railway in 1923. Canadian National served the station until 1978; GO Transit used the station from 1982 to 1991.[4] GO train service ended at the station on Friday May 3, 1991, and service began at the current GO station the following Monday, May 6.

The old station building has been restored and is now used as a community centre.[4] Like Markham GO Station, this station features classic Canadian Railway Style with elements of Vernacular Carpenter Gothic architecture of the 19th Century.[citation needed] It is located on Station Lane, near Main Street Unionville. While a platform exists it is fenced off from the rail line to indicate it is not an operational station.

Current station

Unionville GO Station Platform in 2023

The current station was built in 1991 to replace the old Unionville Station. The newer station was renovated and re-opened in April 2005 and accessed by a service road from Kennedy Road north of Highway 407.

By the end of May 2022, Metrolinx had completed a number of station improvements as part of GO Expansion to support future all-day, two-way service on the Stouffville line. The improvements include:[1]

  • A second track, new platform and a turnaround track.
  • A new island platform and a relocated east platform, both with canopies, shelters and a snow-melting system.
  • New pedestrian tunnels and elevators.
  • 286 additional parking spots.
  • Pedestrian walkways through the parking lot.
  • New ramps from the parking lot to the platforms.
  • More bicycle storage.[5]

Connecting bus routes

GO Transit

[6]

York Region Transit

  • 8 Kennedy
  • Viva Purple (at University Boulevard)

Viva service began on October 16, 2005, with buses stopping near Kennedy Road. Because the nearby Enterprise Drive was not finished when Viva services in the area began, this station served as a temporary station until November 19, 2005. During this time, both Viva Purple and Viva Green buses had to go on a detour on Highway 407 nearby. Viva Pink services were added on January 2, 2006.

Unionville was the eastern terminus of the now defunct Viva Pink service to Richmond Hill Centre and Finch station.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Upgrades complete at Unionville GO Station". Metrolinx. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Metrolinx releases updated GO Transit ridership map – System sees almost five per cent bump in GO train boardings". Metrolinx. September 9, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  3. ^ "Unionville GO Station Information". GO Transit. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Unionville Station". Toronto Railway Historical Association. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "Making moves for GO Expansion on the Stouffville Line". Metrolinx. March 10, 2022. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "Unionville GO Bus Departures". Retrieved 10 October 2023.