.gif)
Spadina (TTC)
Encyclopedia
Spadina is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Out of all the interchange stations, this one is the least-used with approximately 47,570 people using both platforms each day. Lower usage of this station as a transfer point is likely due to the long passageway between the two subway platforms.
Because of the length of the walkways, and because the Spadina line platform is not accessible for the disabled, changing trains between the two subway lines here is not recommended. Instead, transferring at neighbouring St. George
which is wheelchair accessible via elevator, in addition to the transfer point being merely one floor above, is more convenient.
On both the Yonge-University-Spadina platform and the Bloor-Danforth platform, due to the tunnels being relatively straight and short between stations, adjacent stations are visible if one looks down the tunnel (Dupont
north from the Spadina platform and Bathurst
west from the Bloor platform).
), and at 371 Bloor Street
and Spadina Road (for the Bloor line platform, opened 1966). Early proposals for the Bloor-Danforth Subway showed the station name as "Walmer".
decided to join it to the existing east-west station with a foot tunnel containing a pair of long moving walkway
s, presumably to eliminate the cost of staffing the north-south station. The cost of the moving walkways themselves became an issue when they became due for refurbishment or replacement, and they were shut down in 2004 and removed in the latter part of the year leaving the corridor as a simple underground walkway. The former location of the moving walkways remains visible because the tiles used to cover the moving walkway sites are noticeably different. Warnings to hold the handrails are still embossed on the walls where the ends of the moving walkways were once located.
The station structure on the east side of Spadina Rd. just north of Bloor St. which currently serves as the loop for the 127 Davenport bus was built concurrent with the construction of the Spadina Subway to serve as a looping facility for the 77 Spadina bus.
The Kendal Avenue entrance to the north-south (Spadina line) platforms retains the exterior of the house that was previously on the site. An underground streetcar loop for the 510 Spadina streetcar was added in 1997 near the east-west platforms. The streetcar platform adds Postmodern
finishes to the station's mix of styles. These range from the basic Modernist
tiles of the Bloor-Danforth line platform, to the more intricate round tiles and backlit signage of the Yonge-University-Spadina line platform.
In terms of public art, Spadina features three works. Louise de Neverville's Morning Glory is a surreal enamel mural located near the Kendal Avenue entrance. Barren Ground Caribou by Joyce Wieland
is a massive quilt, featuring a group of caribou in a tundra landscape. Large Cedar wood
carvings depicting an owl, wolf, and hawk are the work of Fedelia O'Brien, Murphy Green and Chuck Heit of the Gitksan First Nation in British Columbia
.
and St. George
stations each have four parallel tracks, two above two. Between these stations and Museum
is a full double-track, grade-separated wye junction. The tracks to and from Museum connect to the upper St. George and Lower Bay
stations, while the tracks along Bloor use lower St. George and upper Bay. From February to September 1966
, all three sides of the wye were used in regular service as part of the TTC's brief 'interlining' experiment. For more details see the Bay
article.
neighbourhood, and nearby points of interest include the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, the Bloor Street United Church
, Trinity-St. Paul's United Church
, the University of Toronto Schools
, and the northwest side of the University of Toronto
.
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Out of all the interchange stations, this one is the least-used with approximately 47,570 people using both platforms each day. Lower usage of this station as a transfer point is likely due to the long passageway between the two subway platforms.
Because of the length of the walkways, and because the Spadina line platform is not accessible for the disabled, changing trains between the two subway lines here is not recommended. Instead, transferring at neighbouring St. George
St. George (TTC)
St. George is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 323 Bloor Street West at St. George Street. This is the second busiest station, after Bloor-Yonge Station, serving a combined total of approximately ...
which is wheelchair accessible via elevator, in addition to the transfer point being merely one floor above, is more convenient.
On both the Yonge-University-Spadina platform and the Bloor-Danforth platform, due to the tunnels being relatively straight and short between stations, adjacent stations are visible if one looks down the tunnel (Dupont
Dupont (TTC)
Dupont is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Spadina Road at 278 Dupont Street....
north from the Spadina platform and Bathurst
Bathurst (TTC)
Bathurst is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 565 Bloor Street West at Bathurst Street. It was opened in 1966...
west from the Bloor platform).
Entrances
The station has entrances on Spadina Road at Kendal Avenue (for the Spadina line platform, opened 19781978 in Canada
-Incumbents:*Monarch: Elizabeth II*Governor General: Jules Léger*Prime Minister: Pierre Trudeau*Premier of Alberta: Peter Lougheed*Premier of British Columbia: W.R...
), and at 371 Bloor Street
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
and Spadina Road (for the Bloor line platform, opened 1966). Early proposals for the Bloor-Danforth Subway showed the station name as "Walmer".
Architecture and art
Spadina Station consists of two separate sections, one for each line, at the same level and 150 metres apart. The north-south platforms were originally planned as a separate station called "Lowther", but the Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
decided to join it to the existing east-west station with a foot tunnel containing a pair of long moving walkway
Moving walkway
A moving walkway or moving sidewalk is a slow moving conveyor mechanism that transports people, across a horizontal...
s, presumably to eliminate the cost of staffing the north-south station. The cost of the moving walkways themselves became an issue when they became due for refurbishment or replacement, and they were shut down in 2004 and removed in the latter part of the year leaving the corridor as a simple underground walkway. The former location of the moving walkways remains visible because the tiles used to cover the moving walkway sites are noticeably different. Warnings to hold the handrails are still embossed on the walls where the ends of the moving walkways were once located.
The station structure on the east side of Spadina Rd. just north of Bloor St. which currently serves as the loop for the 127 Davenport bus was built concurrent with the construction of the Spadina Subway to serve as a looping facility for the 77 Spadina bus.
The Kendal Avenue entrance to the north-south (Spadina line) platforms retains the exterior of the house that was previously on the site. An underground streetcar loop for the 510 Spadina streetcar was added in 1997 near the east-west platforms. The streetcar platform adds Postmodern
Postmodern architecture
Postmodern architecture began as an international style the first examples of which are generally cited as being from the 1950s, but did not become a movement until the late 1970s and continues to influence present-day architecture...
finishes to the station's mix of styles. These range from the basic Modernist
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
tiles of the Bloor-Danforth line platform, to the more intricate round tiles and backlit signage of the Yonge-University-Spadina line platform.
In terms of public art, Spadina features three works. Louise de Neverville's Morning Glory is a surreal enamel mural located near the Kendal Avenue entrance. Barren Ground Caribou by Joyce Wieland
Joyce Wieland
Joyce Wieland, OC was a Canadian experimental filmmaker and mixed media artist.-Life:Joyce Wieland was an experimental filmmaker and artist, whose work challenged and bridged boundaries among avant garde film factions of her time...
is a massive quilt, featuring a group of caribou in a tundra landscape. Large Cedar wood
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
carvings depicting an owl, wolf, and hawk are the work of Fedelia O'Brien, Murphy Green and Chuck Heit of the Gitksan First Nation in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Subway infrastructure in the vicinity
South of the station the tunnel turns off-street and curves eastward through 90 degrees to run briefly parallel to Bloor Street; the connecting tracks from the Bloor-Danforth subway then rise on each side to meet it. BayBay (TTC)
Bay is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 64 Bloor Street West at Bay Street.One major amenity of this station is the Toronto Transit Commission's Lost articles office, where objects lost on TTC property are kept.-History:Bay Station was...
and St. George
St. George (TTC)
St. George is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 323 Bloor Street West at St. George Street. This is the second busiest station, after Bloor-Yonge Station, serving a combined total of approximately ...
stations each have four parallel tracks, two above two. Between these stations and Museum
Museum (TTC)
Museum is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 75 Queen's Park at Charles Street West...
is a full double-track, grade-separated wye junction. The tracks to and from Museum connect to the upper St. George and Lower Bay
Bay (TTC)
Bay is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 64 Bloor Street West at Bay Street.One major amenity of this station is the Toronto Transit Commission's Lost articles office, where objects lost on TTC property are kept.-History:Bay Station was...
stations, while the tracks along Bloor use lower St. George and upper Bay. From February to September 1966
1966 in Canada
-Incumbents:*Monarch: Elizabeth II*Governor General: Georges Vanier*Prime Minister: Lester B. Pearson*Premier of Alberta: Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia: W.A.C...
, all three sides of the wye were used in regular service as part of the TTC's brief 'interlining' experiment. For more details see the Bay
Bay (TTC)
Bay is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 64 Bloor Street West at Bay Street.One major amenity of this station is the Toronto Transit Commission's Lost articles office, where objects lost on TTC property are kept.-History:Bay Station was...
article.
Nearby landmarks
The station is located in The AnnexThe Annex
The Annex is a neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The traditional boundaries of the neighbourhood are north to Dupont Street, south to Bloor Street, west to Bathurst Street and east to Avenue Road...
neighbourhood, and nearby points of interest include the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, the Bloor Street United Church
Bloor Street United Church
Bloor Street United Church is a United Church of Canada church located at 300 Bloor Street West in downtown Toronto, near the intersection with Huron Street. It is just north of the University of Toronto, and between the Spadina and St. George Subway Stations.As with many of the downtown Toronto...
, Trinity-St. Paul's United Church
Trinity-St. Paul's United Church
Trinity-St. Paul's United Church is a church belonging to the United Church of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. It is located at 427 Bloor Street West, just west of Spadina Avenue. The church is formed of a mix of three different former congregations and houses a fourth.Today, Trinity-St. Paul's has a...
, the University of Toronto Schools
University of Toronto Schools
The University of Toronto Schools is an independent secondary day school affiliated with the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, and the northwest side of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Surface connections
- 127 Davenport to St Clair and Old Weston Road
- 510 Spadina to WaterfrontToronto waterfrontThe Toronto waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario in the City of Toronto, Ontario in Canada. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west, and the Rouge River in the East. The entire lakeshore has been significantly altered from its natural glaciated state prior to...
and Union StationUnion Station (Toronto)Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...