the rich history of toronto terminals railway

The Toronto Terminals Railway (TTR) was created and incorporated by an act of the Canadian Parliament as a jointly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to acquire land and construct and manage the Canadian Passenger service at Union Station in Toronto. Its purpose was to provide the necessary tracks, sidings, and terminal facilities for all passengers, express services and Canadian mail service traffic as our country moved away from horse and buggy.

Initial station designs proved insufficient to handle growing traffic. Construction of a third Union Station began in 1914 but was delayed due to World War I shortages. In 1923, GTR was merged into Canadian National Railway (CNR), making TTR jointly owned 50/50 by CNR and CPR (now CPKC).

TTR oversaw major infrastructure projects including the station platforms, viaduct, and train shed. On September 1, 1937, the interlocking system controlled from Cherry, Scott, and John Street towers became fully operational, guiding all train movements in and out of Union Station.

TTR played a crucial role in train operations during major events such as the 1944 snowstorm, which paralyzed Toronto and required steam locomotives to clear snow from track switches.

With the launch of GO Transit in 1967 and increased train traffic, TTR worked alongside of GO Transit to ensure the commuter train service would become one of the best commuters services in north America. As owners of the track and station TTR helped coordinate the addition of new tracks and signal infrastructure to support commuter growth.

TTR sold off its Central Heating Plant, which at the time, supplied heating to every high rise building south of King Street and contributed to urban redevelopment projects including the Skywalk and John Street pedestrian bridge.

In 2000, TTR sold Union Station to the City of Toronto and the track and signal infrastructure ofthe Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC) to the Province of Ontario. Whilst GO Transit acquired the rail assets of the USRC, TTR continued to operate and maintain USRC infrastructure under TTR’s railway operating certificate.

TTR remains as a fully qualified partner in track and signal maintenance, safety, and technological advancements within the USRC. In 2009, responsibility for Union Station entire operations were completely transferred over to the City of Toronto, and TTR’s focus shifted fully to USRC rail operations.

TTR continued to deliver critical track and signal services, enabling daily train trip in and out of Union Station to increase from 100 to over 3180 train trips daily through the USRC, serving more than 61 million annual riders. It also supported the ongoing modernization of infrastructure, including preparations for the future replacement of the original mechanical interlocking system.

The Operations department was a cornerstone of TTR’s mission from the early 20th century through to mid-2024. Central to this group were the Train Movement Directors (TMDs), who operated out of the historic interlocking towers John Street, Cherry Street, and Scott Street. These professionals, certified in Canadian Rail Operating Rules, were responsible for safely routing trains, coordinating work blocks for construction activity, and ensuring the smooth functioning of over 25 miles of circuited track within the USRC.

Their work helped ensure the timely arrival of millions of commuters and the safe integration of train traffic with ongoing infrastructure projects. For decades, they operated a mechanical interlocking system that stood as one of North America’s last remaining of its kind.

In July 2024, TTR’s Operations Department officially ceased to exist, as responsibility for network operations within the USRC transitioned to Metrolinx. This marked the end of an era, closing a historic chapter of TTR’s role in controlling train movements and highlighting a shift toward modernization and centralized regional control.