Beltline Trail Commemorative Stations

In the early 1890s, the Belt Line Railway connected new suburbs to downtown in a circular route around the city. Today, it is known as the Beltline Trail, a popular 4.5-kilometre tree-lined corridor enjoyed by all. Two new interpretive installations are being added along the trail to commemorate the Belt Line Railway as a part of Toronto’s Heritage.

The Fairbank commemorative station will be located west of Dufferin Street, and the Forest Hill Lost Station will be located at Bathurst Street. The design for each installation will be determined with the help of community feedback.

  • Fall 2023: Community engagement for Fairbank Station
  • Winter 2023/2024 to Spring 2024: Site analysis and concept design of Forest Hill Commemorative Station
  • Summer 2024: Community engagement for Forest Hill Station
  • Fall 2024 to Winter 2024/2025: Detailed design
  • Spring 2025: Hire a construction team
  • Summer 2025: Construction starts
  • Fall 2025: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

September 2024

Online Survey

From August 28 to September 17, 2024, an online survey collected community feedback from at least 244 community members on two design options for the Forest Hill Lost Station.

Feedback Summary

Overall, 45 per cent of respondents preferred Design Option B and 41 per cent preferred Design Option A.

In response to Design Option A:

  • 92 per cent liked the addition of an accessible ramp
  • 82 per cent liked the access from the Beltline trail
  • 75 per cent agreed there were enough seating options
  • 73 per cent agreed there were enough plaques/historical interpretative elements
  • 64 per cent agreed the station design was inclusive
  • 48 per cent agreed there were enough plantings

In response to Design Option B:

  • 86 per cent liked the addition of an accessible ramp
  • 78 per cent liked the access from the Beltline trail
  • 70 per cent agreed there were enough seating options
  • 68 per cent agreed there were enough plaques/historical interpretative elements
  • 63 per cent agreed the station design was inclusive
  • 56 per cent agreed there were enough plantings

In total, 38 per cent of respondents provided comments or suggestions, some of which were beyond the scope of this project. This feedback included:

  • Overall design: Some respondents suggested making the design more reminiscent of a railway station and including more interactive, decorative or whimsical elements. There was also a call to protect the station against vandalism.
  • Amenities: There was a strong demand for a drinking fountain or bottle filling station. Suggestions also included the addition of shaded or sheltered areas, garbage bins, tables, bike parking, a bike repair station, power outlets and lighting.
  • Greenery: A few emphasized the importance of adding more plants, including flowers, grasses, shrubs and native species.
  • Signage and interpretation: There were calls to include more historical information and to commemorate the local community. Some suggested including the word “lost” on the station sign.
  • Seating: Some suggested the inclusion of longer benches or the removal of armrests from the proposed benches. Others called for separate shorter benches and backrests on all seating.
  • Safety: There was a request for lighting and a suggestion to include an emergency call button.
  • Accessibility: Many emphasized the need to include accessible ramps for mobility devices and strollers on both sides of the platform as well as handrails.
  • Indigenous Placemaking: There was a call to honour Indigenous peoples in the design rather than focusing solely on the colonial history associated with the site.
Design Option A

Rendering/drawing of Option A illustrating how the Forest Hill Lost Station faces and integrates with the Belt Line Trail and is nestled into existing and new planting.

Site plan of Option A showing a long linear station platform with a linear bench as well as the location of other key features and amenities described following the image.

  1. Belt Line Trail
  2. Hydro wires
  3. Existing trees/shrubs
  4. Accessible concrete ramp
  5. Wood platform
  6. Rail edge
  7. Long bench
  8. Planting
  9. Station sign
  10. Crushed stone edge
  11. Railing
  12. Plaque/interpretive element
Design Option B

Rendering/drawing of Option B illustrating how the triangular-shaped station platform is nestled into existing and new planting beside the Belt Line Trail.

Plan view of Option B showing a triangular-shaped station platform with an angled bench as well as the location of key features and amenities described following the image.

  1. Belt Line Trail
  2. Hydro wires
  3. Existing trees/shrubs
  4. Accessible concrete ramp
  5. Wood platform
  6. Rail edge
  7. Angled bench
  8. Planting
  9. Station sign
  10. Crushed stone edge
  11. Railing
  12. Plaque/interpretive element

January 2024

Construction of the Fairbank Lost Station will continue as planned, while the Fairbank Junction Station will be deferred indefinitely due to the ongoing construction of the Metrolinx Caledonia Station. As a result of the Fairbank Junction Lost Station deferral, the Forest Hill Lost Station will be added where the Beltline meets Bathurst Street.

October 2023

Online Survey

From September 25 to October 15, 2023, an online survey collected feedback from at least 395 community members on two design options for the Fairbank Lost Station.

Feedback Summary

Overall, 53 per cent of respondents preferred Design Option B and 35 per cent preferred Design Option A.

In response to Design Option A:

  • 86 per cent of respondents liked the inclusion of an accessible ramp
  • 76 per cent liked the access from the Beltline trail
  • 62 per cent agreed there are enough plaques/historical interpretative elements
  • 59 per cent agreed the station design is inclusive
  • 57 per cent agreed there are enough plantings in the station design
  • 38 per cent agreed there are enough seating options throughout the station design

In response to Design Option B:

  • 78 per cent of respondents liked the inclusion of an accessible ramp
  • 69 per cent liked the access from the Beltline trail
  • 67 per cent agreed there are enough plaques/historical interpretative elements
  • 59 per cent agreed the station design is inclusive
  • 67 per cent agreed there are enough plantings in the station design
  • 52 per cent agreed there are enough seating options throughout the station design

In total, 36 per cent of respondents provided comments or suggestions, some of which were beyond the scope of this project. This feedback included:

  • Safety: Many prioritized better lighting for nighttime use and some advocated for other features that enhance safety.
  • Amenities: There was a strong demand for more seating, particularly in shaded areas. Suggestions also included the addition of garbage cans, bike parking, fitness and playground equipment, a dog park, drinking fountains, and washrooms.
  • Greenery: Some emphasized the importance of adding more plants and trees, especially native species that support wildlife and pollinators. There was a concern that the designs introduce too much hard infrastructure at the expense of green spaces.
  • Accessibility: Many emphasized the need for accessible ramps in both design options to ensure the station is usable by everyone. Some called for adding a second ramp to Design Option B.
  • Indigenous placemaking: There was a call to honour Indigenous peoples in the design rather than focusing solely on the colonial history associated with the site.
Design Option A

Rendering/drawing of of Option A illustrating a long steel-edged accessible wood platform with ‘railings’ inspired by the bent and broken railway tracks that were left following the abandonment of the Beltline Railway.

Plan view of Option A showing a long triangular wood platform that points away from the main trail and reconnects back again. The station is surrounded with existing and new vegetation and provides a bench facing the main trail, large ‘railings’ on the outer edges, interpretive signage, a station name sign as well as the location of key features and amenities described following the image.

  1. Hydro Wires
  2. Existing trees/shrubs
  3. Accessible ramp
  4. Wood platform
  5. Rail edge
  6. Bench
  7. Sign
  8. Railing
  9. Crushed stone
  10. Plaque/interpretive element
  11. Planting
Design Option B

Rendering/drawing of Option B illustrating an accessible steel-edged angular wood platform directly facing the north end of the Beltline Trail and incorporates the existing kiosk into the design. Surrounded by a variety of plantings, the station is to the side of the Bowie Avenue entry so that its primary face is towards the trail.

Plan view of Option B showing a compact and triangular wood platform at the edge of the existing trail, similar to the existing commemorative platforms farther down the trail. The station integrates a bench facing the main trail, overscale ‘railings’ on the outer edges, interpretive signage, a station name sign as well as the location of key features and amenities described following the image. The platform is immersed with existing and new vegetation and follows the line of the former Beltline Railway tracks.

  1. Hydro Wires
  2. Existing trees/shrubs
  3. Accessible ramp
  4. Wood platform
  5. Rail edge
  6. Bench
  7. Sign
  8. Plaque/interpretive element
  9. Crushed stone
  10. Railing
  11. Planting

Three installations commemorating the former train stations of the Belt Line Railway were installed in 2021: Yonge Station, Upper Canada Station and Eglinton Station. The design for Fairbank Junction and Fairbank commemorative station will have a similar appearance to the existing installations, with a material palette reminiscent of the historical stations.

Locations

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact Max Grandmaison at 416-338-2359.

An aerial map showing the Fairbank commemorative station with a red rectangle, located on an open lawn area along the Beltline Trail, east of Fairbank Avenue and West of Dufferin Street.
The location of the Fairbank commemorative station.
An aerial map shows the location of the Forest Hill Station with a red rectangle on the south side of the Beltline Trail, just west of Bathurst Street.
The location of the Forest Hill commemorative station.

History

In 1892, the Grand Trunk Railway completed construction of the Belt Line, a railway built to connect new suburbs with the downtown in a circular route around the city. While popular in the first few months of operation, the railway service ended in November 1894 and the line from Mt. Pleasant Cemetery to Rosedale was abandoned.

Decades after the Belt Line ended operations, the areas through which the railway once travelled became some of the most desirable neighbourhoods. These new neighbourhoods needed building supplies and fuel, which travelled by rail, so in 1910, the Grand Trunk Railway rebuilt the northern section of the Yonge Street Loop to transport these commodities.

When the W.R. Allen Road opened in the 1970s, the rail service ended east of Marlee Avenue. Kay Gardner and local activists saved the Belt Line from being sold to private owners. The Canadian National Railway Company sold the Belt Line to the City for the purpose of converting it into a recreational trail and linear park.

Today, the 4.5-kilometre corridor is a beautiful tree-lined trail connecting neighbourhoods, parks and open spaces. While none of the Belt Line train stations remain, three of the former locations, referred to as “lost stations”, are now commemorative stations: Eglinton Station, Upper Canada College Station and Yonge Street Station.