lower bay ttc military

TTC warns of military exercise in abandoned Toronto subway station

If you happen to run into a group of uniformed soldiers this weekend during your commute on the TTC, don't panic, because it's all a part of a military exercise that's set to take place in Toronto's only "ghost station." 

This weekend, from March 24 to 26, the 48th Highlanders of Canada, one of Toronto's Army Reserve units, will be conducting a scheduled training exercise at the TTC's Bay Lower Station

The transit commission has alerted members of the public that they might see small groups of unarmed soldiers in uniform in and around Bay Station over the weekend. 

The exercise will take place between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and plenty of signage will be posted up throughout the station to remind you of the activities that are taking place. 

Bay Lower Station isn't actually accessible to the public, so service on Line 2 will resume as normal and there will be no impact on commuters. 

The abandoned station sits below Bay Station and was only in use for six months in 1966. Now, it serves as a training space for new subway drivers, military exercises, film and TV shoots, and is included in festivals like Nuit Blanche and Doors Open Toronto

Unsanctioned visits to the ghost station are both illegal and highly dangerous, so as tempting as it is to see the space for yourself, you should hold off unless you're with a tour guide who has an access key. 

The military exercise event is closed to members of the public, so if you happen to catch a glimpse of one of the soldiers this weekend, consider yourself lucky. 

Lead photo by

Jack Landau


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