Union Station Bus Terminal Toronto: Location & Directions

Anyone who has ever dashed from a GO train to catch a bus knows that Toronto’s Union Station is not just a train hub — it’s a transit ecosystem. In December 2020, Metrolinx opened a new Union Station Bus Terminal at 81 Bay Street, replacing the aging surface lot and adding 14 covered bus bays. Below is a breakdown of where it is, how to get there, and what you need to know before your next trip.

Location: 81 Bay Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto · Opened: December 5, 2020 · Bus Bays: 14 · Hours: 5:00 AM – 2:50 AM daily · Amenities: Wi-Fi, washrooms, climate-controlled waiting area

The table below summarizes the terminal’s key specifications.

Where is the Union Station Bus Terminal in Toronto?

Address and exact location

• 81 Bay Street, 2nd floor, Toronto, ON (GO Transit – official map and address)
• Located at the north-east corner of Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard (GO Transit)
• Part of the CIBC Square development (Metrolinx – provincial transportation authority)

How to find the terminal within CIBC Square

• Main entrance on Lake Shore Boulevard, just east of Bay Street (GO Transit)
• Alternate entrance on the east side of Bay Street, across from Scotiabank Arena (GO Transit)
• Indoor pedestrian bridge over Bay Street connects to Scotiabank Arena, PATH, and Union Station (Metrolinx)

Access from Bay Street

• From Union Station concourse, follow signs to Bay Street exit (Metrolinx)
• Turn right on Bay Street and walk south toward Lake Shore Boulevard (Metrolinx)
• Terminal entrance on east side of Bay Street; take escalators up to second floor (YouTube guide – urban transit reviewer)

The implication: Union Station Bus Terminal is effectively woven into the PATH system, making transfers weather‑proof and surprisingly fast for a complex of this size.

How do I get to Union Station Bus Terminal from Union Station?

Walking route from Union Station

• From the Main Concourse (at 65 Front Street), follow signs toward Bay Street / Scotiabank Arena (Metrolinx)
• Exit onto Bay Street through the doors near the York Concourse (Metrolinx)
• Turn right and walk south two blocks to Lake Shore Boulevard (GO Transit)
• Interior alternative: use the PATH walkway through the CIBC Square parking garage — you stay indoors the entire way (Metrolinx)

Directions via TTC subway

• Take Line 1 to Union Station (TTC – Toronto’s transit commission)
• From subway platform, follow “Bay Street/GO Concourse” signs up to the York Concourse (Metrolinx)
• From there, the same route as above

Driving and parking options

• No dedicated terminal parking; nearest paid lots at CIBC Square garage (entrance on Bay Street) (GO Transit)
• Alternatively, park at Green P lots south on Lake Shore Boulevard (GO Transit)
• Drop‑off zone available at the terminal entrance on Lake Shore Boulevard (GO Transit)

The pattern: whether you come by subway, train, or private car, the terminal is designed for the pedestrian — not the driver. The few steps from transit far outweigh the cost and hassle of parking.

What is the difference between Greyhound and FlixBus?

Two major intercity carriers operate from Union Station Bus Terminal, yet their pricing models and onboard experience differ sharply. Below is a direct comparison drawn from their official policies and user reports.

What this means: if you book a week in advance and travel light, FlixBus usually wins on price. If you need broader route options or plan to transport bulky luggage, Greyhound gives more flexibility.

The comparison shows that advance booking favors FlixBus, while Greyhound offers more predictable pricing for walk-ups.

What is a terminal where buses arrive and depart?

Definition of a bus terminal

• A bus terminal is a designated facility where passengers board and alight intercity, commuter, or local transit buses (Wikipedia – user‑contributed encyclopedia)
• Unlike a simple bus stop, a terminal typically has multiple bays, ticket counters, waiting areas, and amenities (Wikipedia)

Components of a bus terminal

• Bus bays (designated loading positions), passenger waiting areas, ticket sales, washrooms, and sometimes retail (Wikipedia – bus station facilities)
• Modern terminals may also include climate control, digital departure boards, and indoor connections to other transit modes (GO Transit)

Union Station Bus Terminal as an example

• Features 14 bus bays, a climate‑controlled waiting area, free Wi‑Fi, washrooms, and digital departure screens (GO Transit)
• Indoor connection to the PATH network makes it a model for intermodal design (Metrolinx)
• Replaced a surface‑level bus station that had only 7 bays and exposed passengers to the elements (YouTube guide – urban transit reviewer)

The catch: a bus terminal is only as good as its connections. USBT succeeds because it plugs directly into trains, subway, and footpaths — not just because it has comfortable chairs.

What is the biggest bus station?

Largest bus stations in North America

• Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City is the world’s busiest: 223 bays, serving 200,000 daily passengers (Port Authority of NY & NJ – official terminal page)
• Other large terminals: West 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal (Manhattan), Los Angeles Union Station (bus plaza) (Wikipedia – list of bus terminals)

How Union Station Bus Terminal compares

• With 14 bays, USBT is a mid‑sized facility by North American standards (Metrolinx)
• For context, Toronto Coach Terminal (the older terminal at 610 Bay Street) has 16 bays — similar capacity but aging infrastructure (Wikipedia – Toronto Coach Terminal)
• Port Authority Bus Terminal is roughly 16 times larger in bay count (Port Authority of NY & NJ)

Size and capacity of Union Station Bus Terminal

• 14 bus bays, two levels, designed for 8–10 buses per hour per bay at peak (Metrolinx)
• Exact daily passenger capacity not publicly disclosed (AmtrakTrains forum – rail enthusiast community)
• Currently serves GO Transit, Greyhound, FlixBus, and several smaller operators (GO Transit)

The trade‑off: bigger isn’t always better. USBT’s advantage lies in its connectivity and indoor design, not raw size. For the average traveller, a comfortable 14‑bay terminal with seamless transit links beats a cavernous 223‑bay terminal that requires a 10‑minute walk to the train.

What riders are saying

The Union Station Bus Terminal offers a safe, comfortable and convenient space featuring a climate-controlled waiting area, Wi‑Fi, bathrooms and more.

— GO Transit (Metrolinx), official description on the transit agency’s website

The new terminal is completely indoors and much more convenient. The old one required walking along a platform exposed to the weather.

— Urban transit reviewer, comprehensive YouTube guide to Union Station

For Toronto travellers, the choice is clear: the Union Station Bus Terminal has raised the bar for intercity bus travel in the city. Whether you are a daily commuter or an occasional visitor, the terminal’s indoor connectivity, modern amenities, and streamlined design make it a far superior option to its predecessor. The real test will come when weekend traffic fully returns — but for now, this is a terminal that works.

Travelers arriving at the terminal can easily connect to Montreal to Toronto bus services that depart regularly from the same facility.

Frequently asked questions

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