Years-long renovations have turned the once-majestic Queen’s Park and St. Patrick Stations on the TTC’s Line 1 into literal shells of their former selves, but after years of unsightly upgrades, the stations’ missing finishes are finally reappearing.
The busy subway stops along University Avenue have been undergoing long-term renovations since November 2017, which have left the tube-shaped platforms partially stripped down to their structural tunnel liners.
While some have grown accustomed to this grungy utilitarian look, the years of disrepair appear to finally be drawing to a close as the TTC works to reinstall finishes on the long-barren platform walls — reminding commuters of just how much more impressive these stations were several years ago.
St Patrick Station amid the platforms’ tile reinstallation in March 2025.
However, if you’re expecting sparkling-clean stations restored to their former glory any time soon, you might not want to hold your breath.
Finishes are now gradually being installed on the curved platform walls, with Queen’s Park retaining its off-white with powder blue accents and St. Patrick once again sporting its characteristic green tiling.
Queen’s Park Station amid the platforms’ tile reinstallation in March 2025.
The tile finishes now reappearing on the stations’ platform levels may look noticeably dirty, but these are actually not the same old tiles removed all those years ago. Instead, we are looking at replacement panels that have been installed as one of the final steps in a long-term project to remove asbestos from the stations.
St Patrick’s signature green finishes reappearing at platform level.
It appears that a fair bit of dirt and grime has accumulated on the panels during their years of storage, but this will likely wipe off easily once work wraps up.
New tiles may look a bit worse for wear during the installation process.
Though the TTC officially began its current round of asbestos abatement for the stations in fall 2023, the tube-like stops have been stripped of their tiles for much longer.
Grime and dirt at the base of the tiles will be polished away in the months to come.
Finishes were first removed from these and several other TTC stations in 2017, though work on these two stations — which are unique from all others on the network with their curved tile finishes — has lingered on for approaching eight years now.
Tiles covering up the platform walls that have been exposed for years.
And it’s looking like the job may indeed surpass the eight-year mark, as the TTC’s page for the project states that work to install new tiles at these stations could last into 2026.
The long-awaited restoration of tile finishes at St. Patrick and Queen’s Park follows complaints from commuters over the deplorable appearance of stations along this portion of Line 1 undergoing long-term upgrades.
One of the St Patrick Station platforms still awaits the start of tile reinstallation.
And while transitgoers have indeed been frustrated by the never-ending construction, the delicate task of asbestos removal can only be done in tightly controlled environments that include dust-proof enclosures with workers wearing respirators. It is not the type of work that can be safely conducted during subway service hours.
This portion of track has also been subject to numerous planned closures and service reductions in recent years as the TTC works to complete the project.
