Lower Bay Station operated for just six months as part of an ambitious TTC experiment that allowed trains to move between subway lines. However, the arrangement proved confusing for passengers and contributed to delays throughout the system. The experiment was abandoned, the lower platform was closed, and regular passenger service ended in September 1966.
Nearly six decades later, Lower Bay remains one of Toronto’s most fascinating hidden places. While the station has been used for operator training, film productions, and other TTC purposes over the years, much of its original mid-century character remains intact.
That authenticity has made Lower Bay a sought-after filming location for decades. The station has appeared in numerous film and television productions. This includes The Boys, and it also serves as the backdrop for commercials, music videos, and major studio projects. Its vintage design allows filmmakers to transform the space into everything from a New York City subway station to a fictional urban transit hub.
Although normally closed to the public, Lower Bay occasionally opens during Doors Open Toronto, giving visitors a rare opportunity to descend the long stairway and explore a forgotten piece of the city’s transit history.
Standing on the decommissioned platform offers a unique glimpse into Toronto‘s past and a reminder that some of the city’s most remarkable places remain hidden beneath its busy streets.
The Need To Know Details
- Film and TV appearances: Lower Bay Station has appeared in numerous productions, including The Boys, The Handmaid’s Tale, Suicide Squad, and Johnny Mnemonic, along with numerous commercials, music videos, and other film and television projects
- What: Lower Bay Station is a decommissioned TTC platform located beneath Bay Station in downtown Toronto.
- Location: Directly beneath Bay Station in downtown Toronto
- Opened & closed to regular service: Opened: February 1966. Closed: September 1966, after the TTC ended its short-lived interlining experiment
- Historic features: Much of the platform’s mid-century design remains intact, helping preserve its distinctive 1960s character
- Public access: Lower Bay is normally closed to the public
- Special openings: The station has periodically opened during Doors Open Toronto and select TTC events, though not every year
