DSC said:
I refuse to get my hopes up but this MAY signal the end of the Jersey Barriers @ Union Station!

View attachment 590050
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St. Lawrence Market North (nevermind the ongoing saga that is the Union Station itself - despite the claims of "mission accomplished") is a timely reminder that it ain't over till it is over.

AoD
 
Natika33 said:
Okay, but what you showed was an Obentoyasan - a kiosk for bento boxed lunches. You *might* have been able to get a small personal sized carton of milk there, but not a full 1L or more meant for a family.

I agree that stuff in Union closes early though. It would be nice if a few places, especially something like a convenience store, were open the entire time trains/buses are running.
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Not the best example I suppose, but I am sure I have seen convenience kiosks on platforms. I don't think they'd have any family size items either.
Now that I think about it, do they even sell large size drinks at station convenience stores?
K-FamilyMart_platform_of_Kintetsu_Tomio_station_store.JPG
K-FamilyMart_in_front_of_No.8_platform_on_the_groundsurface_of_Kintetsu_Uehonmachi_station_store.JPG

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:K-FamilyMart_platform_of_Kintetsu_Tomio_station_store.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...face_of_Kintetsu_Uehonmachi_station_store.JPG
 
11th said:
Not the best example I suppose, but I am sure I have seen convenience kiosks on platforms. I don't think they'd have any family size items either.
Now that I think about it, do they even sell large size drinks at station convenience stores?
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Why would they? Stores at stations are for serving passengers, especially those looking for snacks on their travels. I wouldn't expect any store at a station to sell anything over 750ml.

I can't remember every single store when I was at Berlin Hbf but I don't think anything there sold anything full size. The convenience stores in Berlin Hbf/Koln Hbf were similar to what Union has on the GO concourse - small convenience stores selling cans and bottles.
 
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Mihairokov said:
Why would they? Stores at stations are for serving passengers, especially those looking for snacks on their travels. I wouldn't expect any store at a station to sell anything over 750ml.
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My response was stemmed from a post commenting on the lack of groceries options at Union station in the late evening hours.
However, if you look at stores at the renovated station: LCBO, Sephora, Decathlon; a convenience store/mini grocer (that closes late) doesn't look out of place.
 
Mihairokov said:
Why would they? Stores at stations are for serving passengers, especially those looking for snacks on their travels. I wouldn't expect any store at a station to sell anything over 750ml.

I can't remember every single store when I was at Berlin Hbf but I don't think anything there sold anything full size. The convenience stores in Berlin Hbf/Koln Hbf were similar to what Union has on the GO concourse - small convenience stores selling cans and bottles.
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This appears to be inside Berlin Hbf:

maps.app.goo.gl

REWE · Berlin

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

Zurich Hbf has at least two:

maps.app.goo.gl

Migros-Supermarkt - Zürich - Hauptbahnhof · Zürich

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

maps.app.goo.gl

Coop · Zürich

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

I don't think it's that uncommon.

In general in my experience travelling a bit in Switzerland grocery stores at train stations are very common.
 
11th said:
My response was stemmed from a post commenting on the lack of groceries options at Union station in the late evening hours.
However, if you look at stores at the renovated station: LCBO, Sephora, Decathlon; a convenience store/mini grocer (that closes late) doesn't look out of place.
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Agreed. Not sure where the best place for it to go would be but the option would be nice. Something open later than 8/9pm, especially considering VIA trains if they run on time arrive after 10PM.
bearcat said:
This appears to be inside Berlin Hbf:

Zurich Hbf has at least two:

I don't think it's that uncommon.

In general in my experience travelling a bit in Switzerland grocery stores at train stations are very common.
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Good shout. Berlin Hbf is incredible and I recommend anyone who likes transport even remotely to visit it at some point. Fantastic station in every way.
 
bearcat said:
This appears to be inside Berlin Hbf:

maps.app.goo.gl

REWE · Berlin

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

Zurich Hbf has at least two:

maps.app.goo.gl

Migros-Supermarkt - Zürich - Hauptbahnhof · Zürich

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

maps.app.goo.gl

Coop · Zürich

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

I don't think it's that uncommon.

In general in my experience travelling a bit in Switzerland grocery stores at train stations are very common.
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These are all stations with a large number of inter-urban trains and it would certainly make sense to 'stock-up' with provisions before setting out on a longer trip. Most trains at Union are local with less need for nourishment en route! As was suggested earlier, if one is going to one's suburban home and needs food/drink it would be far better to buy it on arrival. I assume the reason there are no convenience stores at Union is that nobody thinks they can run one profitably.
 
DSC said:
These are all stations with a large number of inter-urban trains and it would certainly make sense to 'stock-up' with provisions before setting out on a longer trip. Most trains at Union are local with less need for nourishment en route! As was suggested earlier, if one is going to one's suburban home and needs food/drink it would be far better to buy it on arrival. I assume the reason there are no convenience stores at Union is that nobody thinks they can run one profitably.
Click to expand...

Discussions have been had about some variation of a grocer in Union.
 
bearcat said:
I don't think it's that uncommon.

In general in my experience travelling a bit in Switzerland grocery stores at train stations are very common.
Click to expand...
It seems pretty universal to me - not so much on the platform, but in the station.

Most London train stations (the termini at least) all seem to have a Marks and Spencer's Express these days - often open to 11 pm or midnight. Looking at Paddington for example, there's both a M&S and a Sainsbury's Local; the biggest seller is could be pre-packaged sandwiches - though on one occasion I brought some M&S clothes in St. Pancras (or was it King's Cross)! Not entirely universal - offhand,

I can't recall seeing one in either Charing Cross or Marylebone stations.
 
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DSC said:
These are all stations with a large number of inter-urban trains and it would certainly make sense to 'stock-up' with provisions before setting out on a longer trip. Most trains at Union are local with less need for nourishment en route! As was suggested earlier, if one is going to one's suburban home and needs food/drink it would be far better to buy it on arrival. I assume the reason there are no convenience stores at Union is that nobody thinks they can run one profitably.
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Well you can't really buy groceries on arrival at most GO stations as there is no retail at all there. Unfortunately.
 
bearcat said:
Well you can't really buy groceries on arrival at most GO stations as there is no retail at all there. Unfortunately.
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Yes, I know that but that does not mean it would make any more sense to open a convenience store at Union. As I said above " I assume the reason there are no convenience stores at Union is that nobody thinks they can run one profitably." and I assume this is even more so at stand-alone GO stations.
 
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