After 15 years, Line 5 Eglinton finally begins service Sunday February 8th!

Map of Line 5 Eglinton listing twenty-five new stations and stops

This Sunday February 8th, Toronto’s longest transit network expansion ever begins service. Rides will be free on Sunday, and the TTC is calling this a “phased opening” reflecting the limited service levels and times, and the risk of the privately-built, Metrolinx-controlled infrastructure, which has proven unimpressive along Line 6. The Eglinton Crosstown was the first Transit City light rail line to begin construction, but was beset by many delays and challenges over the last 15 years. Say hello to Line 5!

Line 5 Eglinton is a new 19-kilometre half-tunnel, half-surface light rail line running from Mount Dennis station in the west (connecting with GO and UPX trains) to Kennedy station in the east (connecting with GO and Line 2 trains). It also connects with Line 1 at Cedarvale (formerly Eglinton West) and Eglinton stations.

TTC schedules indicate a significant decrease in travel time compared to the current bus service, in both tunneled and surface sections. This, along with improved consistency of travel time, should bring significant benefits to riders across Toronto. Reliability is one of the biggest predictors of transit success, so we’ll be keeping an eye on ridership and on-time performance for sure.

For the phased opening, Line 5 LRT service will run longer than Line 6’s early service levels, from 5:30 AM – 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday and 7:30 AM – 11:00 PM on Sundays and holidays. After this winter’s “soft launch” period, our understanding is that the schedule will be extended to match the rest of the rapid transit network, and a formal launch event will be held once the TTC moved to their regular service schedule, expected in May.

CodeRedTO volunteers will be along the route on Sunday February 8 starting at 7:30 AM with some free pins for the first riders – keep your eyes peeled!

(would you like a bag to hand out too? Write to info @ CodeRedTO.com before Sunday!)

Toronto is in the middle of a very large transit expansion, with new lines and stations expected to open fairly regularly over the next decade. You can learn more about the expansion projects on the City of Toronto’s Transit Expansion website. And if you like maps, they’ve got a doozy too!

We hope to see you on Line 5 one day very soon!

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CALL your City Councillor, and tell them that you want rational, affordable, and rapid transit in Toronto to benefit everyone, not just one small section of the city. Rapid transit to Malvern, Morningside, and Waterfront East are achievable if we learn from successful transit networks around the world.

TELL your friends and family that new rapid transit is amazing - it really is! - but unless we stabilize and grow operations funding we risk leaving people waiting for crowded buses for decades longer.

Did you know: The bus routes on Finch carry as many riders per day as the population of North Bay! Routes on Lawrence, Jane, and elsewhere also carry a huge number of riders per day. We are decades behind and need more and better transit options for our residents now, not just small extensions that use up all the budget.

Contact us at info@CodeRedTO.com

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