What to know
- Toronto’s Line 5, or Eglinton Crosstown LRT, is getting a few new upgrades, including later and more frequent service.
- Trains will run until 1:20 a.m. on weekdays, Sundays, and holidays, and until 12:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
- During peak hours, trains will run every four minutes, and during off-peak hours, trains will run every six to 10 minutes.
Toronto’s newest transit line is getting extended hours and more frequent trips as the next step of its rollout.
In a news release, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) announced train service on Line 5, otherwise known as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, will be extended to 1:20 a.m. on weekdays, 12:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 1:20 a.m. on Sundays and holidays.
“These expanded service hours are the next step as the TTC and Metrolinx work towards full, regularly scheduled service on Line 5,” the transit agency said in the release.
Trains along Line 5 will also run more frequently, with a train arriving every four minutes during peak hours and every six to 10 minutes during non-peak times.
In case Line 5 is down, its replacement shuttle buses will also be running until 1:20 a.m. each night. Commuters can board shuttle buses inside Eglinton, Cedarvale and Mount Dennis bus terminals and at bus stops near Line 5 along Eglinton Avenue.
The agency also promised that “additional transit priority measures are in the works and will be rolled out in the coming months” which the TTC says will improve commute speeds.
“This next phase in the opening of Line 5 Eglinton will include additional trains, more reliable round-trip travel times, and the completion of transit signal priority along Eglinton.”
Speaker problems
Despite how smoothly the trains on Line 5 have been running, there has been one blaring issue: the speakers.
Passengers have complained about the speakers on the transit route, noting the announcements have sounded distorted, muted, and have been playing for longer than necessary — sometimes up to 30 seconds.
In an email statement to Now Toronto, Metrolink said it “has been working with our Line 5 Maintainer and the TTC to identify audio issues, recognizing that individual sensitivity varies.”
The agency added, “With feedback collected during the soft-opening, Metrolinx and TTC have made adjustments and will continue to make improvements, where possible, to ensure an enjoyable experience for all riders.”
