What to know
- Line 6 Finch West will be fully closed from May 15 at 2:30 a.m. until May 19 at 4 a.m., with shuttle buses replacing train service along the route.
- Metrolinx says the closure will allow for system upgrades, staff training and reliability improvements ahead of increased demand during the upcoming World Cup.
- Line 2 Bloor-Danforth will also end service early between May 19 and May 22 for planned track work, with shuttle buses and Wheel-Trans service available for riders.
Those commuting in Toronto this long weekend might have to update their plans, as Line 6 Finch West will be closed for system upgrades only months after it first opened.
As Toronto gears up for the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend, Metrolinx and the TTC have announced they will co-coordinate a service closure for Line 6 from Friday, May 15, at 2:30 a.m. to Tuesday, May 19, at 4 a.m., with service resuming at the start of the day on Tuesday.
Service across the entire line will be completely suspended for that period, while replacement shuttle buses will run to ensure commuters are still able to travel through the corridor.
According to the transit agencies, the scheduled service suspension will allow for system upgrades and enhancements that will improve the line’s reliability and performance down the line.
The closure will also allow the TTC to train additional staff for key roles across the line, which the agencies say is not possible while the trains operate.
“Completing this work in a single, coordinated closure reduces the need for multiple repeated service interruptions later,” Metrolinx said in a statement.
In addition, the transit agency says the Victoria Day weekend closure was also strategically scheduled to accommodate World Cup preparations.
Early ridership numbers suggest that about 9,500 commuters ride Line 6 every day, but the transit agency expects to see a significant increase in ridership demand during the World Cup, which is now less than a month away.
Line 6 connects Etobicoke North to the subway Line 1, making 18 stops along Finch Avenue West from Keele Street to Highway 27.
The long-awaited LRT opened last December, despite being initially scheduled to open two years at the end of 2023. Since then, it has faced sharp criticism from riders, who raised concerns about its slow travel times, constant delays and operational disruptions.
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Despite the Victoria Day weekend closure coming only months after the LRT’s launch, Metrolinx says the line has since “demonstrated steady operational improvements.”
“On-time performance has increased every month, with a 25 per cent improvement since launch, while round-trip travel times have been reduced by 16 minutes. The work completed during this closure will help support further reductions in scheduled travel times,” Metrolinx said.
Line 2 closing early next week
Line 6 is not the only one scheduled for closure next week.
From Monday, May 19 to Friday, May 22, Line 2 Bloor-Danforth will also be ending its service early at 11:59 p.m. for planned track work.
During the closures, all stations except for Warden Station will be open to let travellers purchase or load their PRESTO cards or tickets, while shuttle buses and Wheel-Trans service will be available to assist customers.
