What to know
- After 15 years of construction and delays, the 19-kilometre Line 5 Eglinton Crosstown LRT is opening Sunday with a phased “soft” launch, running from Mount Dennis to Kennedy and shorter initial operating hours.
- During the phased opening, trains will run every 4 minutes and 45 seconds at peak times, operate from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on most days, and be free to ride on opening Sunday only.
- The TTC says the phased rollout allows staff to fine-tune service and monitor operations, while major bus routes across Toronto are being adjusted to connect with the new line.
Fifteen years after construction first began, the Line 5 Eglinton LRT is finally set to open Sunday, although commuters have some things to know before jumping onboard.
Background
The 19-kilometre line runs from Mount Dennis station in the west end of the city, to Kennedy station in the east end. Its construction began in 2011 with plans to finish by 2020, but multiple delays and tests tacked on an additional six years to its timeline.
The TTC said it’s implementing a phased opening to finish the final touches.
“Line 5 Eglinton has passed all essential safety requirements,” the TTC said in part on its website. “The soft, phased opening of the line provides additional time for fine-tuning of schedules based on real-world operating conditions and an extended overnight maintenance and operator training window during the initial opening period on Line 5 Eglinton.”
The agency added this move also helps staff become familiar with the line and monitor it for any issues while it’s in service.
Read More
Phased opening
The TTC says it’ll be doing what it calls a “soft” opening, which includes shorter operational hours.
On opening day, the first train will leave Mount Dennis station at 7:37 a.m., with another leaving on the east end at Kennedy station at 7:30 a.m.
Eastbound to Kennedy:
Mount Dennis: 7:37 / 7:45
Keelesdale: 7:40 / 7:48
Caledonia: 7:42 / 7:49
Fairbank: 7:45 / 7:52
Oakwood: 7:46 / 7:54
Cedarvale: 7:48 / 7:55
Forest Hill: 7:50 / 7:58
Chaplin: 7:52 / 7:59
Avenue: 7:54 / 8:01
Eglinton: 7:57 / 8:04
Mount Pleasant: 7:58 / 8:06
Leaside: 8:01 / 8:09
Laird: 8:04 / 8:11
Sunnybrook Park: 8:07 / 8:14
Don Valley: 8:09 / 8:16
Aga Khan Park & Museum: 8:10 / 8:18
Wynford: 8:12 / 8:20
Sloane: 8:16 / 8:23
O’Connor: 8:19 / 8:26
Pharmacy: 8:20 / 8:28
Hakimi Lebovic: 8:22 / 8:30
Golden Mile: 8:23 / 8:31
Birchmount: 8:26 / 8:34
Ionview: 8:27 / 8:35
Westbound to Mount Dennis Station:
Kennedy: 7:30 / 7:51
Ionview: 7:32 / 7:53
Birchmount: 7:34 / 7:55
Golden Mile: 7:37 / 7:58
Hakimi Lebovic: 7:38 / 7:59
Pharmacy: 7:39 / 8:00
O’Connor: 7:41 / 8:02
Sloane: 7:44 / 8:05
Wynford: 7:48 / 8:09
Aga Khan Park & Museum: 7:49 / 8:10
Don Valley: 7:51 / 8:12
Sunnybrook Park: 7:53 / 8:14
Laird: 7:57 / 8:18
Leaside: 7:59 / 8:20
Mount Pleasant: 8:02 / 8:23
Eglinton: 8:04 / 8:25
Avenue: 8:06 / 8:27
Chaplin: 8:08 / 8:29
Forest Hill: 8:10 / 8:31
Cedarvale: 8:13 / 8:34
Oakwood: 8:14 / 8:35
Fairbank: 8:15 / 8:36
Caledonia: 8:18 / 8:39
Keelesdale: 8:20 / 8:41
Scheduled hours
During the phased opening, the Line 5 LRT will be running on a shortened time schedule.
These hours are as follows:
Monday to Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Holidays from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Line 5 shuttle buses will take over for the trains beginning at 10 p.m. and running until 1:20 a.m.
These shuttle buses will pick up passengers at bus stops as usual, except at Kennedy, Eglinton, Cedarvale and Mount Dennis, where they will pick up and drop off only at their respective stations.
Following this shuttle service, a Blue Night Network bus will service the route Monday to Saturday and holidays from 1:20 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., as well as on Sundays from 1:20 a.m. to 8 a.m.
The provincial government confirmed on Friday that six months after its opening, the Line 5 trains will switch to a long schedule, and run from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Frequency
The Ontario government says while the LRT is on its phased opening, trains will be arriving at stations every four minutes and forty five seconds during peak periods.
Once the transition to regular service happens after six months, trains can be expected every three minutes and thirty seconds during busy periods.
Free ride day for Line 5, but not TTC
As the line finally opens Sunday, commuters can enjoy the ride for free from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Unfortunately, this free commute does not extend to other TTC services on the same day. The TTC advises anyone planning to transfer to another line or form of transportation from Line 5 to pay their fare or risk facing a fine as usual.
Paying fare
When paying fare on the trains, Presto card readers are available onboard for Presto card or bank card use.
If wanting to pay with coins, the TTC said riders can deposit them on Single Ride Vending Machines found on bus stop platforms. It said customers must remember to take a paper transfer as Proof-of-Payment.
If getting on Line 5 through a station, customers can pay as normal through station gates prior to boarding.
Main transfers
The main stations connected to Line 5 are Line 1 on both Yonge and University for Cedarvale and Eglinton stations, Line 2 and GO Transit for the Stouffville Line at Kennedy Station, as well as GO Transit for the Kitchener Line and the UP Express through Mount Dennis Station. Bus 68 is also accessible near all of Line 5.
Accessibility
Much like existing streetcars in and around the city, the Line 5 train will have similar audio and visual announcements for stops and other information, as well as designated blue priority seating onboard.
Service changes
The opening of Line 5 has also caused some service changes to existing routes, according to the TTC:
32 Eglinton West – The bus will be adjusted to operate between Mount Dennis and Renforth Station. Service along Eglinton will be replaced by Line 5 as well as the new 34 Eglinton. The 32C will be replaced by the 158 Trethewey. The 73B Royal York, which replaced the 32D, will continue to run.
35 Jane – The route will be adjusted to run between Mount Dennis Station and Pioneer Village Station. Stops between Jane Station and Eglinton will now be serviced by 27 Jane South.
47 Lansdowne – The route will adjust to run between Caledonia Station and Queen Street West. The new 18 Caledonia bus will replace service between Yorkdale Station and Eglinton Avenue West.
51 Leslie – Service previously provided by 56 Leaside will be replaced by the 51 Leslie bus. The 151 Leslie North will be added to run on Leslie Street, north of Leslie Station, to Steeles Avenue East.
56 Leaside – The 51A will run between Donlands Station and Leslie Station, while the 51B will operate between Donlands Station and Don Mills, which replaces the 162 Lawrence-Donway.
54 Lawrence East – This service will be adjusted to operate between Don Valley Station and Morningside Avenue and Starspray Boulevard. Previous service on Lawrence Avenue East, Leslie Street, and Eglinton Avenue East will be replaced by the adjusted 34 Eglinton, 51 Leslie, 162 Lawrence-Donway, and Line 5 Eglinton.
71 Runnymede – This route will be adjusted to now operate through Mount Dennis Station both ways.
72 Pape – This bus will now service the bus terminal at Don Valley Station to pick up and drop off commuters.
89 Weston and 989 Weston Express – These will be adjusted to run both ways through Mount Dennis Station.
91 Woodbine – This route will now run between Woodbine Station and Lawrence Avenue East. Service from Lawrence Avenue East and York Mills Road will be replaced by the 191 Underhill.
191 Underhill – This bus will be adjusted so pick up and drop off will be done from inside the bus terminal at Don Valley Station.
The temporary stop at Gervais Drive at Eglinton Avenue East will no longer be in service.
100 Flemingdon Park – The bus will now be adjusted to end at Don Valley Station. The 100B will operate on a limited weekday schedule during peak hours between Broadview Station and Don Valley Station on Linkwood Lane. The 100B will be replacing service previously by 34C Eglinton East.
162 Lawrence-Donway – The route will be adjusted to operate between Lawrence Station and Don Valley Station. It will run in both directions on Barber Greene Road, Overland Drive, and on the Donway West between Overland Drive and Lawrence Avenue East. Service on the Donway will be replaced by the 51B Leslie.
954 Lawrence East Express – The route will be adjusted to run between Don Valley Station and Starspray Boulevard. Service to Kennedy Station through Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue will be removed.
For more information about Line 5, visit ttc.ca.
