Delay-plagued Eglinton Crosstown LRT opening in a few weeks

After over 14 years of construction, numerous missed deadlines, and many broken promises of opening dates, the beleaguered Eglinton Crosstown LRT is finally on the cusp of entering service as the TTC's Line 5.

The provincial government announced on Friday that testing of the 19-kilometre light rail line along Eglinton Avenue is officially complete, and that full operational control of the line is being transferred to the TTC ahead of the start of revenue service in the coming weeks. 

The announcement follows a (nearly-derailed) revenue demonstration period and subsequent verification by engineers that the line — plagued by years of construction delays — is finally ready for operation.

"This transformative new 19-kilometre transit line features 25 stations and stops, connecting Mount Dennis station in the west and Kennedy station in the east – making travel across the city and region faster and easier than ever before," said Lindsay, noting the line's "seamless connections to three TTC subway lines, two GO Transit lines, and 54 bus routes."

However, the major milestone once again leaves the public without an official opening date for the line.

The Ontario government's announcement hands over responsibility of the line to the TTC, including the selection of a much-anticipated opening date — which has thus far proven a political hot potato no government body or agency has been willing to even provide a ballpark estimate for until now.

Still, Ontario Minister of Transportation, Prabmeet Sarkaria, hailed Friday's announcement of the line's transfer and an early 2026 opening as a step in the province's plan to "fight gridlock so people can get around more conveniently." 

Once the line opens next year, the TTC will gradually ramp up service over a six-month period as the LRT shifts into full operation, a model similar to those of LRT projects around the world.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT's testing regimen included running the fleet for 16 hours per day, covering distances of over 11,000 kilometres per week in all weather conditions, including snowfall up to 10 centimetres.

Though an official opening date still eludes us, pushing a decade and a half since work began, the provincial government has announced the line's opening day hours of operation, which will run 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with trains serving stops at intervals as short as every 4 minutes and 45 seconds.

Within six months of opening, this service is set to ramp up to hours of operation spanning from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. at peak frequencies of every 3 minutes and 30 seconds.