Eglinton Crosstown LRT opens after 15-year delay

Toronto’s 19-kilometre Eglinton Crosstown LRT is set to begin service Sunday after 15 years of construction and six years past its original target date; officials say service will roll out in phases over the next six months.

Toronto's long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT is scheduled to begin service on Sunday. Construction began 15 years ago and the line opens six years later than originally planned. Premier Doug Ford described the process as a "nightmare" and said it was time to move on, while Mayor Olivia Chow opened a news conference marking the moment. Critics called for a public inquiry into the delays and rollout, a request the premier rejected. What is known: - The LRT line is 19 kilometres long, partly underground, and includes 25 stations. - Officials say the line will open in phases, with service levels increasing over the next six months. - Initial operating hours are reported as 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with trains every four minutes and 45 seconds during peak periods. - In six months the plan is to extend hours to 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., with trains every three minutes and 30 seconds during peak periods. - Metrolinx's president and CEO said the agency learned lessons about integrating vehicles, systems and civil infrastructure and about contract models and managing construction impacts. - Opposition figures and some critics pointed to the public-private partnership model and accountability concerns, while recent Finch West LRT issues have left observers watching for reliability. Summary: The new Eglinton Crosstown LRT introduces a major transit corridor after years of delay and will begin with limited hours and staged ramp-up. Officials have described lessons learned and moved to emphasize service start-up, while critics continue to call for accountability; the phased expansion of hours and frequency is planned over the coming six months.