Eglinton Crosstown LRT opens after 15 years of construction

The Eglinton Crosstown Line 5 officially opened Sunday after about 15 years of building, with the TTC launching a phased start and offering free rides on the first official day. Initial service will run on a limited schedule while officials install additional signal priority systems and adjust connecting bus routes.

The Eglinton Crosstown light rail line opened Sunday after roughly 15 years of construction and planning. The TTC announced a phased launch for Line 5 and said rides would be free on the line's first official day. Officials described a gradual ramp-up of service and noted ongoing work to improve operations along the corridor. The project’s history includes earlier plans and changes at municipal and provincial levels stretching back decades. Key details: - The first westbound train was scheduled to leave Kennedy Station at 7:30 a.m., with the first eastbound train at Mount Dennis Station at 7:37 a.m. - Initial service hours are limited: 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays, with plans to extend service to 1:30 a.m. when fully rolled out. - The TTC offered free travel on the line's first official day as part of the phased launch. - Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Line 5 would help shorten travel times for nearly 123,000 commuters, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said services will be monitored and adjusted with rider feedback. - The project has prompted calls for a public inquiry into delays and cost overruns, and Metrolinx reported the project cost had exceeded $13 billion as of last fall. - The TTC will introduce six new bus routes and adjust other routes along Eglinton on Feb. 8 to connect with Line 5, and the city and TTC plan to bring enhanced signal priority systems online before the end of February. Summary: Officials have begun limited service on the Eglinton Crosstown with an initial schedule and a free first day, while signalling and bus network adjustments are planned to support the new line. The project’s extended timeline and rising costs have prompted public scrutiny, and city and provincial leaders said operations will be monitored and refined as the phased rollout continues.