Eglinton Crosstown set to open but may face capacity limits

The Eglinton Crosstown opens Sunday at 7 a.m. after a 15-year construction period, and its subway-like western section may face crowding because the trains and platform design offer significantly less capacity than a typical Toronto subway.

The Eglinton Crosstown is scheduled to open this Sunday at 7 a.m., ending a 15-year construction period that drew national and international attention. The project mixes an above-ground eastern section with a subway-like western section. The western portion is expected to attract heavy use because it is faster and more convenient. Concerns have been raised that the trains and station design limit passenger capacity. Key facts: - The line opens Sunday at 7 a.m., concluding about 15 years of construction. - The eastern segment runs above ground and is similar to the Finch West LRT, which is likely to be slower and attract fewer new riders. - West of Laird station the line functions like a subway and is expected to be more popular. - The Crosstown trains have less than half the capacity of typical Toronto subway trains, and stations were not optimized for sustained, packed operation. - Multiple government bodies handled planning and delivery, which carried forward older assumptions and diffused responsibility. Summary: The new line could transform travel in parts of the city but the subway-like western segment may quickly reach capacity because of rolling stock and platform constraints. Undetermined at this time.