[Amare]

Hopefully Metrolinx uses a bit of thought with this.

We would be giving them too much credit for being forward thinking if they actually thought about things in that manner, but unfortunately Metrolinx is useless so i'm sure they arent giving it thought.

Metrolinx has no issues with the Citadis, because if they did it would be apparent enough that they would stop the procurement of any future Alstom Citadis cars for lines (ie: Hamilton) until Alstom fixes the issues with it.

We dont know what the future procurement will look like for the Eglinton line, but I wouldnt be surprised to see Citadis cars ordered knowing how inept Metrolinx is. That in itself would be problematic for numerous reasons, but at the moment this is just speculation because Metrolinx hasnt started the procurement process with any new Crosstown vehicles.

 

[drum118]

Feb 8
I thought I didn't shoot any videos or photos as nothing was been downloaded from the camera due to the coldness when I first try. Try some hours later I was able to download the photo and one video of the 4 I try to shoot.

A few things stood out and opposite to somethings I posted.

The second set to depart from Mount Dennis was schedule to depart at 7:43 but departed at 7:54 or 21 minutes after the first one similar to what was to happen at Kennedy Station. I did find TTC departure times odd for both station first two departure and assume most of the cars for the day would becoming out of the yard.

The photos shows we caught up to the set in front of us between when we were arriving At Aga Khan Park/Museum Station not Victoria Park considering we all green as far as I could see in the tunnel section. Given this was the first day of operation a number of the flip up seats were still down before any riders got on and not for a first run officially. No place to hold a bike in place like TTC Flexity. Other than having doors on both sides of the car, the seats layout was similar to TTC Flexity other than the rear end.

Given the fleet is 5-7 tears old on Day One, what is ML plan for overhaul and what will replace them??

More up on my site

Real time for GO And UPX For Arrival

 

[lastcommodore]

This issue could be solved by putting down boarding markers on the platform like at some of the subway stations. Since the line is automated through the underground portion the trains will always stop at the same place. It may be a bit more dicey on the surface portion due to the weather ruining the decals but I think operators do a good enough job stopping the in the proper positions.

Funnily enough they do. The underground stns all have a sticker on the last third saying "Trains do not board here, please move down the platform"

 

[T3G]

Given the fleet is 5-7 tears old on Day One, what is ML plan for overhaul and what will replace them?

A bit premature to be having the replacement discussion, I would think!

 

[nottoban]

The point being made, I believe, is that Finch just isn't different enough from St Clair to warrant a single digit number and that Finch should be a 5XX line. Line 5, at least, is a light metro with an LRT appendage at its east end.

In the meantime, not perfect, but so much better today than Finch opening day.

View attachment 714062
At Yonge'n'Eg

42

Yes, and I agree with the point. I am mainly pushing back on the idea that the use of “Line 6” was driven by Metrolinx or the Province. The decision to identify Finch West LRT as Line 6 was TTC’s. Metrolinx actually pushed back on that choice, on the grounds that someone standing at a stop that looks virtually indistinguishable from what they'd see on the 512 would not intuitively understand it as part of the rapid transit network rather than the streetcar system. TTC itself seemed uncertain about how to position the line, since after numbering it as a subway line, there were also discussions about using standard streetcar stop poles, which directly contradicted that framing.

The Line 6 designation was also embedded in the Project Agreement, and any wayfinding changes were particularly difficult on this project. The first wayfinding package Project Co submitted for review was aligned to the Eglinton Crosstown standard, which did not comply with the project agreement (it's not even referenced in it). Despite the contract being explicit about which standard applied, this was escalated and Project Co sought additional funding to meet requirements they were contractually already required to meet.

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

While riding yesterday I noticed trams that were being driven by white hard-hatted types in hi vis vests with the operator standing behind them watching. Not sure what that was about.

- Paul

Could be Alstom techs testing the new update for the signalling software though they shouldn't be using in-service cars for that due to liability concerns.

After riding yesterday, I thought the line was very good. It moves very fast in the underground portion. The stations are nice but are largely a bit bland, but the screen at Mount Dennis was cool, as was the artwork at Eglinton, Don Valley and Cedarvale. Above ground moves faster then Finch but obviously, signal priority should (hopefully) fix the issues at lights of long waits. Some issues with audio on the Flexities and lack of heat in stations. Also I feel like capacity is gonna become an issue fast, and it showed yesterday. Yes it was an crowd for opening day, but that is a reflection of what rush hours will be like, and it would be wise for TTC/Metrolinx to start thinking about adding a third car to the vehicles. There was a delay on a car I was on in Scarborough due to ''something on the roof'' around 5:20-5:40 PM yesterday and it sounded like someone was on top of the vehicle but I believe it was an overhead issue of some kind. It was very quickly resolved, though. So all in all, opening day went about as well as it could.

someone probably thought it was funny to toss something onto the overhead line. Easily removed with a hot stick.

 

[GenerationLee]

I took a ride from Mount Pleasant to Eglinton a few minutes ago - I was going to just walk because I wasn't sure what the time different was in taking the train, but I needed to refill my Presto card. The 34 bus was once again at the intersection...but I didn't want to risk double paying my fare if the bus turned onto Yonge.
It was a very strange feeling to enter this station - my childhood barber had his shop set up in those walls years ago, so, I haven't been in there for some time.
Anyways, I noted the station design (which from what I've read on this thread affirms my suspicions), which is heavily reminiscent of deep statons like Bayview, and what kept popping in my mind as I descended 3 escalators. These are massive underground areas before you even get to track level.

Once I got to track level, a train came by pretty quickly, and I rushed to the end of the train where other folks who were in the "end zone" had come to, to get on.

As soon as I got on, I was unimpressed (but I knew this was a streetcar seating layout years in advance), but echo others sentiments on the illogical announcements regarding standing up and holding onto railings...are we assuming all riders are but toddlers who've never ridden on a train or bus before?
Also, the speakers were experiencing audio issues as noted on this thread,which made it hard to hear what was being conveyed, due to sounding very crackly, like a radio. Not that I really mind...the announcements will get on my nerves soon, there's no sense in how they're currently implemented.

The train was very quick as I'd assumed, so, this is worthwhile for me to commute to work, but...I think with the walk/escalator ride down, I'm only saving like 3 minutes on my trip to Eglinton...
Lots of TTC staff at Eglinton station which seems so odd to me, but, I've never been at a new subway/transit line shortly after it opened.
I was immediately confused on where in Carmen San Diego I was in relation to the original subway station, as all signs I saw that I assumed went to the original subway level showed pictures of buses...buses??
After a few moments of looking around and finding no sense in what I was reading I took an escalator from a bus picture sign, and bam...lo and behold, my assumption on where I was on the subway ststion was right - I got on the new escalator going from the Yonge subway to the Crosstown level.

I look forward to travelling more on this line in the future, but the overal station designs leave much to be desired due to too many stairs. Apparently the ststion entrance for Mount Pleasant on the North East side is very bad for this...so, I guess I'll check it out sometime.

 

[GenerationLee]

I wrote more than I thought I would above, apologies. It's going to take me a while to adjust to this being open as a local resident of this line. And a while to accept this line for what it is...and for all its compromises, quirks and problems.
I would've loved for this to have been a subway, and fully buried, as this route connects so many parts of the city and is crucial for network building (grids and alternate travel methods for transit? Yes!)
The line as it is still does and will do this job perfectly fine, but, I'm worried about capacity issues down the road. Already I can tell the current level of service is inadequate for the line, just based on what I see for the schedule and from the crowding I just seen at Eglinton (which, I know is poor evidence but, we need 3 car trains).
Anyways, I'll be organizing my Flickr images to properly catalogue the decade of updates I've captured of the crosstowns contruction.

Heck, my profile picture is almost an update in itself!

 

[nfitz]

New frontpage story on the opening:

Eglinton Line 5: Major Game Changer Opens, Awaits Tweaks | UrbanToronto

After more than 15 years of construction and over $12 billion, Eglinton Line 5 carried its first passengers on Fabruary 8, 2026. While 'the Crosstown LRT' has finally opened to the public following over half a decade of delays, it has not yet reached full service levels, with frequencies and...

urbantoronto.ca

Why does it claim that $12 billion has been spent to date, when this week's update from Metrolinx says that only $9.3 billion has been spent to date?

 

[Bordercollie]

Some observations after riding the line for the first time:

Trains are especially slow around the at-grade section from Pharmacy-Kennedy. Shuttle busses were flying past me even though I was riding around 9PM on a Sunday with minimal traffic around the ROW. While it is better than FW, I think Line 6 has ruined our perspectives on what a "good" speed should be.

Observed operation of TSP at a few intersections, i.e extended greens and shortened reds, trains still have many opportunities to get stuck at a red however.

Below grade section:

ATC is programmed to be overly cautious when approaching stations. Trains brake a bit too hard, too early, and come crawling in and stop jerkily and unsurely unlike Line 1 which has a much smoother operation.

Lots of wind/rail noise in the tunnels even at only 60 km/h. The tunnelled section sounds very loud in the Flexities which was suprising, it will probably be way worse if the cap is raised to 80 km/h. Also noticed a lot of oscillation/hunting in the cars above 55. Not at all unbearable, but not as smooth as Line 1/2, will also probably get worse with the increased speed limit.

Otherwise, the underground section of Line 5 has ok potential if these issues are properly ironed out. I still have my reservations about the at-grade section however, and I think this part will always be the crux of the line.

Another bottleneck are the vehicles which are cramped in some parts, and the abysmally small doors. Will definitely cause flow and capacity issues in the future.

I thought that the tunnel noise was acceptable.

The braking will get better over time.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

Apparently the ststion entrance for Mount Pleasant on the North East side is very bad for this...so, I guess I'll check it out sometime.

It is. Many of the underground stations have one entrance without any escalator or elevator, which is honestly a huge accessibility issue given the depth and amount of stairs.

The most egregious of them is Fairbank, which has one such exit where one would board the southbound Dufferin bus. It is far far superior to take the escalators up and cross the intersection twice rather than go up the flights of stairs. The sufferin' on Dufferin shall continue.

 

[JSF-1]

I thought that the tunnel noise was acceptable.

Same, I don't recall really being bothered by the tunnel noise. If you want to hear some real tunnel noise go ride the the Vaughan extension. I did that when Line 6 opened and felt like I was on the elevated section of the SRT again with how loud it gets.

 

[Bordercollie]

You are misstating the history. There was a subway, until Harris cancelled it. And one for Sheppard, until Lastman cancelled most of it (he only cared about the North York segment, and nobody cared about Scarborough....which gave rise to Ford's eventual platform). The cancellations were publicly known, but there was no blowback and little advocacy to challenge those decisions.
The political mood of the day was very much about not spending money on subways because they were considered too expensive. Love him or hate him, Ford fought for an underground line on Eglinton. But in general, LRT was all the voters would accept.

- Paul

You know for some sections that are supposed to be 30 years old, I didn't notice the difference in tunnel design. Or did they not re-use the old tunnel?

But comparing it to line 6 there are a ton of complexities that would prevent the line from opening. There are probably 10x the number of elevators, escalators, fire panels, sprinklers that all need to be tested and certified. That's a lot more complicated than a bunch of makeshift bus stops.

 

[Bojaxs]

Rode it today. I'll keep it short;

Pros;
- Underground is great! Transfers between Lines 1 & 5 make Toronto feel like an actual transit city and remind me of switching between Underground lines in London.
- Surface portion better than Line 6, still needs improving. Will probably rarely ever ride this part of the line.

Cons;
- Audio is terrible! The constant demanding to sit down or hold the hand rail was very annoying! It was also louder than it needed to be.
- Wish they designed the Leslie & Eglinton intersection to allow the line to be entirely grade separated up to Don Valley Station.
- Capacity is an issue. I rode this line a couple times between 4pm-530pm ( took a break and ate at the Yonge & Eg food court) and the trains were quite full. People were cramming in at Yonge & Eg and Cedarvale stations.

Wish it were a subway, but good enough for now. Especially the underground portion. But as more people ride the line, capacity is going to become an issue. People are saying we can solve capacity by adding a third car to the trains, but Bombardier doesn't even manufacture these trains anymore, so how will we get those third cars? Are they in storage at Mt. Dennis?

 

[SashaLemon]

So when are they going to tunnel the rest of it?