Where are you getting your information? The TTC is upgrading the existing legacy lines to be automated so there is little chance a new line would be built without automation. Except for hyperloop and maglev the fastest public transport in service is heavy rail so I'm not sure where the quicker times assumption comes from either. The province chose a different route, more above ground, with a smaller vehicle to reduce tunnel diameter, needed station capacities, etc. The province put a priority on being cheaper (reducing maximum capacity) and making the line longer. Bigger trains need bigger tunnels, bigger stations to handle a greater train capacity in case of an evacuation in the station, bigger emergency exit points, bigger ventilation, etc. I get people choosing the Ontario Line for it being a longer route and maybe certain stations being better located... but beyond that I don't really get why anyone in their right mind would choose the light metro Ontario Line over a modern heavy metro serving the same locations. That is a trade down by any measure I can think of... it is saying I want cheaper, slower, less spacious lower capacity trains that might have a slight acceleration advantage. What magical technology do we think the Ontario Line is? SRT technology, automated Eglinton LRT technology??