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Finch West LRT Opens With Soft Launch as First Weekday Runs Raise Speed Concerns

Attention turns to Line 5 following an independent readiness signoff.

Overview

  • Toronto’s 10.3-kilometre, 18-stop Line 6 began service on Dec. 7 with free first-day rides, linking Finch West Station on Line 1 to Humber College with connections to regional transit.
  • Service is operating on a soft-opening schedule with trains every 6.5 minutes at peak and 10–12 minutes off-peak, limited hours until spring, and platform-only fare payment for now.
  • The line saw an operational delay minutes after launch and reports of bunching and short turns, with shuttle buses deployed during opening-day hiccups.
  • A CBC ride found the end-to-end trip took about 55 minutes on the first weekday, well above Metrolinx’s 33–34 minute target, fueling calls for transit signal priority to speed trains through intersections.
  • With Line 6 running, focus shifts to the Eglinton Crosstown as independent engineers deemed Line 5 ready for service and the TTC assumed operational control, pointing to an opening expected in 2026.