Free service kicks off opening day for long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT

After more than a decade of delays, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT officially opened on Sunday.

The long-awaited transit line, now known as Line 5 Eglinton, launched with free service offered all day as riders get their first chance to experience a project that has reshaped and disrupted Eglinton Avenue for 15 years.

The $13-billion light rail project was originally slated to open in 2020 but was repeatedly delayed by construction deficiencies, legal disputes, pandemic disruptions, and persistent problems, pushing the project roughly $1 billion over budget.

• READ MORE: The lessons buried beneath the Eglinton Crosstown LRT
• IN PICTURES: The Eglinton Crosstown finally opened after 15 years. Here’s what opening day looked like

CP24 reported live across the new line throughout the day, starting from when the first trains left the station to rider reaction and feedback.

While service started Sunday, it should be noted the TTC is rolling out the Crosstown through a phased opening that will allow officials to monitor performance and address problems as they arise.

Here’s a recap of what happened on opening day.

4:15 p.m. ‘The public deserves that transparency,’ ATU Local 113 President says

Some, including Marvin Alfred, are continuing to call for a public inquiry into the Crosstown’s construction, which took 15 years to complete.

“The public deserves that transparency. They’ve paid for this system, Metrolinx has not been accountable to anybody, and we’d like for these things to come to light,” Alfred, the president for ATU Local 113, told CP24 on Sunday afternoon. The union represents nearly 12,000 TTC workers.

“What actually happened? Who made the decisions, and who’s going to be finally held accountable for all these things that went wrong?”Alfred says transit workers tend to bear the brunt of people’s frustrations when public transit isn’t working as promised, which is part of the reason the union is calling for a public inquiry.

“While we demand that the premier make the inquiry in order to have that accountability, we’ve been...at commissioners meetings where questions are deflected to Metrolinx, yet Metrolinx does not make themselves available to answer these hard questions,” Alfred said.

Though many riders have offered up positive reviews of the Crosstown LRT, Alfred says the true test of its service will be seen at rush hour on Monday.

Speaking to CP24 earlier on Sunday, TTC’s Adrian Grundy assured service will run as scheduled at the start of the work week.

“Today people are checking it out, tomorrow they have to get places, they have to get to work on time. So, what you can expect is trains running on time,” Grundy said.

3:10 p.m. How Crosstown LRT construction compares to other landmarks

There have been 5,205 days that have passed since shovels hit the ground to construct the Crosstown LRT. How does it compare to how long it took to build other major landmarks across the globe?

The CN Tower took 40 months to build (or roughly 1,217 days), the Eiffel Tower took two years, two months and five days to build (or around 795 days), and it took around six years (roughly 2,190 days) to build the Burj Khalifa.

Like the Burj Khalifa, the undersea tunnel linking England to France, colloquially known as the “Chunnel,” also took six years to build.

2:30 p.m. - Trains getting more and more packed, Duggan reports

CP24’s Melissa Duggan reported seeing more riders waiting for the next train as more trains arrive to stations packed with people.

Duggan says demand appears to have risen significantly from earlier in the day.

2:20 p.m. - Dog celebrates 12th birthday with free ride

On the platform of Kennedy Station, CP24’s Joshua Freeman met Claudette and her pet dog, Kayla, who celebrated her 12th birthday on the Crosstown.

Claudette tells Freeman that riding Line 5 was “better” than what she was expecting, after travelling the entirety of the line on Sunday. She said she is “happy” she is no longer having her tires punctured by nails from construction.

2:10 p.m. - Train packed with shoulder-to-shoulder commuters

A train packed with commuters pulled up to Golden Mile Station after an earlier train was deemed “out of service,” CP24’s Melissa Duggan reports.

Video of the train shows commuters packed in shoulder-to-shoulder, prompting some Crosstown riders to wait on the platform to board the next train.

“Busy day on the rails for the first day of service on the Eglinton Crosstown,” Duggan said.

1:50 p.m. - Stations ‘truly are frigid’

Riders should be aware that Line 5 stations are notably chilly, even in covered areas, with temperatures roughly equivalent to being outdoors, according to CP24’s Joshua Freeman.

The only consistently warm spots appear to be station bathrooms, likely to prevent pipes from freezing.

1:35 p.m. - Train briefly out of service

A packed Line 5 train was taken out of service at Kennedy Station after a rider became sick while the train was waiting to depart, CP24’s Joshua Freeman reports.

The vehicle was unloaded and removed from service for cleaning.

1:30 p.m. - Afternoon reviews from riders

While many politicians have been critical, calling for an inquiry into the Crosstown, most riders are expressed feelings of satisfaction on Sunday.

Here’s more from CP24’s Joshua Freeman:

1:10 p.m. - Full trip time: 55 mins

Wrapping up his end-to-end ride, CP24’s Joshua Freeman said the full trip from one end of Line 5 to the other took just under 55 minutes.

He noted there were some waits at intersections — including a left-hand turn approaching Kennedy Station — but overall, travel time tracked closely with what other riders who completed the full route have been reporting throughout the day.

1 p.m. - Freeman: Ride feels ‘familiar’

CP24’s Joshua Freeman says the Crosstown vehicles will feel familiar to anyone who regularly rides Toronto’s streetcars.

He said the seating layout is similar, including fabric seats, though the colour scheme has been updated from the TTC’s classic red.

12:50 p.m. - Freeman: Crowded trains, smooth ride

Trains were fairly crowded, as many riders turned out to check out the new line on opening day.

Freeman noted that each Line 5 train is made up of two connected modules, allowing passengers to move freely within each section, though not between the two.

He said riders won’t find the traditional subway-style route map with lighted stops. Instead, stations are shown through electronic signage and audio announcements.

As for the ride itself, Freeman describes it as noticeably smooth — especially compared to the “jerky and screechy” feel riders often experience on Line 2, adding that trains appear to be moving at pace with traffic along the above-ground portions of the route.

12:25 p.m. - Freeman: Enthusiasm high among riders

CP24’s Joshua Freeman said crowds continued to build as curious riders take advantage of free service on opening day.

“Lots of enthusiastic first-time riders are out to check out the line today. The shiny new Presto gates are wide open as rides are free all day for the opening,” Freeman said.

He also noted the connection at the western end is drawing attention. “It’s a very easy hop over from the UP Express stop to the Crosstown entrance at Mt. Dennis Station.”

At Kennedy Station, Freeman spoke with one rider putting the timeline into perspective. “One young man waiting to ride the whole line tells me he was just out of diapers when construction started on the Crosstown.”

12:20 p.m. - Live on TikTok

CP24 streamed a live ride-along on Line 5 Eglinton on TikTok, which viewers a real-time look at what it’s like to travel the newly opened Crosstown.

12 p.m. - CP24’s Joshua Freeman attempts full ride

CP24 digital journalist Joshua Freeman started his ride across the entirety of Line 5 Eglinton on Sunday afternoon.

Freeman has followed the project closely over the years, tracking delays, cost overruns and construction challenges.

Readers followed along for updates on travel time, crowd levels and service conditions as the Crosstown’s opening day unfolded.

10:20 a.m. - Chow and Sarkaria speak

Mayor Olivia Chow and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria spoke at Kennedy Station about the long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT and its potential benefits for riders and the community.

Chow said the line will offer a significant improvement over bus service once signal priority is fully implemented at the end of the month.

“Now remember, when it’s going full speed, when we get the signal priority straightened out, I think it’s 60 per cent faster... it can go quite fast,” she said. “Just let (the riders) express what they feel about this line.”

Sarkaria described Line 5 as a world-class transit line that will serve over 120,000 people at capacity and connect to more than 60 TTC bus routes.

“We appreciate that frustration that (businesses) go through. And now, we ask everyone to support them, shop local, buy local, eat local,” he said.

10:10 a.m. - Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the handling of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and called for a full Metrolinx inquiry into the long delays and cost overruns.

“I don’t have to tell Torontonians about both the cost of these delays and the actual cost to taxpayers of this absolute boondoggle that we’ve experienced for 16 years,” Stiles said.

“I’m also thinking a lot today about the cost to the businesses, particularly in the Little Jamaica area of around Eglinton that have been shut down over those years. About 300 businesses went under as a result of all of this.”

9:40 a.m. - Minor issues on PA system

While it doesn’t appear to be a major issue, CP24’s Melissa Duggan noted the public address system on one Line 5 train sounded garbled, making announcements difficult to hear.

9:20 a.m. - Line 5 shuttle buses

CP24 reporter Melissa Duggan says Line 5 shuttle buses are also operating Sunday as part of the rollout of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

The shuttle service is in place to help manage crowds and provide additional options for riders as the new line begins regular service on opening day.

9:10 a.m. - Insights from transit expert

Toronto-based transit expert Jonathan English said the opening of Line 5 Eglinton reflects the city’s deep connection to public transit and the scale of the project itself.

“I’ve lived in a lot of places and, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place where ordinary people, are as passionate about transit as Toronto,” English said.

He noted the Crosstown’s significance in terms of sheer size.

“It’s the biggest single opening in terms of kilometers in history in Toronto. Even if you just take the underground section, it’s pretty close to as long as the blue Danforth line when it first opened, from Keele to Woodbine in 1966.”

9 a.m. - Sarkaria and Chow to meet at Kennedy Station

The office of Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said his team will join Mayor Olivia Chow at Kennedy Station at 10 a.m. for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT’s opening day celebrations.

CP24 continued to carry out live coverage from Kennedy Station throughout the morning.

8:50 a.m. - Early rider reviews roll in

Early riders stepping off Line 5 Eglinton shared a mix of enthusiasm, relief and reflection after the long-awaited opening.

“It’s been actually a pretty surprisingly great ride so far… it was actually really quite good, better, better than I expected. Pretty smooth and quite quick. So that was a positive,” one rider told CP24.

Another rider, who boarded an early-morning train, pointed to the long road to opening.

“We left around 7:37 a.m., it took us a full hour to get here... (The project) took us 16 years to get here. We need a public inquiry now.”

Others described a celebratory atmosphere on board.

“I think Line 5 is my new favorite line… everyone was so happy, felt like the community was just finally getting together. It was just awesome,” another rider said.

One rider offered a lighter critique, noting a brief moment that undercut the novelty.

“It was great, except when we got passed by a bus. That was unfortunate, but it was great. Overall. People were very excited, glad to have more trains. Always good.”

8:40 a.m. - Transit advocates celebrate

York University professor Joe Mihevc marked the opening of Line 5 Eglinton by celebrating what he called a milestone moment for Toronto transit.

“Pathological transit geek bragging: I was on the first St Clair LRT, the first Finch LRT and now the first Eglinton LRT on opening day,” Mihevc wrote.

“The is a time to build, there is a time to evaluate. And today is the time to celebrate the first revenue service vehicle on the Eglinton LRT.”

8:20 a.m. - Brief delays reported

The TTC reported a brief westbound delay at O’Connor Station on Line 5 Eglinton due to a “mechanical issue.”

In an update shortly after, the TTC said regular service had resumed, noting the delay lasted only a few minutes.

The brief interruption came within the first hour of service, as the newly opened line began carrying large crowds eager to ride the long-awaited Crosstown.

7:50 a.m. - CP24’s Melissa Duggan

CP24 reporter Melissa Duggan rode one of the first Line 5 Eglinton trains to leave the station.

She said the very first train was too packed to board, but noted the second train was noticeably more spacious, giving riders room to move as the day’s service ramps up.

7:40 a.m. - Councillor calls for public inquiry

City Coun. Josh Matlow says he is pleased the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is finally open, but argues the project still requires public scrutiny.

“I’m excited that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is finally open. But even good things can be done badly,” Matlow wrote on social media.

“It’s critical that Premier Ford allow a public inquiry into the many years of delays, massive cost overruns, problems with contracts and construction, lack of transparency and the impacts on residents and small businesses. It’s about genuine accountability, and to prevent these mistakes from ever being repeated on future projects.”

7:30 a.m. - Scarborough MPP welcomes opening, calls for public inquiry

Scarborough—Guildwood MPP Andrea Hazell welcomed the opening of Line 5 Eglinton, while also calling for accountability over the project’s long delays and cost overruns.

“This is a great day for Scarborough. I am not going to knock the government, but I just want people to know that I am congratulating the taxpayers of Ontario. This is their project,” Hazell said.

“I want to say congratulations to all the commuters that is going to be using this service today. And what a day for Scarborough. So congratulations to Scarborough, good connectivity for the residents here.”

Hazell added that she will continue to push for answers about the project’s troubled timeline and ballooning costs.

“But I want to tell you, I’m still going to push and pressure that government to do a public inquiry unto why this project took this long and $1 billion over over budget, the taxpayers of Ontario they need answers.”

7 a.m. - Long lines form outside Kennedy Station

Long lines wrapped around the building at Kennedy Station early Sunday morning as riders waited to be among the first to board the newly opened Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

Some people told CP24 they began lining up as early as 10:30 p.m. Saturday night, camping out in bitter cold temperatures for a chance to ride the long-delayed line. They said “willpower” helped them get through the night.

A number of riders said they travelled from as far as Ottawa and China to be part of the opening day, underscoring the high level of public interest after more than a decade of delays.