Toronto Eglinton Line 5 | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | Arcadis

[A 6264]

I think service being limited from reduced frequency along with all bus routes being adjusted to final configuration assuming full capacity may lead to overcrowding. Sort of like funnelling everything into a less than adequate sized pipe, causing water to build up. In this case it would be passengers transferring from buses on the platforms trying to enter full trains. The existing parallel bus service will have the frequencies reduced or removed entirely, so there is no reasonable alternative.

However, without actually seeing projections and simulations I don't feel it is guaranteed to happen.

Current bus service on Eglinton is so bad, whatever happens next can't be worse. (Crosses fingers.)
Also, I used to agree that bus service along Eglinton would likely be removed in future, but everyone on here was telling me I was wrong!

 

[McGillicuddy]

One of the only things that went right around the launch of the Confederation Line is that they kept the parallel bus services running for a few weeks after the line opened. This meant that, if things really went sideways, they could shut the line down without having to scramble a bunch of shuttle buses. While the line's launch was still pretty calamitous, this helped blunt the worst of the impacts. (Riders experienced outages as disruptions instead of as personal disasters, newspapers had headlines about "LRT still not ready for prime time" rather than "DAY 4 OF COMMUTE FROM HELL", etc.)

Feels to me like keeping at least a partial bus service running during your initial launch is a sensible approach, especially if you have serious concerns about the line's stability.

 

[A 6264]

One of the only things that went right around the launch of the Confederation Line is that they kept the parallel bus services running for a few weeks after the line opened. This meant that, if things really went sideways, they could shut the line down without having to scramble a bunch of shuttle buses. While the line's launch was still pretty calamitous, this helped blunt the worst of the impacts. (Riders experienced outages as disruptions instead of as dramatic outages, newspapers had headlines about "LRT still not ready for prime time" rather than "DAY 4 OF COMMUTE FROM HELL", etc.)

Feels to me like keeping at least a partial bus service running during your initial launch is a sensible approach, especially if you have serious concerns about the line's stability.

Again, from what I've been told, the LRT service will be replaced by a night bus at night, and probably in late evenings after 10 PM for the first few months. Furthermore, subway lines over the last decade or so have been closed in late evenings on weekends or Mondays, for track and/or signal work, sometimes dragging on for years. I would be shocked if the Eglinton line turned out to have no problems requiring pre-midnight closures over the next few years.

 

[nfitz]

Again, from what I've been told, the LRT service will be replaced by a night bus at night, and probably in late evenings after 10 PM for the first few months.

Do you know why it's changed from the plan they've had for years, of running a 34 Eglinton bus from Mount Dennis to Kennedy all day?

 

[McGillicuddy]

Per Steve Munro, as of October, the 32 and 34 still factored into the TTC's planning for a post-Crosstown bus network.

TTC Service Changes Effective October 12, 2025

Major Update October 10 at 12:50pm: Additional information on bus bay assignments at various stations, on street stop arrangements pending Line 5 opening, and service changes not mentioned in earli…

stevemunro.ca

 

[chrisw]

One of the only things that went right around the launch of the Confederation Line is that they kept the parallel bus services running for a few weeks after the line opened. This meant that, if things really went sideways, they could shut the line down without having to scramble a bunch of shuttle buses. While the line's launch was still pretty calamitous, this helped blunt the worst of the impacts. (Riders experienced outages as disruptions instead of as personal disasters, newspapers had headlines about "LRT still not ready for prime time" rather than "DAY 4 OF COMMUTE FROM HELL", etc.)

Feels to me like keeping at least a partial bus service running during your initial launch is a sensible approach, especially if you have serious concerns about the line's stability.

From Steve Munro, TTC 2026 Budget Preview. They're doing something similar by keeping the buses and operators as a "contingency".

Bus service hours released by Lines 5 and 6 opening. In the medium term, these buses and operators will be kept in reserve as a “contingency” in case of teething problems with the new lines. Later in the year, these hours will become available for improved service.

 

[jordanmkasla2009]

Yes, but that's the plan that's been around for years - with the plan for the 32 to run from Mount Dennis station to Renforth station (at least until the subway extension opens next decade). And even though we've discussed this @A 6264 has been telling us about their scoop that there won't be 34 service after all - so I'd like to hear about this sudden change they are leaking to us.

long term plan still includes the 34 afaik as an infrequent accessibility link like the 97 Yonge bus but in the short-term as a parallel bus service that they can quickly convert to Line 5 Shuttles when needed and for 10PM - 2AM for the first few months of operation per the Ottawa LRT recommendations. Basically one of the criticisms from the report was that OC Transpo was too quick to completely remove bus service hours after the launch of the Confederation Line and it resulted in the inability to respond in a timely manner to disruptions in LRT service that resulted from teething issues. The TTC has not planned to completely remove bus service hours as a result of the launch of Line 5 & 6 but rather redeploy those service hours to improve bus service in other parts of the city.

 

[smallspy]

Also, I used to agree that bus service along Eglinton would likely be removed in future, but everyone on here was telling me I was wrong!

The bus service will remain on Eglinton once the Crosstown opens, but will be quite a bit different than what runs today.

The 34 will operate from end-to-end on Eglinton (Mount Dennis to Kennedy), and at low (15 minute) frequencies. Think of it as an equivalent of the 97 and the Yonge subway.

The 32 will be cut back to only run west from Mount Dennis.

Most routes that currently run on the central part of Eglinton for any great distance (51, 54, 56) will be greatly changed and will either no longer run on Eglinton at all, or only for a couple of blocks.

Overnight service will still be provided by buses.

Dan

 

[KhalilHeron]

The bus service will remain on Eglinton once the Crosstown opens, but will be quite a bit different than what runs today.

The 34 will operate from end-to-end on Eglinton (Mount Dennis to Kennedy), and at low (15 minute) frequencies. Think of it as an equivalent of the 97 and the Yonge subway.

The 32 will be cut back to only run west from Mount Dennis.

Most routes that currently run on the central part of Eglinton for any great distance (51, 54, 56) will be greatly changed and will either no longer run on Eglinton at all, or only for a couple of blocks.

Overnight service will still be provided by buses.

Dan

I was under the impression the new 34 would run every 30 mins, not sure where i heard that

 

[pleaseLRT]

Was curious to see if any new updates on Line 5 were given at today's Metrolinx Board Meeting, but the meeting audio cuts out from 36:15 onwards. That leaves 40 minutes without sound

 

[UntitledCyclist]

I was under the impression the new 34 would run every 30 mins, not sure where i heard that

I can't see how the city will ever get off its keester to finish the EglintonToday bike lanes. The excuse for not doing it this year when they repaved the roadway was that "there are too many buses until Line 5 opens!"

If buses and bike lanes can't coexist (amazingly they do on many other streets in the city) then how are they going to justify putting the lanes in when TTC is still at least partially reliant on bus transit after the Line 5 opening?

 

[ThenWhat]

The bus service will remain on Eglinton once the Crosstown opens, but will be quite a bit different than what runs today.
[…]

Most routes that currently run on the central part of Eglinton for any great distance (51, 54, 56) will be greatly changed and will either no longer run on Eglinton at all, or only for a couple of blocks.
[…]

All together this means changing something like two dozen bus routes, so a substantial change of the bus network.
Will that all be done on the day when Line 5 opens? Or gradually? Or is that still undecided?

 

[Coolibop]

Was curious to see if any new updates on Line 5 were given at today's Metrolinx Board Meeting, but the meeting audio cuts out from 36:15 onwards. That leaves 40 minutes without sound

I posted in another thread about this. Steve Munroe caught and confirmed Metrolinx will have video with sound when the full post goes up (after livestream).

 

[Ratazana]

Will Jane bus 35 be the most disrupted service after Line 5’s opening?
Bus 35 will terminate at Mount Dennis station instead of line 2 Jane subway station.
For passengers south of Eglinton, a new bus 27 will run between from mount Dennis to jane station.
it would be more transfers for people going north from south of Eglinton. (Personally my trip from Jane/Annette to Downsview park and to York U will take longer after line 5 opens….)

 

[PL1]

Will Jane bus 35 be the most disrupted service after Line 5’s opening?
Bus 35 will terminate at Mount Dennis station instead of line 2 Jane subway station.
For passengers south of Eglinton, a new bus 27 will run between from mount Dennis to jane station.
it would be more transfers for people going north from south of Eglinton. (Personally my trip from Jane/Annette to Downsview park and to York U will take longer after line 5 opens….)

I think everyone affected will think their situation is the worst... Though yours isn't awesome.

I take the 56 NB from Donlands Station to Bayview and Eglinton, then switch busses. After Line 5 opens, the 56 will be cancelled, and the 51 Leslie will start at Donlands Station (rather than Eglinton Station). I'll have to either switch to Line 5 for 1 stop, catch a 34 bus, or walk to Bayview. I'll figure out what the most efficient route is. It may be a completely different route