News   Dec 12, 2025
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News   Dec 12, 2025
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Russell Carhouse (was: Leslieville streetcar yard)

How long has this project been going on for? Feels like 10 years.
There was an earlier project around 2015 that dealt with the entrances, track along Eastern, and Connaught. As far as I know, that's not being touched now.

This project is far more significant - and hasn't been going that long.
 
Is actually an expansion of the yard or are the tracks just being rebuilt?
This year will see the completion of rebuilding of the existing yard. The next phase, 2026-28 or about will see the building of the 2 tracks carhouse beside the existing one to deal with the overhead of the new fleet like the one that was done as Roncesvalles carhouse some years ago.

Both yards are the original size of what the city took over when all transit systems in the city became TTC over a 100 years ago as well Hillcrest.
 
There was an earlier project around 2015 that dealt with the entrances, track along Eastern, and Connaught. As far as I know, that's not being touched now.

This project is far more significant - and hasn't been going that long.
There been changes made to the complex the last 10 year or so starting with trackwork on Eastern along with rebuilding the west sound barrier wall with new tall steel columns to support the future overhead OS system. I believe some interior work was also done to the existing carhouse. Construction of the yard got underway in Q1/Q2 of 2023.
 
April 04
More up on my site

I cannot not recall when I have seen workers on a weekday during work hours and today was no exception. You would think formwork would be tacking place for the last 3 tracks, but site not ready for it.

There is tracks waiting to be pour. They are working on the yard westbound track that will connect to Queen. Most of the yard other than tracks 19-21 is mostly pour and waiting for overhead to be strung that have not been done so far.

Just as I was about to leave, TTC track crew show up to do some splicing of new tracks that will connect to Queen from the yard. There are 4 splices to be done, but ties still to be install to complete that connection.
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April 30
More up on my site
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June 7
By year end, TTC should have the full use of the yard at the current rate it being rebuilt. Only a small area to the east where westbound cars can entre the yard still need to have that track built as the outbound is done along with both tracks at the west end. All the switches are in place with tracks still to be built for tracks 19-22. the 3rd storage bay tracks are done and waiting for the overhead to be install.

It will be interesting if the locals will be calling for less squealing as cars make the various turn coming out of the service bay or the storage yard. I found the squealing a lot more louder than the old yard and fail the squeal test TTC was sold for the the new fleet.

A maintenance crew show up testing the switches with some having issues and placing lubricating at all the outbound switches. TTC has installed tall poles on Queen in front of the yard that will replace the existing ones on both sides of Queen.
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Do the yard tracks have to be fully embedded in concrete?
That has been the plan from day one, but no it not for a number of systems.
 
Sept 1
More up on my site

Nearly all the yard tracks are in place with some small areas still seeing utility work being done before tracks are completed to allow concrete to be pour for those area., Basely the last two areas are ready for the overhead to be install and a guessing game as to when TTC will get around to do it.
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West end fully built with utility work taking place for the east inbound track.
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Oct 5
All of Russell yard should be back to normal sometime this month as it is clear of all work and looks like all of the last 8 tracks are strung. This includes the in/out tracks at both ends that still has fencing up across them. All other constuction fencing has been removed.

Photos to follow
 
Single-point track switches or double-point track switches at Russell?
Looks like single point as TTC doesn't think yards need double point.

Talk about switches, I fail to note that the switches to/from the yard off Queen need replacing as drivers are really going slow through them that are in the same direction and hear a chunking nose more so this year than in the past. It is bad enough having to come to a stop for switches against you that should have been replaced decades ago as they were rebuilt. Don't know if TTC is planning on replacing these swithes anytime soon.
 
Talk about switches, I fail to note that the switches to/from the yard off Queen need replacing as drivers are really going slow through them that are in the same direction and hear a chunking nose more so this year than in the past. It is bad enough having to come to a stop for switches against you that should have been replaced decades ago as they were rebuilt. Don't know if TTC is planning on replacing these swithes anytime soon.
The "mainline" rail on Queen was last replaced in 2013. Thus, it still has a fair amount of life left. If the points are banging, a crew will go out and adjust them.

Dan
 
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