Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown finally opens

Line 5 launches after 15 years of construction, drawing crowds, cautious optimism, and a few early hiccups

Toronto’s long-anticipated Eglinton Crosstown LRT has officially opened, marking the end of a 15-year journey that has tested the patience of residents across the city.

Despite chilly temperatures on Sunday, crowds gathered at stations like Kennedy and Mount Dennis, eager to be among the first riders on Line 5. Wrapped in winter coats and hats, many cheered as trains began service.

“Line 5, Line 5, Line 5,” riders chanted while waiting to board.

For some, the opening represented more than just a new transit option.

“It symbolizes the end of the suffering that every single person in this city has gone through,” said Toronto resident Rockwell Cui, who camped overnight at Mount Dennis station. “And finally for us to have more lines than just four.”

A milestone moment for riders and staff

The launch was equally significant for TTC employees. One staff member joked they were “heading into battle” as crowds swelled on opening day.

The first westbound train departed Kennedy station to applause—leaving slightly ahead of schedule. At the controls was veteran operator Gavin Elliott, who transferred roles to finish his 27-year career on the new line.

“Been an honour to be the first operator… to christen the line with passengers,” he said.

Passengers packed into the inaugural ride, cheering at each stop and waving through platform screen doors as the train made its way across the city.

Early impressions: fast, but under watch

The 19-kilometre trip from Kennedy to Mount Dennis took about 55 minutes—comparable to travel times seen when the Finch West LRT first launched.

Some of the most enthusiastic—and observant—riders were younger transit fans.

Isaac Mandelzys, 11, celebrated his birthday on board.

“I’ve watched this being built my whole life,” he said. “It’s a lot faster than I expected.”

His friend, 12-year-old Luis Mario Carrington, agreed.

“I think it’s much, much faster… this seems like it’s going up to 70 [km/h],” he said. “It’s going to be quick, reliable, fast.”

Still, riders kept a close eye on performance, noting stop times and signal delays along surface sections of the route.

A few bumps on opening day

While the launch was largely smooth, minor issues emerged early.

About 30 minutes after service began, a mechanical problem caused westbound delays at O’Connor Station. Service resumed shortly after.

Later in the day, the TTC reported another temporary disruption between Pharmacy and Birchmount stations, followed by additional delays near Golden Mile station. In each case, service was restored within minutes.

Cutting commute times—and raising expectations

For many, the new line is expected to significantly improve daily travel.

Marcelo De Oliveira Medina said his commute to visit his father will shrink dramatically.

“It’s incredible… I’ve been waiting my whole life for it,” he said. “This cuts my trip from an hour-and-a-half to just 30 minutes.”

The TTC confirmed that Line 5 will roll out in phases, initially operating on a limited schedule:

• Monday to Saturday: 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• Sunday: 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Full service, including later hours, will be introduced at a later stage. Rides were free on opening day.

Music, moments, and homemade souvenirs

Opening day also had a celebratory atmosphere.

The Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad—intentionally misspelled—performed onboard using instruments like the kazoo, entertaining riders along the route.

Flautist Keting Trinh said the ride was smoother than expected but remained cautious.

“Like, you know, it’s TTC, can’t expect much,” she said. “But I have high hopes.”

Without official merchandise available, one rider, Chris Drew, created his own commemorative buttons to hand out, including designs referencing Toronto’s long-abandoned Transit City plan.

A long and complicated journey

The Crosstown’s origins trace back to 2007, when then-mayor David Miller introduced the ambitious Transit City plan—a proposal for seven LRT lines across Toronto.

The plan was eventually scrapped amid political shifts, but the Eglinton line survived. Construction began in 2011 with an initial completion target of 2020.

From the start, there were concerns about timelines and costs.

“It was a very aggressive date,” former TTC general manager Gary Webster noted at the time.

Transit advocate Steve Munro later criticized the project’s expansion.

“You had project bloat… consultants coming out of your ears,” he said. “It ceased to be the scale originally conceived.”

By last year, the project’s cost had climbed to more than $13 billion, significantly higher than earlier estimates.

A hopeful future—with cautious optimism

Despite years of delays, Sunday’s opening marks a major step forward for Toronto’s transit network.

Still, questions remain about reliability and long-term performance.

“Eglinton may open, it may be beautiful and wonderful,” Munro said. “But if it isn’t, it’s another big black eye on the system.”

City officials say improvements are already underway. Enhanced signal priority systems are expected to be activated soon to improve travel times along surface sections.

For now, though, riders are simply taking in the moment.

After more than a decade of waiting, Line 5 is finally here—and for many Torontonians, that alone is worth celebrating.