Transit Toronto

We’re pleased to present this video from our international correspondent Richard YS, taken during his trip to Japan over the New Year. The Japan Railways Limited express Shiokaze provides an important connection between Matsuyama and northern Kagawa. The line is also known for providing spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea as it travels along the northern coast of Shikoku. We have previously covered a trip report on the SHIOKAZE’s companion service, the ISHIZUCHI, back in 2024. This time, we’ll travel uninterrupted from Matsuyama to Kan-onji and take in the spectacular views of the inland sea, mountains, and wide open farmland.

Next Friday, we’ll be returning to Toronto with a timelapse video on board the Line 6 Finch West LRT.

The TTC is closing Line 1 Yonge - University subway between Sheppard West and St George stations Sunday, June 7. Line 1 trains operate only between Vaughan Metropolitan and Sheppard West stations and between Finch and St George stations that day.

Shuttle buses partially replace subway service. The buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops near each station on that part of the line. TTC staff are available in each station to direct you to the shuttle-bus boarding and offloading locations. (Or, consider a shuttle-bus alternative.)

Most stations on this section of Line 1 remain open, so you can load PRESTO fare cards, buy PRESTO tickets and connect to TTC buses, streetcars and Line 2 Bloor - Danforth or Line 5 Eglinton trains or GO Transit and York Region Transit buses. However, Glencairn and Dupont stations are closed. Note that the TTC is also closing passenger accesses at several other stations:

• the Ranee Avenue access at Yorkdale Station;
• the Heath Street West access at St Clair West Station; and
• the Kendal Avenue access at Spadina Station.

While this part of Line 1 is closed, TTC crews are maintaining tracks, “ramping up essential subway infrastructure upgrades and removing four reduced speed zones on Line 1”.

The TTC is closing this section of Line 1 once more this week:

• Monday, June 8 — Wilson to Lawrence West — single-track operation — track maintenance.

According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance after service each night, it continues to require subway closures to complete critical infrastructure and state-of-good-repair work.”

^ Flexity light-rail vehicle (LRV) streetcars gather at the run-out track at Leslie Barns, early on a May morning in 2017. Photo by Patrick Lavallee.

The City of Toronto and the TTC have officially renamed the streetcar storage and maintenance facility at the Leslie Barns complex to honour former Toronto Mayor, David Miller.

Current mayor Olivia Chow, TTC Board chair Jamaal Myers and the transit agency’s chief executive officer, Mandeep S. Lali, attended an official ceremony last Sunday, May 29, dedicating the carhouse to the former mayor.

The Toronto Transit Commission — the TTC’s board — approved the naming last October to recognize Miller’s “dedicated advocacy for the TTC and public transit.”

Before becoming mayor in 2003, Miller was a member of the TTC board as a city councillor from 1997-2003. According to City and TTC officials, he helped guide the commission to improve service and increase ridership. As Mayor, he released a fully-funded rapid transit network expansion plan, Transit City. The the new Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West lines are components of that plan.

The Leslie Barns complex officially opened May 28, 2016.

In a news release, the TTC explains that the David R. Miller Carhouse is a state-of-art, 26,000-square-metre facility with 30 streetcar service-bays. It provides maintenance for the TTC’s fleet of 264 accessible streetcars. It also stores and dispatches more than 120 streetcars daily.

It has one of the largest green roofs in Toronto and an on-site storm-water management pond. The facility also includes streetcar operator and maintenance training facilities.

The release quotes Chair Myers, who said, “The naming of the carhouse after David Miller is fitting, considering he negotiated the funding for the first 204 new low-floor streetcars and secured the land for the Leslie Barns complex. His advocacy for these initiatives and for more, and better, transit will make a real difference for residents across Toronto [and] cannot be overstated.”

Many events affect transit service in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area this weekend — Friday, June 5, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7. The events take place in Brampton, Burlington, the Downsview area of Toronto, the Dundas and central areas of Hamilton and the New Toronto, North York, Scarborough and central areas of Toronto.

Metrolinx continues to upgrade the Stouffville rail corridor as part of the GO Expansion Program.

This Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, GO Transit is cancelling train service along the 71 Stouffville line due to construction. GO buses replace the trains between Old Elm and Unionville GO stations and operate express — without stopping — between Unionville and Union Station Bus Terminal.

GO isn’t providing any service at Milliken, Agincourt or Kennedy GO stations. Board TTC trains or buses to travel to and from those stations. York Region Transit buses also operate to and from Milliken.

GO is also adjusting some late-night service Friday, June 5.

Friday, June 5

• GO is extending the northbound train that starts its trip Union Station at 10 p.m. The train continues from Mount Joy to Stouffville and Old Elm GO stations. If you are travelling further northward to Uxbridge, you can connect to the 70D GO bus at Mount Joy.
• GO buses replace the train that usually starts in Union at 12:01 a.m.:

• a GO bus along route 71G starts in Union terminal at 12:05 a.m. and operates express to Unionville, ending its trip.
• a GO bus along route 71C starts in Union Station Bus Terminal at 12:17 a.m., operates express — without stopping —to Unionville, then drops off or picks up passengers in all stations to Old Elm.

Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 5

• Buses replace all trains:

• buses along route 71C operate express between Union and Unionville, then drop off or pick up passengers in all stations to Old Elm.
• buses along route 71E operate express between Union and Unionville, then drop off or pick up passengers in all stations to Mount Joy.
• buses along route 71G operate express between Union and Unionville, ending their trips.

Southbound connections:

• If you are transferring to replacement GO buses from GO buses along route 70 at Mount Joy, you will have a 14- to 19-minute connection time (as much as four minutes more than usual).

Northbound connections:

• If you are transferring to GO buses along route 70 at Old Elm from replacement GO buses, you will have a 10- to 16-minute connection time (as much as eight minutes more than usual).
• If you are transferring to GO buses along route 70 at Mount Joy from replacement GO buses, you will have a 9- to 14-minute connection time (as much as six minutes more than usual).

Regular train service resumes Monday, June 8.

GO explains that, “During the planned service disruption on the Stouffville Line, crews will be carrying out important construction work for the Finch-Kennedy grade separation, which will support faster, more frequent service.

And, this weekend, Metrolinx crews are continuing to work in the rail corridor for the Ontario Line subway project. They’re surfacing track, installing track fiber-optic cable and removing graffiti.

GO is also replacing trains with buses along the 09 Lakeshore East line this weekend. And, it’s adjusting the schedules for trains along the 01 Lakeshore West line.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Stouffville line line, as part of the GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Metrolinx continues to upgrade the Lakeshore East rail corridor as part of the GO Expansion Program.

This Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, GO Transit is cancelling train service along the 09 Lakeshore East line due to construction. GO buses replace the trains. The buses drop off or pick up passengers in all stations between Durham College Oshawa and Pickering GO stations and then operate express — without stopping — between Pickering and Union Station Bus Terminal.

GO isn’t providing any service at Rouge Hill, Guildwood, Eglinton, Scarborough and Danforth GO stations. Board TTC trains, buses or streetcars to travel to and from those stations.

GO is also adjusting some late-night service Friday, June 5.

Friday, June 5

Westbound:

• After 7 p.m., trains operate hourly.
• GO buses along route 90B replace the trains that usually start their trips in Oshawa at 11:09 and 11:39 p.m.
• The buses pick up or drop off passengers in Whitby, Ajax and Pickering GO stations, then operate express to Union Station Bus Terminal.

Eastbound:

• From 7 until 10 p.m., trains operate hourly.
• The train that starts in Union at 11:22 ends its trip in Whitby. You can connect in Whitby with a GO bus to travel further eastward toward Oshawa.
• GO buses along route 90B from Union bus terminal replace the trains that usually start in Union Station at 11:50 p.m. and 12:20 and 12:50 a.m.
• The buses operate express to Pickering, serve passengers in Ajax and Whitby and then end their trips in Oshawa.

Buses along route 88

• Southbound passengers aboard a bus along the 88 Peterborough / Oshawa route that arrives in Durham College Oshawa GO Station bus terminal at 11:24 p.m. must wait 21 minutes to connect with the rail-replacement bus that leaves at 11:40 p.m. (The wait time is one minute more than usual).
• Northbound passengers aboard the replacement buses that end their trips in Oshawa at 12:55 and 1 a.m. must wait four or nine minutes to connect with the route 88 bus that starts at 1:04 a.m. (The wait time is one minute more or four minutes fewer than usual).

Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7

• Buses replace all trains.

• GO buses along route 90B operate express between Union and Pickering, then drop off or pick up passengers in all stations between Pickering and Oshawa.
• GO buses along route 90R operate express between Union and Pickering, then serve passengers in Ajax.
• GO buses along route 90W operate express between Union and Whitby, then serve passengers in Oshawa.

Buses along route 88

• Southbound passengers aboard buses along route 88 must wait in Oshawa six to 21 minutes to connect with rail-replacement buses. (The wait time is nine minutes fewer or six minutes more than usual.)
• Northbound passengers aboard replacement buses must wait five to 30 minutes to connect with route 88 buses. (The wait time is nine minutes fewer and as much as 22 minutes more than usual).

Monday, June 8

• Some trains will need to run at slower speeds due to this weekend’s construction. Some trains between Pickering and Durham College Oshawa GO arrive and depart a few minutes later than usually.

Regular service resumes Tuesday, June 9.

This weekend, Metrolinx crews are continuing to work in the rail corridor for the Ontario Line subway project. They’re surfacing track, installing track fiber-optic cable and removing graffiti.

GO is also replacing trains with buses along the 71 Stouffville line this weekend. And, it’s adjusting the schedules for trains along the 01 Lakeshore West line.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore East line, as part of the GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Metrolinx continues construction to improve service along the 01 Lakeshore West line as part of the GO Expansion Program.

To accommodate the Metrolinx construction, GO Transit is adjusting the schedules for trains along the 01 Lakeshore West line Friday, June 5, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7.

Friday, June 5

• Eastbound trains starting trips in Confederation and West Harbour GO stations, the Hamilton GO Centre and Aldershot and Appleby GO stations start one minute earlier than usually.
• The train that usually starts in Niagara Falls GO Station at 6:41 a.m. starts, instead, one minute earlier at 6:40 a.m.
• The trains that usually start in Niagara Falls at 1:07 and 8:04 p.m. start, instead, two minutes earlier at 1:05 and 8:02 p.m.

Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7

• Trains operate hourly between West Harbour GO Station and Union Station.
• Trains operate every 30 minutes between Oakville GO Station and Union.
• In Oakville GO, you may have to wait 15 to 30-minutes to connect with another train to complete your trip.
• GO is also adjusting bus-connection times.

Metrolinx temporarily closed the 01 Lakeshore West line during the weekends of May 23-34 and May 30-31 “to safely complete important construction work and maintenance that can only be carried out while trains are not running.”

During the closures, crews removed three temporary rail bridges at Long Branch GO Station to prepare for the next segment of construction on the east platforms, station building and tunnel. As part of the Burloak Drive Grade Separation, crews successfully shifted the detour tracks onto the newly constructed rail bridge, reinstated the at-grade crossing back to the mainline, installed storm sewers, and advanced work on the retaining walls below in preparation for constructing the new roadway beneath the bridge. At Oakville GO station, crews started temporary platform widening works to support future platform upgrades.

Metrolinx also made progress on the Ontario Line with crews carrying out work to erect the steel structure for the concourse at Exhibition Station. Crews also conducted necessary state-of-good-repair work during the closure, including replacing timber deck ties in Oakville and installing retaining walls beside the Etobicoke Creek bridge.

GO buses replace trains along the 09 Lakeshore East and 71 Stouffville lines this weekend.

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore West line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

The TTC is closing Line 1 Yonge - University subway between Sheppard West and St George stations earlier than usually Monday, June 1 until Friday, June 6. Line 1 subway trains operate only between Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Sheppard West stations and between Finch and St George stations after 11:59 p.m. June 1 to 4. Friday, June 5 only, subway service between St George and Sheppard West stations ends at 12:30 a.m. (early Saturday, June 6) to accommodate fans leaving the Luke Combs concert at Rogers Stadium.

Shuttle buses partially replace subway service. The buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops near each station on that part of the line. TTC staff are available in each station to direct you to the shuttle-bus boarding and offloading locations. (Or, consider a shuttle-bus alternative.)

Most stations on this section of Line 1 remain open, so you can load PRESTO fare cards, buy PRESTO tickets and connect to TTC buses, streetcars and Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway trains and GO Transit or York Region Transit buses. However, Glencairn and Dupont stations are closed. Note that the TTC is also closing passenger accesses at several other stations:

• the Ranee Avenue access at Yorkdale Station;
• the Heath Street West access at St Clair West Station; and
• the Kendal Avenue access at Spadina Station.

While this part of Line 1 is closed, TTC crews are maintaining the tracks.

According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance after service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and state-of-good-repair work.”

In a separate news release, the TTC says it’s “ramping up essential subway infrastructure upgrades and removing four reduced speed zones on Line 1 between Sheppard West and St George stations” during the next week.

The release quotes TTC Chief Executive Officer Mandeep S. Lali. “When I joined the TTC last July, I pledged to improve reliability by reducing the number of speed restrictions we had, and I’m glad to say we’ve made real progress,” he said. “Ten months ago when I joined, we had nearly 30 speed restrictions and today we have six. The work being done between now and June 9 will eliminate four more. That means we’ll have better service for our customers on this part of Line 1, for the future and the World Cup.”

The TTC is ramping up essential subway infrastructure upgrades and removing four reduced speed zones on Line 1 between Sheppard West and St George stations this week.

TTC crews are working in multiple locations:

• Southbound Yorkdale to Wilson:

• Concrete slab repair to ensure long-term structural integrity, requiring two full days for concrete to cure.

• Northbound Yorkdale to Wilson and Glencairn to Lawrence West:

• Installation of new rail.

• Northbound Dupont to St Clair West:

• Replacement of track hardware.

As a large portion of track is above ground in this area, these closures will also allow for weather-related maintenance.

To facilitate these projects, the TTC will adjust service as follows:

• Subway service on Line 1 between Sheppard West and St George stations ends early each night at 11:59 p.m. from Monday, June 1 until Thursday, June 4.
• Full-day closure of Line 1 between Sheppard West and St George stations from 12:30 a.m. Sunday June 7 until 6 a.m. Monday, June 8.
• Partial subway service resumes Monday, June 8, with service on the section between Wilson and Lawrence West stations along a single track until 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 9.

To accommodate passengers leaving the Luke Combs concert at Rogers Stadium the night of Friday, June 5, subway service ends at 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning, reopening at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 6. The TTC has planned no other closure Saturday.

These are the last planned TTC subway closures before the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Metrolinx continues construction to improve service along the 01 Lakeshore West line as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Due to the residual effects of last weekend’s construction, GO is adjusting the schedules for trains along the line from Monday, June 1 until Friday, June 5.

Monday, June 1

• Eastbound trains that usually start trips in Niagara Falls, Confederation and West Harbour GO stations, Hamilton GO Centre, and Aldershot and Appleby GO stations start, instead, depart two minutes earlier than usually.
• Eastbound trains starting at Bronte GO Station start, instead, one minute earlier than usually.

From Tuesday, June 2 until Friday, June 5

• Eastbound trains starting in Confederation, West Harbour, Hamilton GO Centre, Aldershot and Appleby start one minute earlier than usually.
• The train?that usually starts in?Niagara Falls at 6:41 a.m. starts, instead,?one minute earlier at 6:40 a.m.
• The trains that usually start in Niagara Falls at 1:07 and 8:04 p.m. start, instead, two minutes earlier at 1:05 and 8:02 p.m.?

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Lakeshore West line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).

Metrolinx and its contractors continue upgrading GO Transit’s Barrie line as part of the GO Expansion Program.

Due to the residual effects of last weekend’s construction, GO is adjusting the schedules for trains along the 61 Barrie line Monday, June 1.

Southbound

• Some trains start trips in Aurora or Allandale Waterfront GO stations several minutes earlier or later than usually.

• The train that usually starts in Aurora at 3:04 p.m. for Union Station starts, instead, from Maple GO Station at 3:21 p.m.
• You’ll have to arrive in Aurora as much as 35 minutes earlier than usually to connect with buses from Aurora to King City and Maple GO stations.

Northbound

• Some trains start trips in Union several minutes earlier or later than usually.

• The train that usually starts at 12:54 p.m. in Union starts, instead, four minutes later, and ends in Maple GO Station, with GO buses operating to King City and Aurora GO stations.
• You’ll arrive at your destination stations as much as 10 minutes later than usually.

Buses

• If you’re travelling aboard southbound buses along the 68 Barrie / East Gwillimbury / Newmarket route, you’ll have to wait 12 to 18 minutes in station (as much as three minutes less to four minutes more than usually) to connect with trains.
• If you’re travelling northbound, you’ll have to wait seven to 16 minutes in stations to connect with route 68 buses (as much as one minute less or eight minutes more than usually.)

Metrolinx and GO plan to accommodate more passengers and increase service along the Barrie line, as part of their GO Expansion Program (formerly “regional express rail”).