Officially, this is what the TTC has announced — “regular weekday service” during the holiday period — from Monday, December 21 until Thursday, December 31.
Its news release provides more detail:
“Holiday service is as follows:
“Mon., Dec. 21 to Thurs., Dec.24
- Weekday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 6 a.m.
“Fri., December 25 - Christmas Day
- Sunday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 9 a.m.
“Sat., Dec. 26 - Boxing Day
- Holiday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 6 a.m.
“Sun., Dec. 27
- Sunday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 9 a.m.
“Monday, Dec. 28 to Wed., Dec. 30
- Weekday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 6 a.m.
“Thurs., Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve - travel free from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., Jan. 1
- Weekday service, with late evening service extended later than usual.
- Subway and most routes start at 6 a.m.
- Free parking at TTC parking lots after 3 p.m.
- Subway and most bus and streetcar service extended until approximately 4 a.m., Fri., Jan. 1.
“Fri., Jan. 1, 2016 - New Year’s Day
- Sunday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 9 a.m.
“Sat., Jan. 2
- Saturday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 6 a.m.
“Sun., Jan. 3
- Sunday service.
- Subway and most routes start at 8 a.m., as subway service on Sundays now starts an hour earlier.”
Unofficially, though, we know that, in previous years, the TTC has also decreased the frequency of service along many routes because it expects fewer passengers to be riding transit vehicles during the holidays. This week, “regular weekday” likely really means less frequent service along many bus, streetcar and subway routes.
We haven’t received any official information from the TTC to confirm this, but you should probably expect that the TTC operates buses, streetcars and subway trains with roughly the same level of service as it does during July and August.
For the summer holidays, the TTC provided passengers less frequent service along many bus, streetcar and subway routes, mostly during rush hours, but, in a few cases, also during the Monday-to-Friday “midday” period — from about 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. — and in one case, early evenings from about 7 until 10 p.m.
Remember, the TTC hasn’t confirmed this information — this is just our educated guess.
And, looking further at the TTC’s service during previous years, you can also expect it to start afternoon rush-hour service earlier than usual Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24 and New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31. Expect this earlier service to start about noon.
It will also likely increase service Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, as more people take the TTC do last-minute Christmas shopping — or to catch Boxing Day sales — visit friends or take in sights and attractions.
The TTC is (unofficially) revising service along these routes: 2 Bloor - Danforth subway, 9 Bellamy, 11 Bayview, 17 Birchmount, 23 Dawes, 24 Victoria Park, 25 Don Mills, 26 Dupont, 38 Highland Creek, 39 C / F Finch East local / express, 44 Kipling South, 45 Kipling local, 45E Kipling express, 46 Martin Grove, 48 Rathburn, 53 Steeles East, 61 Avenue Rd North, 68 Warden, 71 Runnymede, 75 Sherbourne, 76 Royal York South, 77 Swansea, 84 Sheppard West, 86 Scarborough local, 89 Weston, 90 Vaughan, 94 Wellesley, 95 York Mills local, 95E York Mills express, 96E Wilson express, 102 Markham Rd, 106 York University, 108 Downsview, 109 Ranee, 110 Islington South, 111 East Mall, 112 West Mall, 116 Morningside, 117 Alness, 129 McCowan North, 132 Milner, 134 Progress, 165 Weston Rd North, 168 Symington, 190 Scarborough Centre rocket, 191 Highway 27 rocket, 195 Jane rocket, 196 York University rocket, 505 Dundas, 506 Carlton.
Specifically, the TTC is (unofficially): canceling branches of routes; decreasing service along routes; decreasing the frequency of service along routes; decreasing services to and from colleges and universities; and canceling extra services to and from high schools.
Canceling branches of routes
38A Highland Creek
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that buses operate along the 38A branch between the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Campus and Scarborough Centre Station.
All buses operating along the 38 Highland Creek route likely continue to serve stops between Rouge Hill GO Station and Scarborough Centre Station and continue to drop off and pick up passengers on campus throughout the holidays.
The TTC resumes operating buses along the 38A branch of the route Monday, January 4, 2016.
The TTC is also increasing the frequency of service east of the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Campus and decreasing the frequency of service west of the campus.
191 Highway 27 rocket
Fewer passengers travel to and from Humber College’s North Campus for the holidays, so Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates buses along the 191A branch between the campus and Kipling Station.
Holiday service ends and regular service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
116B Morningside
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates bus along the 116B (Kennedy Stn - Kingston Rd & Eglinton) branch of the route.
Holiday service ends and regular service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
112E West Mall express
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling to and from Michael Power and St. Joseph Catholic Secondary Schools.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
Decreasing service along routes
191 Highway 27 rocket
Fewer passengers travel to and from Humber College’s North Campus for the holidays, so Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates buses along the 191A branch between the campus and Kipling Station.
The southbound buses that start their trips at Humber College at 9:26, 9:46, 10:06 and 10:26 a.m. no longer operate. The northbound buses that leave Kipling Station at 8:50, 9:10, 9:30, 9:50, 10:10 and 10:30 a.m., ending their trips at Humber, also no longer operate.
The TTC is also decreasing the frequency of service along the route.
Holiday service ends and regular service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
Decreasing the frequency of service along current routes
In preparing this document in previous years, we’ve been able to make an educated guess at service letters by comparing the frequency of service in September with that in July and August. However, this year, we can’t do that with certainty, since the TTC has greatly increased service along many routes this fall
Passengers can likely expect less frequent Monday-to-Friday rush hour service along these routes from Monday, December 21 until Thursday, December 31.
Holiday service ends and regular service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
- 117 Alness
- 61 Avenue Rd North
- 11 Bayview
- 9 Bellamy
- 17 Birchmount
- 2 Bloor - Danforth subway
- 506 Carlton
- 23 Dawes
- 25 Don Mills
- 108 Downsview
- 505 Dundas
- 26 Dupont
- 111 East Mall
- 15 Evans
- 39C / 39F Finch East local / express
- 38 Highland Creek
- 191 Highway 27 rocket
- 110 Islington South
- 12 Kingston Rd
- 45 Kipling local
- 44 Kipling South
- 102 Markham Rd
- 46 Martin Grove
- 129 McCowan North
- 132 Milner
- 131E Nugget express
- 134C Progress (Centennial College)
- 109 Ranee
- 48 Rathburn
- 161 Rogers Rd
- 76 Royal York South
- 71 Runnymede
- 86 Scarborough local
- 190 Scarborough rocket
- 75 Sherbourne
- 77 Swansea
- 168 Symington
- 81 Thorncliffe Park
- 90 Vaughan
- 24 Victoria Park
- 68 Warden
- 94 Wellesley
- 112 West Mall local
- 165 Weston Rd North
- 96E Wilson express
- 95 York Mills local
- 95E York Mills express
- 106 York University
- 196 York University rocket
Decreasing service to and from colleges and universities
See Transit Toronto’s December 17 post.
Canceling extra service to and from high schools
32 Eglinton West
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling from Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
12 Kingston Rd
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling to and from Neil McNeill Catholic Secondary School.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
The TTC is also decreasing the frequency of service along the route.
48 Rathburn
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling from Michael Power and St. Joseph Catholic Secondary Schools.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
The TTC is also decreasing the frequency of service along the route.
112E West Mall express
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling to and from Michael Power and St. Joseph Catholic Secondary Schools.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
89 Weston
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling from St. Basil the Great Catholic Secondary School.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
165 Weston Rd North
Friday, December 18 is the last day this year that the TTC operates extra service for passengers traveling from St. Basil the Great Catholic Secondary School.
Extra high school service resumes Monday, January 4, 2016.
The TTC is also decreasing the frequency of service along the route.