A shot of Exhibition loop at the east end of the Exhibition grounds, looking northeast from the Shell Oil Tower in September 1975. This photo originally comes from the Charles Houser collection and was donated by Pete Coulman.
On September 9, 1881, two horses pulling a Toronto Street Railway car full of passengers arrived at Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street, the new end of the line for the TSR’s King route. The passengers stepped off the car and into the history books as they walked down Strachan to the entrance of the local fairgrounds and introduced Torontonians and visitors alike to the idea that traveling by transit was a safe, convenient — and, often, fun — way to get to the exhibition.
Nearly 136 years later, as the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) gets ready for its 138th season at Exhibition Place, transit still plays an important role in the success of the annual fair. This year, the “Ex” starts Friday, August 18 and continues until Labour Day, Monday, September 4.
As usual, the TTC is revising and increasing its services to help fair-going crowds head to the “Ex”.
Since GO Transit now provides regular train service along the 01 Lakeshore West line to and from Exhibition GO Station seven days a week during the fair, it’s not operating extra service, except during the Labour Day holiday weekend.
At most times of the week, GO trains operate along the 01 Lakeshore West line every 30 minutes — or even more frequently — to and from Exhibition. Trains operating along the 12 Niagara Falls line also stop at Exhibition GO Station Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Since those first passengers in 1881, Toronto’s public transit vehicles — horse cars, streetcars, buses and trains — have been carrying passengers to and from the Canadian National Exhibition — and the various fairs that preceded it. From 1883 until 1885, Toronto’s and Canada’s first electric-powered streetcar carried passengers through the exhibition grounds from the end of the horse car line at Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street — then the main entrance to the fair — to the area of the current Dufferin Gate. (The city as a whole had to wait until August 16, 1892 before an electric streetcar entered regular service along city streets.)
All four of Toronto’s public transit agencies — the Toronto Street Railway, the Toronto Railway Company, the Toronto Transportation Commission and the Toronto Transit Commission — have traditionally dedicated extra human and equipment resources in making sure that everyone gets happily, safely and efficiently to and from the great fairs. And, Canada’s railways and interurban bus companies have also played their parts in the history of the Exhibition, especially the TTC’s former interurban subsidiary company, Gray Coach Lines, the forerunner of today’s GO Transit.
Starting in the 1930s, Gray Coach operated buses directly to a terminal on the Exhibition grounds — immediately west of the Automotive Building (today’s Beanfield Centre — from various cities and towns in Southern Ontario, including Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Galt (Cambridge), Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Oshawa, Preston (Cambridge) and St. Catharines. For those who lived in other towns, GCL operated special flag buses from the downtown bus terminal on Bay Street to the CNE. (They were “flag” buses, because you could wave at, or “flag”, the driver to stop and pick you up.) Your Gray Coach ticket from elsewhere in Ontario let you ride the flag bus from the downtown terminal for free. The downtown flag buses also served major downtown hotels, including the Royal York and the King Edward.
In the 1960s and 70s, the TTC also got into the flag bus business, operating express buses from suburban points to the same Exhibition bus terminal near the Automotive Building that you could also flag down. In 1961, buses operated from Yonge Street and Finch Avenue, Jane Street and Wilson Avenue, Royal York Road and Anglesey Boulevard, Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East and Eglinton Avenue East and Pharmacy Avenue. In 1982, the last year of this service, the buses still operated from Jane and Wilson and Eglinton and Pharmacy, but also ran from Yonge and Steeles Avenue, Bloor Street West and the East Mall, Islington Avenue and Elmhurst Drive and Ellesmere and McCowan Roads.
The Transit Toronto archives contain several informative articles by James Bow describing the history of transit services to the Canadian National Exhibition.
You can read about:
- the history of transit service to Exhibition Place here (with John F. Bromley).
- the history of the 509 Harbourfront streetcar route here.
- the history of the present 511 Bathurst and the former Fort streetcar routes here.
- the history of the 514 Cherry streetcar route here.
- the history of Exhibition East and Fleet loops here.
- the history of the Dufferin streetcar here (with John F. Bromley).
Other relevant history articles on our site:
- the history of the 7 Bathurst bus route by Jeffrey Kay with Pete Coulman, here.
- the history of the 29 Dufferin bus route by Jeffrey Kay, here.
- the history of the 93 Exhibition West express route (1988 - 2002) by Jeffrey Kay, here.
- the history of the 121 Fort York - Esplanade route here.
- the history of the 193 Exhibition rocket route by Jeffrey Kay, here.
- the history of the 307 / 310 Bathurst night route by Jeffrey Kay with Pete Coulman, here.
- the history of the 314 Dufferin - Bathurst overnight route (1987 - 1996) by James Bow, here.
- the history of the 329 Dufferin overnight route by Jeffrey Kay, here.
Service to and from the CNE affects these routes:
TTC — 29 Dufferin, 121 Fort York - Esplanade, 193 Exhibition rocket, 329 Dufferin overnight, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, 511 Bathurst, 514 Cherry.
GO Transit — 01 Lakeshore West, 09 Lakeshore East, 12 Niagara Falls, 21 Milton, 31 Kitchener, 65 Barrie, 71 Stouffville.
Toronto Transit Commission
511 Bathurst
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC increases the frequency of service, with streetcars operating every few minutes to and from Bathurst Station. It’s likely also assigning extra staff and setting up crash gates at the Exhibition Loop to handle crowds during busy hours at the CNE. Passengers pay their fares when they enter the loop and can board streetcars through all doors.
514 Cherry
Friday, August 18, Mondays to Fridays from Monday, August 21 to Friday, August 25 and from Monday, August 28 until Friday, September 1, streetcars operate along their regular route. The TTC’s also likely assigning extra staff and setting up crash gates at Dufferin Gate Loop to handle crowds during busy hours at the CNE. Passengers pay their fares when they enter the loop and can board buses through both doors.
Saturday, August 19, Sunday, August 20, Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27, Saturday, September 2, Sunday, September 3 and Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC extends the route to Sunnyside Loop, instead of Dufferin Gate Loop.
Eastbound cars start their trips in Sunnyside Loop, then proceed:
southward along Sunnyside Avenue; and then
eastward along The Queensway and King Street West to Dufferin Street,
resuming their regular route eastward along King West.Eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- in Dufferin Gate Loop and
- on Dufferin Street at Liberty Street and King Street West.
Instead, eastbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- in Sunnyside Loop,
- on The Queensway at King Street West and
- on King Street West across from Wilson Park Road and at Dowling, Jameson, Dunn and Spencer Avenue and at Dufferin Street.
Westbound cars reverse the detour routing.
Westbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Dufferin Street across from Liberty Street and at Springhurst Avenue and
- in Dufferin Gate Loop.
Instead, westbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on King Street West across from Spencer Avenue and at Dunn, Jameson and Dowling Avenues, west of Wilson Park Road and at Queen Street West and
- in Sunnyside Loop.
29 Dufferin
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC is increasing the frequency of service along the route, with buses operating every few minutes to and from Wilson and Dufferin stations. It’s also likely assigning extra staff and setting up crash gates at Dufferin Gate Loop to handle crowds during busy hours at the CNE. Passengers pay their fares when they enter the loop and can board buses through both doors.
The TTC is also cancelling service along the 29C branch to and from Princes’ Gates. All buses start and end their trips in Dufferin Gates Loop, during the CNE.
Southbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Saskatchewan Road east of Dufferin Street,
- on Manitoba Drive east of Saskatchewan Road, at Nova Scotia Avenue and across from Exhibition Loop and
- in Princes’ Gate Loop.
Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Princes’ Gate Loop,
- on Princes’ Boulevard beside the Direct Energy Centre,
- on Nunavut Road north of Princes’ Boulevard,
- on Manitoba Drive across from Nova Scotia Avenue and
- on Saskatchewan Road west of Manitoba Drive and at Dufferin Street.
329 Dufferin overnight
From Saturday, August 19 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, Exhibition Place is closing its streets to through traffic to accommodate the “Ex”.
The TTC is revising the path for buses operating along the route, while the streets are closed. Buses start and end their trips in Exhibition Loop, instead of Dufferin Gate Loop.
Southbound buses operate along their regular route to Dufferin Gate Loop, then proceed:
northward along Dufferin Street;
eastward along Liberty and East Liberty Streets;
southward along Strachan Avenue; and then
westward along Manitoba Drive and the Exhibition Loop access road to Exhibition Loop,
ending their trips.Southbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Saskatchewan Road east of Dufferin Street,
- on Manitoba Drive east of Saskatchewan Road, at Nova Scotia Avenue and across from Exhibition Loop and
- in Princes’ Gate Loop.
Instead, southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Dufferin Street at Liberty Street,
- on Strachan Avenue at Manitoba Drive and
- in Exhibition Loop.
Northbound buses start their trips in Exhibition Loop, then proceed:
eastward along the access road and Manitoba Drive;
northward along Strachan Avenue;
westward along East Liberty and Liberty Streets;
southward along Dufferin Street;
westward along Springhurst Avenue;
southward along Fort Rouille Street; and then
eastward through Dufferin Gate Loop,
resuming their regular route.Northbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Princes’ Gate Loop.
- on Manitoba Drive beside Exhibition Loop and across from Nova Scotia Avenue and
- on Saskatchewan Road west of Manitoba Drive and at Dufferin Street.
Instead, northbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- in Exhibition Loop,
- on Strachan Avenue north of Fleet Street,
- on East Liberty Street west of Pirandello Street and at Lynn Williams Street,
- on Liberty Street at Atlantic Avenue and
- on Dufferin Street at Springhurst Avenue.
193 Exhibition rocket
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC reintroduces service along this express route between Dundas West Station on the 2 Bloor - Danforth subway line and the CNE’s Dufferin Gate.
Buses operate every 10 minutes seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m. until Sunday, September 4. They also operate from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Labour Day, Monday, September 4.
Starting Friday, August 18, southbound buses proceed from Dundas West Station without stopping:
south- and eastward along Dundas Street West;
southward along Dufferin Street;
westward along Springhurst Avenue; and then
southward along Fort Rouille Street into Dufferin Gate Loop.Northbound buses proceed from Dufferin Gate Loop without stopping:
northward along Dufferin Street; and then
west- and northward along Dundas Street West to Dundas West Station.The TTC is likely assigning extra staff and setting up crash gates at Dufferin Gate Loop to handle crowds during busy hours at the CNE. Passengers pay their fares when they enter the loop and can board buses through both doors.
121 Fort York - Esplanade
From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC operates more frequent service along the route to and from Union Station.
It’s also detouring the cars.
Eastbound cars start their trips westbound on Fleet Street at Fort York Boulevard, then detour:
along their regular route eastward along Fort York.
Eastbound buses skip their regular stops
- in Princes’ Gate Loop and
- on Fleet Street, eastbound, at Fort York Boulevard.
Instead, eastbound buses pick up passengers at a temporary stops
- on Fleet Street, westbound, at Fort York Boulevard.
Westbound buses operate along their regular route to Fort York Boulevard and Bathurst Street, then detour:
southward along Bathurst; and then
westward along Fleet Street to Fort York Boulevard,
ending their trips.Westbound buses skip their regular stops
- on Fort York Boulevard west of Bathurst Street, across from Gzowski Street and at Fleet Street,
- on Princes’ Boulevard at Strachan Avenue and
- in Princes’ Gate Loop.
Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Bathurst Street at Fleet Street and
- on Fleet Street west of Bastion Street and at Fort York Boulevard.
509 Harbourfront
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC increases the frequency of service, with streetcars operating every few minutes to and from Union Station.
The TTC is likely assigning extra staff and setting up crash gates at Exhibition Loop to handle crowds during busy hours at the CNE. Passengers pay their fares when they enter the loop and can board buses by both doors.
510 Spadina
Saturday, August 19, Sunday, August 20, Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27, Saturday, September 2, Sunday, September 3 and Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC short-turns the cars in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop, instead of Union Station.
South- and eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Queens Quay West at Rees and York Streets and
- in the Bay Street tunnel
- in Queens Quay Station and
- in Union Station.
West- and northbound cars skip their regular stops
- in the Bay Street tunnel
- in Union Station and
- in Queens Quay Station and
- on Queens Quay West west of York and Rees Streets.
GO Transit
65 Barrie
GO already operates weekend trains to and from Union Station. Passengers riding most regular weekend Barrie trains must change trains at Union Station to reach Exhibition GO.
You can view the schedule for the line here. (.pdf)
31 Kitchener
GO usually operates extra trains along the line to and from Exhibition GO Station only during the Labour Day weekend, but has not yet confirmed details
09 Lakeshore East
01 Lakeshore West
Trains operate along both lines every 30 minutes at most times of the week — and even more frequently Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. (GO interlines the trains on both lines.)
You can view the schedule for the 01 Lakeshore West line here. (.pdf)
You can view the schedule for the 09 Lakeshore East line here. (.pdf)
21 Milton
GO usually operates extra trains along the line to and from Exhibition GO Station only during the Labour Day weekend, but has not yet confirmed details
12 Niagara Falls
All trains operating along the line between Union Station and the Niagara Falls VIA Rail Station Friday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays stop at Exhibition GO Station.
You can view the regular schedule for the line here. (.pdf)
71 Stouffville
GO usually operates extra trains along the line to and from Exhibition GO Station only during the Labour Day weekend, but has not yet confirmed details
Transit agencies interline one or more routes sharing a common terminal refers to reduce costs by sharing resources — drivers and vehicles — for two or more routes with a common terminal. In this case, a westbound train operating along the 09 Lakeshore East line arrives at Union Station, then continues westward along the 01 Lakeshore West line. Similarly, an eastbound train operating along the 01 Lakeshore West line arrives at Union Station, then continues eastward along the 09 Lakeshore East line.
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