^ 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 142 years later, as the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) gets ready for its next 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. However, GO is adjusting its schedules to suit fair-goers.
At most times of the week, GO trains operate along the 01 Lakeshore West line every 30 minutes — or even more frequently during rush hours — to and from Exhibition.
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. 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.
Meanwhile, GO trains have been stopping at Exhibition GO Station since the very first day of service, May 23, 1967.
^ During the 1968 Exhibition season, GO Transit set up a temporary ticket booth and provided service for CNE patrons. This image is courtesy the Government of Ontario.
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).
- the history of GO Transit’s Lakeshore lines here (with Daniel Garcia).
Other relevant history articles on our site:
- 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.
- the history of the 929 Dufferin express route by Jelo Guttierez, here.
The TTC is increasing service to handle the crowds heading to the “Ex”. It’s also revising the paths for buses and streetcars along some of its routes. GO Transit is revising train and connecting bus service.
TTC — 29 Dufferin, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, 511 Bathurst, 929 Dufferin express, Exhibition express.
GO Transit — 01 Lakeshore West trains, 09 Lakeshore East trains, 18 Lakeshore West buses, 65 Barrie trains, 71 Stouffville trains, 88 Peterborough / Oshawa buses.
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.
The TTC is also operating special Exhibition express buses along the Bathurst corridor.
29 Dufferin
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, the TTC increases the frequency of service along the route, with buses operating every few minutes to and from Wilson and Dufferin stations.
The TTC is also operating special Exhibition express buses along the Dufferin corridor.
929 Dufferin express
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.
The TTC is also operating special Exhibition express buses along the Dufferin corridor.
Exhibition express
From Friday, August 19 until Labour Day, Monday, September 5, the TTC operates frequent express buses to and from Bathurst Station. The buses operate between the station and Exhibition Loop without dropping off or picking up passengers at any other stops.
It also operates frequent express buses to and from Dufferin Station. The buses operate between the station and Exhibition Loop without dropping off or picking up passengers at any other stops.
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.
Streetcars along the 509 Harbourfront route temporarily replace service along the 510 Spadina route to and from Union Station.
510 Spadina
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4 and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day, the TTC shortens the path so that all cars operate to and from Spadina / Queens Quay Loop each day. By shortening the path, the TTC intends to accommodate the larger volume of streetcars along Queens Quay West during the “Ex”.
South- and eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Queens Quay West at Rees and York Streets and
- in the Bay streetcar tunnel
- at Queens Quay Station; and
- Union Station.
West- and northbound cars skip their regular stops
- in the Bay streetcar tunnel
- at Union Station; and
- at Queens Quay Station.
- on Queens Quay West west of York and Rees Streets.
To travel between Spadina / Queens Quay Loop and Union Station, board cars along the 509 Harbourfront route.
GO Transit
65 Barrie trains
Starting Friday, August 18, GO’s operating more service along the line.
Mondays to Fridays - new trains:
- Starting its trip in Aurora GO Station at 11:57 a.m., dropping off and picking up passengers in all stations to Union Station, ending its trip at 12:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 12:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union Station, ending at 1:48 p.m.
- Starting in Allandale Waterfront GO Station at 1:05 p.m., making all stops to Union, ending at 2:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 7:52 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 8:43 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 9:57 p.m. serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 10:48 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 9:53 a.m. serving passengers in all stations to Allandale, ending at 11:37 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 10:53 a.m. serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 11:44 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 6:48 p.m. serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 7:39 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 8:53 p.m. serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 9:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 10:58 p.m. serving passengers in all stations to Allandale, ending at 12:43 a.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays - new trains:
- Starting its trip in Aurora GO Station at 9:57 a.m., dropping off or picking up passengers in all stops to Union Station, ending its trip at 10:50 a.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 10:57 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 11:48 a.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 12:57 p.m, serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 1:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 1:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 2:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 3:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 4:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 4:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 5:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 6:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 7:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 7:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 8:48 p.m.
- Starting in Aurora at 9:57 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 10:48 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 9:53 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 10:44 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 10:53 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 11:44 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 12:53 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 1:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 1:53 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Aurora, ending at 2:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union Station at 3:53 p.m. making all stops to Aurora GO, arriving at 4:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union Station at 4:53 p.m. making all stops to Aurora GO, arriving at 5:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union Station at 6:53 p.m. making all stops to Aurora GO, arriving at 7:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union Station at 7:53 p.m. making all stops to Aurora GO, arriving at 8:44 p.m.
- Starting in Union Station at 7:53 p.m. making all stops to Aurora GO, arriving at 8:44 p.m.
09 Lakeshore East trains
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, GO is adjusting the schedules during the CNE.
Mondays to Fridays
- GO operates a new train along the line that starts in Union Station at 12:46 a.m. and operates every weeknight during the CNE.
- The train that usually starts its trip in Durham Oshawa GO Station Fridays at 11:37 p.m. operates Mondays to Fridays during the CNE.
- Trains that usually start in Oshawa from 8:39 a.m. until 5:39 p.m. start four minutes earlier than usually.
- Trains that usually start in Union from 9:35 a.m. until 7:05 p.m. start eight minutes later.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 7:36 p.m. starts seven minutes later.
- Trains that usually start in Union from 8:06 until 11:36 p.m. start nine minutes later.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 12:06 a.m. starts 7 minutes later.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- GO operates a new train along the line that starts in Union at 12:45 a.m. and temporarily operates every weekend and holiday night during the CNE.
- Trains that usually start in Oshawa from 6:34 until 10:04 p.m. start four minutes later.
- GO operates a new train along the line that starts in Oshawa at 12:45 a.m. and temporarily operates every weekend and holiday night during the CNE.
- Trains that usually start in Union from 5:31 p.m. until 12:16 a.m. start one minute later.
GO adjusts the schedules to accommodate similar changes along the 01 Lakeshore West line. By adjusting the schedules, it provides more time for passengers to board and exit trains at Exhibition GO Station.
18 Lakeshore West buses
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4 GO is adjusting the schedules for buses along the route to help passengers connect with 01 Lakeshore West trains during the CNE.
Mondays to Fridays
- Buses that usually start their trips in Aldershot GO Station from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. start five minutes later than usually.
- The bus that usually starts in Aldershot at 6:27 p.m. starts eight minutes later.
- The bus that usually starts in Aldershot at 7:27 p.m. will depart 11 minutes later.
- Buses that usually start in Aldershot from 8:27 p.m. until 1:35 a.m. start eight minutes later.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- Buses that usually start in Aldershot from 11:27 a.m. until 5:27 p.m. start 5 minutes later.
- Buses that usually start in Aldershot from 6:27 a.m. until 12:27 a.m. start 8 minutes later.
- The bus that usually starts in Aldershot at 1:27 a.m. starts 5 minutes later.
01 Lakeshore West trains
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4, GO is adjusting the schedules during the CNE.
Mondays to Fridays
- GO operates a new train along the line that starts in Union Station at 12:43 a.m. and operates every weeknight during the CNE.
- The train that usually starts its trip in Niagara Falls VIA / GO Station at 1:12 p.m. starts two minutes later than usually.
- The train that usually starts in Niagara Falls at 9:10 p.m. starts 49 minutes earlier.
- The trains that usually start in West Harbour GO Station from 8:13 a.m. until 4:13 p.m. start two minutes later.
- The trains that usually start in West Harbour at 5:13 p.m. and 6:13 p.m. start five minutes later.
- The trains that usually start in West Harbour from 7:13 until 10:13 p.m. start eight minutes later.
- GO is operating a new train along the line that starts in West Harbour at 11:22 p.m. and temporarily operates every night until September 4.
- The trains that usually start in Exhibition GO Station at 5:52 and 6:22 p.m. start two minutes later.
- The trains that usually start in Exhibition from 7:21 a.m. until 12:21 a.m. will depart one minute later.
- The train that usually starts in Union Station at 3:56 p.m. starts one minute earlier and stops at Exhibition.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 4:24 p.m. starts five minutes later.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 4:56 p.m. starts three minutes later.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 5:24 p.m. starts two minutes earlier and stops at Exhibition.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 10:47 p.m. starts four minutes earlier.
- The train that usually starts in Union at 10:40 p.m. starts ten minutes later.
GO adjusts the schedules to provide more time for passengers to board and exit trains at Exhibition GO Station.
88 Peterborough / Oshawa
From Friday, August 18 until Labour Day, Monday, September 4 GO is adjusting the schedules for buses along the route to help passengers connect with 09 Lakeshore East trains during the CNE.
Mondays to Fridays
- Buses that usually start their trips in Durham College Oshawa GO Station bus terminal from 12:13 until 6:13 p.m. start 10 minutes later than usually.
- The bus that usually starts in Oshawa at 10:13 p.m. starts 15 minutes later.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- Buses that usually start in Oshawa from 6:58 p.m. until 12:58 a.m. start 5 minutes later.
71 Stouffville trains
Starting Friday, August 18, GO’s adjusting the schedules and operating more service along the line.
Mondays to Fridays - schedule changes:
- The train Starting its trip in Old Elm GO Station at 9:17 a.m. starts, instead, one minute earlier than usually.
- The trains Starting in Union Station at 3:13, 4:13, 6:13 and 7:13 p.m. start five minutes later.
- The trains Starting in Union at 4:58 p.m. and 5:28 p.m. start five minutes earlier.
Mondays to Fridays - new trains:
- Starting its trip in Mount Joy GO Station at 11:57 a.m., dropping off and picking up passengers in all stations to Union Station, ending its trip at 12:20 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 11:26 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 12:20 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 1:26 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 2:20 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 3:38 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 4:32 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 9:13 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy ending at 10:06 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 11:02 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 11:55 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 1:02 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 1:55 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays - new trains:
- Starting in Old Elm at 7:17 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 8:28 a.m.
- Starting in Old Elm at 8:17 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 9:28 a.m.
- Starting in Old Elm at 9:17 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 10:28 a.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 10:34 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 11:28 a.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 11:34 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 12:28 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 12:34 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 1:28 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 1:34 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 2:28 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 2:34 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 3:28 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 3:34 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 4:28 p.m.
- Starting in Mount Joy at 5:34 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Union, ending at 6:28 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 9:13 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 10:06 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 10:13 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 11:06 a.m.
- Starting in Union at 11:13 a.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 12:06 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 12:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 1:06 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 1:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 2:06 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 2:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 3:06 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 3:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 4:06 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 4:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Mount Joy, ending at 5:06 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 5:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Old Elm, ending at 6:23 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 6:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Old Elm, ending at 7:23 p.m.
- Starting in Union at 7:13 p.m., serving passengers in all stations to Old Elm, ending at 8:23 p.m.
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