^ 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 143 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 16 and continues until Labour Day, Monday, September 2.
As usual, the TTC is revising and increasing its services to help fair-going crowds head to the “Ex”.
GO Transit is providing extra train service along the 01 Lakeshore West and 09 Lakeshore East lines Mondays to Fridays. GO is also adjusting its schedules along connecting bus routes to suit fair-goers.
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 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, 501 Queen, 511 Bathurst, 929 Dufferin express, Exhibition express.
GO Transit — 01 Lakeshore West, 11 St. Catharines / Burlington, 15 Brantford / Burlington, 88 Peterborough / Oshawa, 90 Lakeshore East buses.
Toronto Transit Commission
511 Bathurst
From Friday, August 16 until Labour Day, Monday, September 2, 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
929 Dufferin express
From Friday, August 16 until Labour Day, Monday, September 2, the TTC increases the frequency of service along the routes, 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 Dufferin Gate Loop without dropping off or picking up passengers at any other stops.
509 Harbourfront
From Friday, August 16 until Labour Day, Monday, September 2, the TTC increases the frequency of service, with streetcars operating every few minutes to and from Union Station.
501A Queen
From Friday, August 16 until Labour Day, Monday, September 2, streetcars operate to and from Sunnyside Loop, instead of Dufferin Gate Loop. By detouring the cars, the TTC increases space in Dufferin Gate Loop for the extra buses serving passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”
Eastbound cars start their trips in Sunnyside Loop, then proceed:
southward along Sunnyside Avenue; and then
eastward along The Queensway and Queen Street West to Dufferin Street,
resuming their long-term detour path eastward along Queen West.Eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- in Dufferin Gate Loop and
- on Dufferin Street at Liberty Street and King Street West, across from Melbourne Street and at Queen Street West.
Instead, eastbound cars again drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Sunnyside Loop and
- on Queen Street West beyond King Street West, at Triller, Beaty, Jameson and Dunn avenues, across from Brock Avenue and at Dufferin Street.
Westbound car operate along their long-term detour path to Queen Street West and Dufferin Street, then detour:
westward along Queen Street West and The Queensway and
northward into Sunnyside Loop,
ending their trips.Westbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Dufferin Street at Melbourne Street and King Street West, across from Liberty Street and at Springhurst Avenue and
- in Dufferin Gate Loop.
Instead, westbound cars again drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- on Queen Street West at Brock, O’Hara, Lansdowne, Sorauren, Triller and Roncesvalles avenues and
- in Sunnyside Loop.
GO Transit
15 Brantford / Burlington
Mondays to Fridays from Friday, August 16 until Friday, August 30, GO is adjusting the schedules for buses along the route to help passengers connect with 01 Lakeshore West trains during the “Ex.”
Eastbound:
- The bus that usually starts its trip in Brantford Bus Terminal at 5:55 p.m. leaves, instead, five minutes later.
Westbound:
- The buses that usually start in Aldershot GO Station bus terminal at 12:34, 1:34, 2:34, 3:34 and 4:34 p.m. start, instead, six minutes later.
09 Lakeshore East trains
Mondays to Fridays from Friday, August 16 until Friday, August 30, GO is operating extra trains for passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”
Mondays to Fridays - extra trains
Westbound:
- 5:25 p.m. Durham College Oshawa GO Station to Union Station. The train ends its trip in Union at 6:27 p.m. You can then connect with the Lakeshore West train starting in Union at 6:55 p.m., arriving in Exhibition GO Station at 7:03 p.m.
Eastbound:
- Union 10:05 p.m. to Oshawa.
- Union 10:35 p.m. to Oshawa.
01 Lakeshore West trains
Mondays to Fridays from Friday, August 16 until Friday, August 30, GO is operating extra trains for passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”
Mondays to Fridays - extra trains
Eastbound:
- 4:44 p.m. Oakville GO Station to Union Station.
- 5:14 p.m. Oakville to Union.
- 5:45 p.m. Oakville to Union.
- 6:15 p.m. Oakville to Union.
- 6:45 p.m. Oakville to Union.
- 9:51 p.m. Exhibition GO Station to Union.
- 10:21 p.m. Exhibition to Union.
Westbound:
- 8:32 p.m. Union to Oakville.
- 9:02 p.m. Union to Oakville.
- 9:34 p.m. Union to Burlington GO Station.
- 10:02 p.m. Union Station to Burlington.
- 10:34 p.m. Union Station to Burlington.
- 11:02 p.m. Union Station to Burlington.
- 11:32 p.m. Union Station to Burlington GO.
GO is also adjusting the schedules so that some trains start their trips from stations earlier or later than usually. By adjusting the schedules, GO can help maintain consistent service levels during the “Ex”. And, it’s further adjusting the schedules so that some trains that usually operate express temporarily stop at Exhibition GO Station.
90 Lakeshore East buses
From Friday, August 16 until Labour Day, Monday, September 2 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:
- The westbound bus that usually starts in Durham College Oshawa GO Station bus terminal at 11:40 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays for Union Station Bus Terminal will not operate.
- The eastbound bus that usually starts in Union terminal at 12:55 a.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays for Oshawa will not operate.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- The westbound bus that usually starts in Oshawa at 11:40 p.m. Sundays and holidays for Union will not operate.
- The eastbound bus that usually starts in Union terminal at 12:55 a.m. Mondays for Oshawa will not operate.
88 Peterborough / Oshawa
From Friday, August 16 until Labour Day, Monday, September 2 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:
The bus that usually leaves Trent University at 9:49 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays operates Fridays too. However, it ends its trip in Durham College Oshawa GO Station, instead of continuing to Union Station Bus Terminal.
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.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- The bus that usually leaves Trent University at 9:43 p.m. Sundays and holidays operates Saturdays too.
- The buses that usually start in Oshawa at 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. start, instead, five minutes later.
11 St. Catharines / Burlington
Mondays to Fridays from Friday, August 16 until Friday, August 30, GO is adjusting the schedules for buses along the route to help passengers connect with 01 Lakeshore West trains during the “Ex.”
Burlington-bound
- The buses that usually starts in Brock Tower terminal on the Brock University campus at 6 p.m. leaves, instead, six minutes later.
Niagara-bound
- The buses that usually leave Aldershot GO Station bus terminal at 1:34 a.m. and 1:34, 2:34 and 3:34 p.m. leave, instead, six minutes later.
- The bus that usually leaves Aldershot at 5:39 p.m. leaves, instead, five minutes later.
Subscribe to our news feed: (