^ 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 144 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 15 and continues until Labour Day, Monday, September 1.
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 various train lines.
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 Cantos, 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 service.
TTC — 29 Dufferin, 63 Ossington, 503 Kingston Rd, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, 511 Bathurst, 929 Dufferin express, Exhibition express.
GO Transit — 01 Lakeshore West, 09 Lakeshore East, 21 Milton, 65 Barrie, 71 Stouffville.
Toronto Transit Commission
511 Bathurst
From Friday, August 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, 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 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, 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 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, 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 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, the TTC increases the frequency of service, with streetcars operating every few minutes to and from Union Station.
503 Kingston Rd
From Friday, August 15 until Sunday, August 311, 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.” The detour is in effect Mondays to Fridays from 2 p.m. until 1 a.m. and Saturdays, Sundays from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m.
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 long-term detour path eastward along King West.Eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- in Dufferin Gate Loop and
- on Dufferin Street at Springhurst Avenue, Liberty Street and King Street West.
Instead, eastbound cars again drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- in Sunnyside Loop and
- on The Queensway at King Street West,
- on King Street West across from Wilson Park Road, at Dowling, Jameson, Dunn and Spencer avenues and at Dufferin Street.
Westbound cars operate along their long-term detour path to King Street West and Dufferin Street, then detour:
westward along King Street West and The Queensway and
northward into Sunnyside Loop,
ending their trips.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 stops
- on King Street West across from Spencer Avenue, at Dunn, Jameson and Dowling avenues, beyond Wilson Park Road and at Queen Street West and
- in Sunnyside Loop.
63 Ossington
From 12:01 until 11:59 p.m. and from Friday, August 15 until Sunday, August 31, southbound buses operate along their regular path to Shaw Street and King Street West, then detour:
westward along King West;
southward along Fraser Avenue; and then
eastward along Liberty Street to Atlantic Avenue,
resuming their regular path northward along Atlantic.Southbound buses skip their regular stops
- on King Street West beyond Shaw Street and at Strachan Avenue,
- on Strachan Avenue at Canniff and East Liberty streets,
- on East Liberty Street beyond Pirandello Street and at Lynn Williams Street and
- on Liberty Street at Atlantic Avenue.
Northbound buses operate along their regular path.
510 Spadina
Before 7:30 p.m. from Friday, August 15 until Sunday, August 31, cars operate only between Spadina Station streetcar terminal and Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
South- and eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Queens Quay West at Rees Street and beside Harbourfront Centre and
- in the Harbourfront streetcar tunnel
- at Queens Quay / Ferry Docks station and
- at Union Station.
Instead, south- and eastbound cars drop off passengers
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
West- and northbound cars skip their regular stops
- in the Harbourfront streetcar tunnel
- at Union Station and
- at Queens Quay / Ferry Docks station,
- on Queens Quay West beyond York and Rees streets and
- on Lower Spadina Avenue beyond Queens Quay West.
Instead, west- and northbound cars pick up passengers
- in Spadina / Queens Quay Loop.
Streetcars along the 509 Harbourfront route replace 510 Spadina service along Queens Quay West before 7:30 p.m. each day.
GO Transit
65 Barrie
From Friday, August 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, GO is adjusting the length of some trains.
09 Lakeshore East
From Friday, August 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, GO is operating extra trains for passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”
Mondays to Fridays
Westbound:
GO is operating these extra trains:
- 3:59 p.m. starting its trip in Whitby GO Station, ending its trip in Union Station at 4:57 p.m.
- 4:29 p.m. starting in Whitby, ending in Union at 5:27 p.m.
- 4:59 p.m. starting in Whitby, ending in Union at 5:57 p.m.
- 5:24 p.m. starting in Durham College Oshawa GO Station, ending in Union at 6:27 p.m.
Eastbound
GO is operating these extra trains:
- 10:05 p.m. starting in Union, ending in Oshawa at 11:07 p.m.
- 10:35 p.m. starting in Union, ending in Oshawa at 11:37 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and Labour Day
Eastbound:
GO is operating this extra train:
- 11:35 p.m. starting in Union Station, ending in Oshawa at 12:40 a.m.
GO is also adjusting the schedules for some trains along the line.
01 Lakeshore West trains
From Friday, August 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, GO is operating extra trains for passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”
Mondays to Fridays
Eastbound:
Evenings, GO is operating five more trains between Oakvile GO Station and Union Station. And, it’s operating five more trains between Burlington GO Station and Union Station.
These trains from Union stop in Exhibition GO Station before continuing to Clarkson GO Station:
- 3:49 p.m., arriving in Exhibition GO at 3:57 p.m.
- 4:19 p.m., arriving at Exhibition GO at 4:27 p.m.
- 4:49 p.m., arriving at Exhibition GO at 4:57 p.m.
- 5:18 p.m., arriving at Exhibition GO at 5:27 p.m.
The 8:21 p.m. train from Niagara Falls GO Station drops off or picks up passengers in all stations to Union, ending its trip at 10:55 p.m.
Westbound
Evenings, GO is operating three more trains between Union Station ad Oakville GO Station. And, it’s operating three more trains between Union and Burlington GO Station.
These trains from Union stop in Exhibition GO Station before proceeding to Clarkson GO Station:
- 3:49 p.m., arriving in Exhibition at 3:57 p.m.
- 4:19 p.m., arriving in Exhibition at 4:27 p.m.
- 4:49 p.m., arriving in Exhibition at 4:57 p.m.
- 5:18 p.m., arriving in Exhibition at 5:27 p.m.
The 9:54 p.m. train from Union Station drops off or picks up passengers in all stations to Niagara Falls GO Station, ending its trip at 12:32 a.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and Labour Day
Eastbound
GO is operating these extra trains:
- 11:46 a.m. starting its trip in Oakville GO Station, ending its trip in Union Station at 12:30 p.m.
- 11:58 a.m. starting in Burlington GO Station, ending in Union at 1:00 p.m.
- 12:28 p.m. starting in Burlington, ending in Union at 1:30 p.m.
- 12:58 p.m. starting in Burlington, ending in Union at 2 p.m.
- 2:12 p.m. starting in Oakville, ending in Union at 2:56 p.m.
- 10:14 p.m. starting in Exhibition GO Station, ending in Union at 10:23 p.m.
The train that usually starts in Oakville at 2:46 p.m. starts, instead, in Burlington at 2:28 p.m. The train that usually starts in Oakville at 3:16 p.m. starts, instead, in Burlington GO at 2:58 p.m. The train that usually starts in Oakville at 3:46 p.m. starts, instead, in Burlington GO at 3:28 p.m.
Westbound
Starting 11 a.m., trains operate every 15 minutes.
GO is operating these extra trains:
- 11:02 a.m. starting in Union, dropping off or picking up passengers in Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington.
- 11:32 a.m. starting in Union, serving passengers in Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington.
- 12:02 p.m. starting in Union, serving Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington.
- 12:32 p.m. starting in Union, serving all stations to Oakville.
- 1:32 p.m. starting in Union, serving Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington.
- 2:02 p.m. starting in Union, serving Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington.
- 2:32 p.m. starting in Union, serving Exhibition, Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington.
- 3:06 p.m. starting in Union, serving all stations to Oakville.
GO is also adjusting the schedules for some trains along the line.
21 Milton
Mondays to Fridays from Friday, August 15 until Friday, August 29, GO is adjusting the length of some trains.
71 Stouffville*
From Friday, August 15 until Labour Day, Monday, September 1, GO is adjusting the length of some trains.
GO is also operating extra trains along the line.
Mondays to Fridays
Southbound
GO is operating this extra train:
- 5:40 p.m. starting its trip in Unionville GO Station, ending its trip in Union Station at 6:20 p.m.
Northbound
GO is operating this extra train:
- 3:30 p.m. starting in Union, ending in Unionville at 4:11 p.m.
subscribe to our news feed: (