Let's GO -- and TTC -- to the "Ex": Canadian National Exhibition, August 21 to September 7

^ 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 travelling by transit was a safe, convenient — and, often, fun — way to get to the exhibition.

Nearly 145 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 21 and continues until Labour Day, Monday, September 7.

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 — 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, 504 King, 329 Dufferin overnight, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, 511 Bathurst, 929 Dufferin express, Exhibition express.

GO Transit — 01 Lakeshore West, 09 Lakeshore East, 71 Stouffville.

Toronto Transit Commission

511 Bathurst

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, the TTC increases the frequency of service, with streetcars operating every few minutes to and from Bathurst Station.

It’s also assigning extra staff to key locations and subway stations to help you find your way by providing information and directions.

Streetcars in both directions skip their regular stops

on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue.

29 Dufferin
929 Dufferin express

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, the TTC increases the frequency of service along the routes, with buses operating every few minutes to and from Wilson and Dufferin stations.

It’s also assigning extra staff to key locations and subway stations to help you find your way by providing information and directions.

The transit agency is also operating special Exhibition express buses along the Dufferin corridor.

329 Dufferin overnight

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, buses start and end their trips in Dufferin Gate Loop.

Southbound buses operate along their regular path to Dufferin and Liberty streets, then detour:

southward along Dufferin;
westward along Springhust Avenue;
southward along Fort Rouille Street; and then
eastward into Dufferin Gate Loop,
ending their trips.

Southbound buses skip their regular stops

on Liberty Street beyond Atlantic Avenue,

on East Liberty Street across from Lynn Williams and Pirandello streets,

on Strachan Avenue at Manitoba Drive and

in Exhibition Loop.

Instead, southbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

on Dufferin Street across from Liberty Street and at Springhurst Avenue and

in Dufferin Gate Loop.

Northbound buses operate start their trips in Dufferin Gate Loop, then proceed:

along their regular path northward along Dufferin Street.

Northbound buses skip their regular stops

in Exhibition Loop,

on Strachan Avenue beyond Fleet Street,

on East Liberty Street beyond Pirandello Street and at Lynn Williams Street and

on Liberty Street at Atlantic Avenue.

Exhibition express

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, the TTC 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.

It’s also assigning extra staff to key locations and subway stations to help you find your way by providing information and directions.

509 Harbourfront

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, the TTC increases the frequency of service, with streetcars operating every few minutes to and from Union Station.

It’s also assigning extra staff to key locations and subway stations to help you find your way by providing information and directions.

Streetcars in both directions skip their regular stops

on Manitoba Drive at Strachan Avenue.

504B King

From 9:30 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, streetcars operate to and from King Street West at Dufferin Street, instead of to and from 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 westbound on King Street West east of Dufferin Street, then proceed:

northward along Dufferin;
eastward along King Street West; and then
southward along Shaw Street to King Street West,
resuming their regular 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 likely drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

on King Street West [westbound] at Dufferin Street,

on Dufferin Street across from Melbourne Street and at Queen Street West,

on Queen Street West at Sudbury Street, Dovercourt Road, Lower Ossington Avenue and Shaw Street and

on Shaw Street across from Adelaide Street West and at King Street West.

(List of temporary stops is unofficial.)

Westbound cars operate along their regular path to King Street West and Dufferin Street, 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.

510 Spadina

From 9:30 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, 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 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. each day.

GO Transit

09 Lakeshore East

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, GO is operating extra trains for passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”

Mondays to Fridays

Westbound

GO is operating these extra trains:

3:31 p.m. - starting its trip in Whitby GO Station, ending its trip in Union Station at 4:33 p.m.

3:58 p.m. - starting in Whitby, ending in Union at 5 p.m.

4:28 p.m. - starting in Whitby, ending in Union at 5:30 p.m.

Eastbound

GO is operating these extra trains:

10:35 p.m. Fridays - starting in Union, ending in Whitby at 11:35 p.m.

11:35 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays - starting in Union, ending in Whitby at 12:35 a.m.

Saturdays, Sundays and Labour Day

Eastbound

GO is operating this extra train:

11:35 p.m. starting in Union Station, ending in Whitby at 12:38 a.m.

GO is also adjusting the schedules for some trains along the line.

Westbound:

Trains that usually start in Durham College Oshawa GO Station from 7:37 a.m. until 2:07 p.m. start, instead, one minute earlier than usually.

The train that usually starts in Oshawa at 2:24 p.m. starts, instead, three minutes earlier than usually.

Eastbound:

The trains that usually leave Danforth GO Station at 11:32 p.m. and 12:02, and 12:32 a.m. leave, instead, one minute later than usually.

The train that usually leaves Danforth at 1:02 a.m. Saturdays leaves, instead, one minute later than usually.

01 Lakeshore West trains

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, GO is operating extra trains for passengers travelling to and from the “Ex.”

Mondays to Fridays

Eastbound

GO is operating these extra trains:

10:21 a.m. and 1:21, 2:51, 4:29, 5:21, 5:51 and 6:43, starting their trips in Exhibition GO Station, ending their trips in Union Station.

Westbound

GO is operating these extra trains:

9:32 a.m. - starting in Union, ending in Exhibition at 9:46 a.m.

12:07 a.m. Mondays to Thursdays - starting in Union, ending in Oakville GO Station at 1:05 a.m

GO is also adjusting the schedules for some trains along the line.

Eastbound:

The trains that usually start in Aldershot GO Station from 9:06 a.m. until 5:03 p.m. start, instead, one minute earlier than usually.

The trains that usually start in West Harbour GO Station from 9:25 a.m. until 3:26 p.m. start, instead, one minute earlier than usually.

The train that usually starts in Confederation GO Station at 11:10 a.m. starts, instead, one minute earlier than usually.

The train that usually starts in West Harbour at 10:24 p.m. Fridays only operates, instead, Mondays to Fridays. The 22:24, Friday only, train departing West Harbour GO will run Monday through Friday.

Westbound:

Trains that usually start in Union from 3:50 p.m. until 5:29 p.m. start, instead, two minutes earlier than usually. These trains stop in Exhibition.

The train that usually starts in Union at 10:07 p.m. for Niagara Falls, starts, instead, 11 minutes earlier than usually. The train makes extra stops in Mimico, Long Branch, Clarkson, Bronte and Appleby GO stations.

The trains that usually leave Exhibition from 10:24 a.m. until 10:15 p.m. leave, instead, one minute later than usually.

Saturdays, Sundays and Labour Day

Eastbound

GO is operating this extra train:

1:21 p.m. - starting in Exhibition.

Westbound

GO is operating these extra trains:

1:59, 2:35 and 2:59 p.m. trains - starting in Union, arriving in Exhibition at 2:13, 2:51 and 3:13 p.m.

71 Stouffville

From Friday, August 21 until Labour Day, Monday, September 7, GO is operating an extra train along the line.

Mondays to Fridays

Southbound

GO is operating this extra train:

4:36 p.m. - starting its trip in Unionville GO Station, ending its trip in Union Station at 5:17 p.m.

Transit Toronto

Public Transit in the GTA, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow