Compiled by James Bow

June 19, 2016

As part of a series of service improvements to the West Don Lands and Port Lands areas of the city, service begins on a new route replacing much of the 172 CHERRY STREET bus, and restoring some of the service lost with the departure of the 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE route in the year 2000 providing service to the new residential and commercial developments in the Front/Spadina and Fort York/Bathurst areas.

Buses on the 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE route operate from Mill Street and Cherry Street, near the Distillery District and the end of the 514 CHERRY and then proceed via north on Cherry, west on Front, south on Berkeley, west on the Esplanade, north on Church, west on Wellington, south on Yonge, west on Front past Union Station, south and west on Blue Jay Way and Navy Wharf Court, and west on Bremner Boulevard and Fort York Boulevard to Fleet Street, looping via west on Fleet, south on Strachan and east on Lake Shore Boulevard to Fort York Boulevard.

Returning, buses follow Fort York Boulevard, Bremner Boulevard, Navy Wharf Court, Blue Jay Way and Front Street to Scott, and then proceed south on Scott, east on the Esplanade, north on Berkeley, east on Front, south on Parliament and east on Mill to Cherry Street.

From May to October, service is extended from Cherry and Mill via south on Cherry to Cherry Beach Loop. The service starts in this configuration, operating to Cherry Beach Loop seven days a week.

Service operates every thirty minutes or better 7 days a week, whenever the subway is open.

September 6, 2016

As per seasonal service changes, weekday daytime service ends on the 121C “Cherry Beach” branch, replaced by 121A buses looping via Front, Cherry and Mill. Evening, weekend and holiday service to Cherry Beach continues until the end of the September 2016 board period.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

For operator convenience and to improve connections with other routes, service on this bus is extended from the Lake Shore Boulevard/Strachan Avenue intersection via north on Strachan, west on Manitoba Drive, south on Canada Boulevard and into Princes’ Gate Loop. Buses return from Princes’ Gate Loop via north on Canada Boulevard, east on Manitoba Drive and east on Fleet Street to Fort York Boulevard. This change provides a more convenient connection with the 29 DUFFERIN, and gives operators access to washroom facilities during their layover periods. Also on this date, the schedule is adjusted to increase run times on certain periods to improve service reliability.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Service will be extended for the season to Cherry Beach at all times. Daytime service, Monday to Friday, during the May board period will be provided on a trial basis in response to divisional and customer requests. All service will operate on the 121C (Princes’ Gate-Cherry Beach) branch.

June 18, 2017

With a new traffic light installed at the intersection of Yonge and the Esplanade, westbound buses operate through the area via west on the Esplanade, north on Yonge and west on Front, while eastbound buses continue east on Front, south on Scott and east on the Esplanade. Service on Church and Wellington Streets dropped.

October 15, 2017

Seasonal service to Cherry Beach comes to an end, with all buses now operating on the 121A (Princes’ Gate-Distillery) Branch. Seasonal service operations resume in the following years, covering the May to September board periods.

June 24, 2018

With the reopening of Ontario Place, service begins on a new seasonal branch of the 121 FORT YORK-ESPLENADE route, extending buses west from Princes’ Gate to the urban park. Buses operate westbound via the regular route to the Fort York Boulevard/Lake Shore Boulevard intersection and then via west on Lake Shore, south and west on Ontario Place Boulevard to Remembrance Drive, returning via west and north on Remembrance Drive, east on Lake Shore, north on Strachan and east on Fleet to rejoin the regular route. Service frequencies are largely unchanged.

May 12, 2019

121D Seasonal service to Ontario Place and Cherry Beach is launched on this day, to end on Canadian Thanksgiving. Service is also rerouted to operate via Front Street West and Spadina Avenue, in both directions, to reduce delays from Toronto Blue Jays home games on Blue Jay Way and Bremner Boulevard east of Spadina.

June 21, 2020

121D Seasonal service to Ontario Place and Cherry Beach is launched on this day, to end on Canadian Thanksgiving.

May 9, 2021

121 Seasonal service to Ontario Place and Cherry Beach is launched on this day, to end around Canadian Thanksgiving.

October 9, 2021

Last day of service. Most service on this route is replaced the following day by the revamped 121 ESPLANADE-RIVER retaining service on the Espalande area while extending service east to the Corktown and Regent Heights neighborhoods. Service is discontinued along Front Street West, Blue Jays Way, and Fort York Boulevard.

Summer seasonal service on the 121D branch to Ontario Place and Cherry Beach will be removed. Replacement seasonal service to the Port Lands and Cherry Beach is to be replaced by the proposed 172 CHERRY BEACH route in the 2022 Annual Service Plan.

121 Fort York-Esplanade Image Archive

	TTC Nova buses #9204 and 8585 meet in 121 FORT YORK ESPLANADE service in front of Union Station in the evening of February 14, 2020. Photo by James Bow.
	A TTC proposal, submitted to commissioners for their March 2016 meeting, suggested a number of route changes to serve the developing West Don Lands and Port Lands. The 72 PAPE route would be revised to restore its connection with Union Station and provide new service to Queen's Quay East. A new 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE route would fill in for the defunct 172 CHERRY STREET bus and provide new service to the Fort York area. Finally, the 514 CHERRY streetcar would serve Cherry Street to the Distillery district, as well as provide additional service on King Street and to Liberty Village.
	An official map of the 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE route, effective March 26, 2017.
	A map of the TTC's 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE operations, effective June 19, 2016.
	An official TTC map of the 121 FORT YORK-ESPALANDE seasonal extension to Ontario Place, effective June 24, 2018.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7575 operates in service on 121D FORT YORK-ESPLANADE on August 13, 2018. Photo by Mark David.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7734 emerges from the Cherry Street underpass and a eastbound GO Train in service on the 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE route. This photo was taken on September 28, 2017 by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7790 heads north on Strachan approaching Fleet Street on 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE service on July 30, 2017. Photo by Edward Brain.
	Jelo Gutierrez Cantos has supplied this photo of TTC Orion VII bus #7862 in service on route 121D FORT YORK-ESPLANADE. This shot was taken on September 22, 2018 evening at the stop of Fort York Boulevard and Gzowzki Boulevard.
	One stop short on Bay Street, Jelo Gutierrez Cantos managed to snap TTC bus #7875, an Orion VII, on Front Street West and York Street in service on route 121C FORT YORK-ESPLANADE on June 21, 2016.
	TTC Orion VII Next Gen bus #8105 poses on Fleet Street, just east of Strachan, during the first day of operation on the 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE route. This photo was taken by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #8125 pauses on Fort York Boulevard near Fleet Street on July 13, 2016 in 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE service. Photo by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII NG bus #8158 going westbound on route 121C FORT YORK-ESPLANADE on Front Street West and York Street passing the Fairmont Toronto Hotel and Union Station. This photo was taken on June 21, 2016 by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos.
	TTC Orion VII bus #8166 at Princes' loop on July 30, 2017, in 121 FORT YORK-ESPLANADE service on July 30, 2017. Photo by Edward Brain.