34 Eglinton East

Compiled by Pete Coulman

See Also

With additional notes from Jeffrey Kay

Today, Eglinton Avenue is a major street extending through the middle of the City of Toronto from the Mississauga border through to the east end of the city. However, this is a fairly recent structure. The bridge over the Humber River was not completed until the early 1970s. Before 1957, Eglinton Avenue East ended just after Brentcliffe Avenue, as the Don River valley proved too big an obstacle to link the road with the resumption of Eglinton Avenue around Victoria Park. So, from the late 1940s, service on Eglinton Avenue East between Yonge and Laird was provided by the 56 LEASIDE bus. Soon after the launch of Metropolitan Toronto in 1954, however, work began on a major extension of Eglinton Avenue through the Don River Valley. The bridge carrying the C.P.R. tracks over the new highway just west of Don Mills Road was the last link in the big Metro project, as the extension has been open from Victoria Park to Don Mills Rd for some time. This opened at 3 p.m. on August 26, 1957, allowing for a major through route connecting the borough of Scarborough with the subway at Yonge Street.

August 26, 1957

At the same time as the Eglinton Avenue East extension opened to the public, service begins on the new 34 EGLINTON EAST bus route, providing additional service on Eglinton Avenue between Yonge and Laird (along with 56 LEASIDE and 25 DON MILLS), and new service east of Laird connecting with 70 O’CONNOR, 43 KENNEDY, 15 BRIMLEY, 23 DAWES and 67 PHARMACY routes.

Buses operate from Bay #7 of the Eglinton subway terminal via east on Eglinton Avenue to Danforth Road, looping via southwest on Danforth and north on Brimley, returning via the reverse route. Base service over the 8.3 mile route is 15 minutes during normal hours and every 10 minutes during peak periods. Running time is 30 minutes. Between Victoria Park and the subway, rush hour service is operated semi-express, stopping only at principal intersections and access roads (56 LEASIDE continues to provide local service). Buses are supplied by Eglinton Garage on Yonge St. at Eglinton station.

The exact date of the opening of the last section of the Eglinton Avenue East extension wasn’t known until the last minute, which complicated the scheduling of the TTC’s personnel. A note from supervisors to drivers stated “Owing to the uncertainty as to the exact date this route will be inaugurated, it will not form part of the Exhibition general selection but will be selected by Senior Extramen from Danforth and Eglinton Divisions for the balance of the Exhibtion Board Period.”

Note that the rollsigns below offered a space for an extension of the route to Kingston Road, even though service wasn’t initially provided that far.

EGLINTON EAST	34	KINGSTON RD. S U B W A Y
Available, but not used at this time
EGLINTON EAST	34A	DANFORTH RD. S U B W A Y
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST	34B	VICTORIA PK S U B W A Y
Unscheduled short turns

September 8, 1958

Service begins on a new rush hour shuttle service, replacing a portion of 67 PHARMACY, operating from Danforth Road to Kingston Road. From a loop via southwest on Danforth Road and north on Brimley, buses operate east on Eglinton Avenue to Kingston Road, looping via southwest on Kingston Road and north on Markham Road. Buses operate every 20 minutes (compared to every hour on the old PHARMACY service). As the fare zone boundary between Suburban Zone 2 and Suburban Zone 3 was at Danforth Road, it was easier to set up a single bus operating on the shuttle and enforce the extra fare at the transfer point than it was to extend service on the main branch of the route.

Also at this time, a new rush hours only express branch (34C) is operated, operating from Danforth Road to Eglinton subway station, stopping at all stops east of Victoria Park (Sloane Avenue) and then stopping only at major intersections en route to the subway. The 34C Express replaces the former 34B Subway-Victoria Park branch. 34B remains on the rollsign until late August 1964.

EGLINTON EAST	34A	DANFORTH RD. S U B W A Y
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34C	DANFORTH RD. S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
EGLINTON EAST	34D	KINGSTON RD. DANFORTH RD.
Monday to Friday, rush hours only

September 14, 1959

Service on the 34D shuttle is discontinued, replaced by a through service express branch operating from Eglinton subway station. Every seventh rush hour bus runs through to Kingston Road, looping via south on Markham Road and north east on Kingston Road, returning via Eglinton Avenue East. The service provides connections with the 86 SCARBORO bus at Eglinton Avenue and Kingston Road.

There is no change in the fare zone boundary at Danforth Road. Eastbound buses operate with passengers leaving via the front doors east of Brimley Road, to ensure the correct fare is paid. The westbound stop at Brimley is designated as a check point where the buses would stop and passengers’ proof-of-payment checked before continuing.

EGLINTON EAST	34A	DANFORTH RD. S U B W A Y
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34C	DANFORTH RD. S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34E	KINGSTON RD. S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, rush hours only

January 29, 1961

Midday and Saturday service is added on the portion of the route between Danforth Road and Kingston Road, on the 34E branch.

February 1, 1962

Suburban fare zones #2 and #3 are combined into one, eliminating the fare zone boundary at Brimley Road.

January 27, 1963

Evening and Sunday service extended to Kingston Road. All other branches are consolidated into this branch. The 34E branch designation is finally replaced by 34. Rush hour express service ends as a separate branch.

EGLINTON EAST

KINGSTON RD.
S U B W A Y

September 8, 1964

A portion of the TTC’s Ride Guide, effective September 8, 1964, showing the short-lived Guildwood extension of 34 EGLINTON EAST

Service is extended east of Kingston Road, with alternate buses operating to Guildwood Village. Buses operate over the normal route to Kingston Road and then via northeast on Kingston Road and east on Guildwood Parkway to loop via Morningside, Cumber and Poplar. Service operates during the midday, Mondays through Fridays. During rush hours, service operates express, stopping at all stops east of Victoria Park and then stopping at major intersections only to the subway. By this time, the second and third suburban fare zones have been combined into a single fare zone, so there is no change required to the fare collection procedure.

EGLINTON EAST	34	KINGSTON RD. S U B W A Y
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST	34B	GUILDWOOD S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, midday
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34D	GUILDWOOD S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, rush hours only

October 11, 1964

By that date, the route has been based out of Birchmount Garage. The exact date of the transfer from Eglinton Garage is unknown but its assumed in September when service was extended to Guildwood as buses were supplied by Birchmount. Eglinton continues to operate the branches to Kingston Road. The route has been listed out of Birchmount based on the 1969 route allocation entry.

September 7, 1965

The 34B/D “Guildwood” branch is extended north from Cumber via Morningside to a new off-street loop just beyond Military Trail. Service operates 12 hours a day, Mondays through Fridays. During rush hours, service operates express west of Victoria Park

EGLINTON EAST	34	KINGSTON RD. S U B W A Y
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34B	ELLESMERE S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, midday
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34D	ELLESMERE S U B W A Y
Monday to Friday, rush hours only

February 26, 1966

Coincident with the opening of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY, all destination signs are changed to refer specifically to “Eglinton Stn” instead of “Subway” in order to limit passenger confusion. Older buses scheduled for retirement do not receive these new linens and carry the former linens until withdrawal from service.

EGLINTON EAST	34	KINGSTON RD. EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST	34A	DANFORTH RD. EGLINTON STN
Unscheduled short turns
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34B	ELLESMERE EGLINTON STN
Monday to Friday, midday
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34C	DANFORTH RD EGLINTON STN
Unscheduled short turns
EGLINTON EAST EXPRESS via MORNINGSIDE	34D	ELLESMERE EGLINTON STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34E	KINGSTON RD EGLINTON STN
Unscheduled short turns

October 2, 1967

Late Evening weekday service added to the 34B branch operating through Guildwood Village to Morningside and Ellesmere.

May 11, 1968

Saturday daytime service added to the 34B branch.

September 2, 1973

Saturday evening, Sunday and holiday service added to the 34B branch. Service now operates 7 days a week, 18 hours a day.

October 20, 1974

Service is extended north on Morningside from its previous terminus to an off-street loop at Sheppard Avenue.

EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34B	S H E P P A R D EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST EXPRESS via MORNINGSIDE	34D	S H E P P A R D EGLINTON STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only

November 22, 1980

Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Kennedy station, buses are routed in both directions through the bus terminal at Kennedy station. An additional short turn service is added operating between Eglinton station and Kennedy station, operating throughout the day, Mondays through Saturdays.

During rush hours, service is split into three branches, with one branch (34) operating between Eglinton station and Kingston Road, operating through Kennedy station in both directions. Another branch operates between Eglinton and Kennedy station only (34C) and a third branch operates from Kennedy station east over the normal route to Sheppard and Morningside.

EGLINTON EAST	34	KINGSTON RD. EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34A	S H E P P A R D KENNEDY STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34B	S H E P P A R D EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day Except Monday to Friday, rush hours
EGLINTON EAST	34C	KENNEDY STN EGLINTON STN
Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day

May 24th, 1981

Service on Morningside is extended north of Sheppard to a new off-street loop at Sewell’s Road. No change to destination signs.

February 6, 1984

Monday to Friday evening service on the 34C (Eglinton Stn-Kennedy Stn) branch is eliminated, with additional service routed onto the 34A Sewell’s Road branch.

A 34 EGLINTON EAST transfer, circa 1985.

November 26, 1984

Service on Morningside is extended north on Morningside from Sewell’s Road to a new off-street loop at Finch Avenue. On or around this time, full service is cut back from the 34 “KINGSTON ROAD” branch, although this short turn continues to operate most hours.

EGLINTON EAST	34	KINGSTON RD. EGLINTON STN
Monday to Saturday, daytime?

EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34A	F I N C H KENNEDY STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34B	F I N C H EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day Except Monday to Friday, rush hours

EGLINTON EAST	34C	KENNEDY STN EGLINTON STN
Monday to Saturday, daytime

March 14, 1988

Service begins on a new rush hour express/local service operating between Kennedy station and Scarborough College. Buseson the 34E branch run express from Kennedy in the morning and from Scarborough College in the afternoon, making no stops. 34D buses reverses this arrangement, operate local service from Scarborough College in the morning and from Kennedy station in the afternoon following the 34A/B routing via Guildwood Parkway and Morningside. This new 34D/E service does not operate from mid-June to Labour Day when most students are on leave for the summer.

E G L I N T O N E A S T	34	KINGSTON RD. EGLINTON STN
Monday to Saturday, daytime?
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34A	F I N C H KENNEDY STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34B	F I N C H EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day Except Monday to Friday, rush hours
E G L I N T O N E A S T	34C	KENNEDY STN EGLINTON STN
Monday to Saturday, daytime?
EGLINTON EAST via MORNINGSIDE	34D	SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE KENNEDY STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only (westbound only in morning eastbound only in afternoon)
EGLINTON EAST E X P R E S S	34E	SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE KENNEDY STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only (eastbound only in morning westbound only in afternoon)

September 6, 1988

34D/E “Local/Express” westbound buses rerouted to operate between from Scarborough College via Military Trail to Morningside, and then over the regular routing to Kennedy Station. No changes to destination signs.

September 3, 1989

Most service east of Kennedy station is replaced by a new 116 MORNINGSIDE bus. Base service now operates between Eglinton station and Kennedy station only, while additional rush hour service continues beyond Kennedy station via east on Eglinton to Kingston Road, looping via southwest on Kingston Road and north on Markham Road.

E G L I N T O N E A S T	34	KINGSTON RD. EGLINTON STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
E G L I N T O N E A S T	34C	KENNEDY STN EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

May 14, 1990

Some peak hour runs are now transferred to Eglinton Garage. Base service continues to be operated out of Birchmount Garage.

January 3, 1993

Upon closure of Davenport Garage, all base service now operates out of Eglinton Garage.

February 18, 1996

In conjunction with the closing of Lansdowne Garage, this route is now shared with Birchmount and Eglinton Garages.

September 3, 2000

Service from Birchmount Garage ends and all runs are now consolidated out of Eglinton Garage.

March 31, 2002

The old Eglinton garage is closed and all buses on this route are now transferred to the newly-opened New Eglinton (Comstock) Garage on Comstock Road.

May 2005

Service made accessible through the use of low-floor buses.

EASTBOUND		WESTBOUND
34	EGLINTON EAST	34	EGLINTON EAST
	TO KINGSTON RD VIA KENNEDY STN		TO EGLINTON STN VIA KENNEDY STN
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
34C	EGLINTON EAST	34	EGLINTON EAST
	TO KENNEDY STN		TO EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

January 6, 2014

All service east of Kennedy station is cut back to Kennedy station as 116 MORNINGSIDE takes over operation of the Kingston Road branch, and blends service east of Kennedy station with 86 SCARBOROUGH.

EASTBOUND		WESTBOUND
34	EGLINTON EAST	34	EGLINTON EAST
	TO KENNEDY STN		TO EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

September 6, 2015

Service is increased in the midday and late evening from Monday to Friday, during the early morning and late evening on Saturday, and at all times on Sunday and holidays so that the whole route operates at intervals of 10 minutes or better, all day, every day, whenever the subway is open.

September 4, 2016

To improve service reliability during the construction of the EGLINTON-CROSSTOWN LRT, 100 FLEMINGDON PARK service is split, and temporary branches are added to the 34 EGLINTON EAST bus. Service on the main branch to Kennedy Station is redesignated 34A. A new branch, designated 34B, operates from Kennedy station westbound on Eglinton to Don Mills, looping via north on Don Mills Road, east and south on Wynford Drive and returning via east on Eglinton Avenue to Kennedy station. This service operates Saturdays only, during the daytime.

A third branch, designated 34C, runs from Eglinton station eastbound over the regular route to Don Mills and then runs via north on Don Mills, east on Wynford, north on Concord Place through the cul-de-sac, south on Concord Place, south on Wynford, west and south and west on St. Dennis Drive, and south on Grenoble Drive to Spanbridge Road. Buses loop via east on Spanbridge, and north on Linkwood Lane before returning north and east on St. Dennis, north on Wynford Drive and Concord Place, around the cul-de-sac, south on Concord Place, west on Wynford Drive, south on Gervais Drive, and west on Eglinton Avenue East and Eglinton Avenue West to Eglinton Station. This service replaces the “C” branch of 100 FLEMINGDON PARK, operating seven days a week whenever the subway is open, and providing new service outside of rush hours on Linkwood Lane.

EASTBOUND		WESTBOUND
34A	EGLINTON EAST	34A	EGLINTON EAST
	TO KENNEDY STN		TO EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
		34B	EGLINTON EAST
			TO DON MILLS & WYNFORD
Saturdays, daytime hours
34C	EGLINTON EAST	34C	EGLINTON EAST
	TO FLEMINGDON PARK (GRENOBLE & SPANBRIDGE)		TO EGLINTON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

October 11, 2022

Over 40 Nova LFS are equipped with Wi-Fi and 34 EGLINTON EAST becomes the third route in the system with Wi-Fi access in the corridor.

34 Eglinton East Image Archive

	TTC GM New Look bus #3541 in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST passes Western Flyer Rebuild #9345 in service on 97 YONGE with another GM New Look in service on 5 AVENUE ROAD in tow in this 1973 scene. The buses are heading north on Yonge Street past Canada Square, just south of Eglinton Avenue. The photographer is unknown; the photo is from the Pete Coulman collection.
	TTC GM "New Look" bus #7907 heads westbound on Eglinton, approaching Ionview in 34 EGLINTON WEST service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1980.
	TTC GM "New Look" bus #8046 heads westbound on Eglinton, approaching Ionview in 34 EGLINTON EAST service. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa June 1980.
	TTC GM New Look bus #7733 pauses as it enters the loop at Kennedy Station, in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST. This photo was taken by Richard Glaze circa September 1981.
	The TTC advertisement on the Toronto Star shown on the Thursday, November 20, 1980 edition shows major changes related to the Kennedy station opening affecting the routes 9 BELLAMY, 20 CLIFFSIDE, 21 BRIMLEY, 34 EGLINTON EAST, 43 KENNEDY, 57 MIDLAND, 69 WARDEN SOUTH, 86 SCARBORO, 102 MARKHAM ROAD, 113 DANFORTH, and 114 KINGSTON ROAD EAST.
	A TTC riders news for November-December 1984 describes changes to the 117 ALNESS and 34 EGLINTON EAST, while announcing the launch of the 121 NORSEMAN route. Item donated by Pete Coulman.
	An official map of the TTC's 34 EGLINTON EAST operations, showing the temporary branches around the Don Mills/Eglinton Area, effective September 4, 2016.
	A newspaper advertisement advertises the launch of 34 EGLINTON EAST service on August 27, 1957.
	A news report from the August 1957 Coupler Magazine announces the new services on 25 DON MILLS and 34 EGLINTON EAST that launched in response with the opening of the Eglinton Avenue East extension.
	An official TTC map of 34 EGLINTON EAST operations, effective January 1, 1958.
	The front portion of the TTC's timetable effective May 11, 1968, describing service on the 34B branch of 34 EGLINTON EAST.
	The inside of the TTC timetable, effective May 11, 1968, describing the operations of the 34B branch of 34 EGLINTON EAST.
	An image of the TTC's front rollsign exposures for 34 EGLINTON EAST, between 1980 and 1989. Image courtesy Joseph Chemerys of the Rollsign Gallery.
	An official map of the TTC's 34 EGLINTON EAST operations, effective June 1, 2013.
	An official map of the TTC's 34 EGLINTON EAST operations, effective January 6, 2014 with the service cut back to Kennedy Station.
	This map shows the operation of Danforth Bus Lines in Scarborough Township on September 5, 1950, less than four years after the TTC takeover. Here, you can see the predecessors of 67 PHARMACY (in REGENTS PARK AND EGLINTON), 34 EGLINTON EAST (in Eglinton), PINE HILLS (in MIDLAND & EGLINTON) and 20 CLIFFSIDE (in STOP 14).
	The September 1964 issue of the TTC's Headlights describes the extensions of 7 BATHURST, 34 EGLINTON EAST, 41 KEELE, 54 LAWRENCE EAST, 83 TRETHEWEY and 84 SHEPPARD plus changes to 23 DAWES
	TTC NovaBUS LFS #1001 has been assigned on rt.34 Eglinton East on June 30, 1999. She is seen here on Eglinton Ave. East and Don Mills Rd. Photo by Felix Tse.
	Nova 1001 seen here at Warden and Eglinton westbound towards Eglinton Subway Station, in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST. Photo by Rob Hutchinson.
	TTC Nova LFS prototype 1001, seen here at Kennedy and Eglinton in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST. Photo by Brad O'Brien.
	TTC GM "Old Look" #2126 sits at the vacuum island at Birchmount Garage in March 1958, bearing a 34 EGLINTON EAST sign. This photo is courtesy the TTC.
	TTC GM "Old Look" leaves a bus bay at Eglinton station in service on the 34 EGLINTON EAST route, circa 1957. Photo courtesy the Toronto Archives.
	TTC GM New Look operates east on Eglinton Avenue, past Mount Pleasant, in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST. Photo by Pete Cox.
	TTC New Flyer D-40-LF bus #7347 seen in service at Kennedy station on route 34C EGLINTON EAST in summer of 2000. Photo taken by Jim Blair.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7516 is seen on Eglinton Avenue East at Birchmount Road on 34C EGLINTON EAST on June 15, 2011. Photo by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos.
	TTC GM New Look #7531 heads westbound in service on 34 EGLINTON WEST, passing Mount Pleasant. This 1976 photo is by Pete Cox and is courtesy the Pete Coulman Collection.
	TTC GM New Look bus #7549 is seen operating on 34 EGLINTON EAST at Mt. Pleasant. Photo by Pete Cox.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7563 lays over at Kennedy station in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST on August 6, 2017. Photo by Marcus Danchuk.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7608 passes through the Wynford/St. Dennis intersection on October 5, 2016, in service on the temporary 34C "Flemingdon Park" branch. This photo was taken by Robert Lubinski.
	TTC GM New Look bus #8056 has just received the new yellow and black mylar when the bus was photographed by Fred Tang in July 1995. Here it was seen operating on the 34 EGLINTON EAST service at Kennedy Station. #8056 together with most of the other 1975 GM buses were retired as the #7000 series Orion Vs arrived in 1996. The bus at the background is #8167.
	TTC GMC New Look #8187 heads out of Eglinton station onto northbound Duplex Avenue in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST in this 1987 shot. This photo was taken by B. Hussy, and is from the Pete Coulman Collection.
	TTC GM New Look bus #8682 waits for passengers at Kennedy station in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST. TTC GM New Look bus #8961 looks on while laying over for the 57 MIDLAND route. This mid-to-late 1980s shot was taken by John Calnan.