Compiled by Pete Coulman
With assistance from Mike Vainchtein

January 7, 2001

Service begins on 48 RATHBURN, a re-numbered and re-named version of 2 ANGLESEY. The TTC did this, “to better describe the area the route serves” and also to vacate the route number for use by the BLOOR-DANFORTH subway after the SHEPPARD subway opened.

Buses operate from Royal York station via north on Royal York Road, west on Anglesey, south on Islington and west on Rathburn to Mill Road, looping through an off-street loop, and then returning via the reverse route. A limited number of runs are operated to Renforth and Eringate for high school students.

August 31, 2003

An earlier eastbound trip is added on Sundays, departing Mill Road at approximately 8:18 a.m.

January 3, 2006

Two morning and afternoon school trips which had previously been assigned to Michael Power/St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School, are changed to allow buses to avoid traffic congestion on the streets around the school. The morning trips operate over the normal route from Royal York station and then operate north on Renforth Drive to the school. The afternoon trips start service at the school and operate to Royal York station via east on Eringate Drive, south on Wellesworth to Rathburn and east on the regular route.

November 23, 2008

As part of the TTC’s Ridership Growth Strategy, late evening service is restored, seven days a week.

February 15, 2009

Accessible service now offered.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Due to the reconstruction of Royal York station’s bus terminal, lasting approximately 18 months, buses on the 15 EVANS route will be interlined with the 48 RATHBURN route, and not enter the bus terminal for the duration of the renovation. Northbound buses will serve a stop outside the main station entrance. Southbound buses will serve stops southbound nearside on Royal York at Bloor. There is no change in the number of buses in service.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

With the completion of construction of the bus roadway at Royal York station, interlining of this route with 15 EVANS officially ends, with the exception of Monday to Friday evenings, and all day on weekends. Buses now enter the station. It is possible that construction work was completed earlier, in which case this change occurred earlier at the discretion of the division.

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Due to remedial construction work required at Royal York Station from its Easier Access project in 2019, the bus terminal has to be closed to buses for four weeks. Because of this, service on 48 RATHBURN is interlined with 15 EVANS, with buses picking up passengers in front of the station. Service schedules are the same as they were effective the August 2018 board period.

Sunday, September 5, 2021

The remedial work at Royal York Station is set to end on this date, and interlining with 15 EVANS ends. Service restored to schedules that were effective the June 2021 board period.

References

• Orders & Notices, #584-U, 15.499.15, Sept 28/1955
• Orders & Notices, #2277, 6-100-31, Aug 26/1963
• Orders & Notices, #3285, 6-102-31 Dec 29/1969
• Orders & Notices, #3320, April 7, 1970.
• Coupler
• John Knight
• Headlights

48 Rathburn Image Archive

	An official TTC timetable map of 48 RATHBURN services, effective July 2010.
	TTC Orion VII bus #8016 waits at Royal York station in service on 48 RATHBURN on the evening of April 23, 2013. Photo by James Bow.
	Orion bus 8092 hurries to pick up a passenger at Royal York Rd and Dundas St West as vicious cold wind and rain have just hit Toronto streets. Photo by Roman Fomin on May 23, 2013.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7924 pulls up to the Royal York stop on Anglesey Road in 48 RATHBURN service on the afternoon of March 29, 2017. Photo by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7924 lays over at Royal York station in service on 48 RATHBURN on March 29, 2017. Photo by James Bow.
	TTC Nova LFS bus #8412 prepares to turn from Royal York onto Anglesey in 48 RATHBURN service while Orion VII bus #7914 approaches a stop in 73 ROYAL YORK service. This photo was taken by James Bow on March 29, 2017.
	TTC Nova LFS bus #8422 picks up passengers outside Royal York station on a special school run of the 48 RATHBURN route. This photo was taken on January 10, 2018 by Marcus Danchuk.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7918 pauses at Rathburn Loop at the west end of the 48 RATHBURN line. This photo was taken by James Bow on June 5, 2021.