Compiled by Jeffrey Kay
Map by John Calnan

See Also:

• 318 WARDEN NIGHT (1987-1998)
• 968 WARDEN EXPRESS

May 11, 1968

Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to [Warden station](/subway/stations/002-bloor-danforth-subway/warden.shtml), service begins on the new 68 WARDEN bus route, replacing the portion of the 67 PHARMACY bus route north of Eglinton and providing new daily service on Warden between Eglinton and St. Clair. Buses operate from [Warden station](/subway/stations/002-bloor-danforth-subway/warden.shtml) via Warden north to Huntingwood, looping via west on Huntingwood, south on Bridlewood and east on Bowater. A rush hour short turn service operates between [Warden station](/subway/stations/002-bloor-danforth-subway/warden.shtml) and Ellesmere, looping two blocks north via west on Lupin, south on Budea and east on Sylla. Buses on this route are based out of Birchmount garage.

November 4, 1968

All "Huntingwood" buses now loop in an off-street loop on the east side of Warden Avenue, north of Huntingwood.

March 8, 1972

Service is extended north to Finch, looping via west and north on Bridletowne Circle and east on Finch.

June 24, 1973

Service extended north of Finch to a new off-street loop on the west side of Warden, just south of Glen Springs Drive, in the hydro corridor. No change to destination signs.

January 3, 1977

Buses serving the "Ellesmere" branch now run a short distance further north on Warden, turning east on Metropolitan Road, looping on the Robert Simpson Company property at the end of the street.

September 4, 1979

"Finch" buses extended north on Warden, now looping via east and north on Bamburgh and then east on Glendinning. No change to destination signs.

November 22, 1980

"Finch" buses now loop on the east side of Warden, counter-clockwise via Bamburgh Circle.

September 2, 1986

Route signs for the branch looping through Bamburgh Circle changed from "Finch" to "Steeles".

February 9, 1987

Night service introduced under the 318 WARDEN BLUE NIGHT bus route.

November 26, 1988

Under contract with the Town of Markham, selected buses from Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. are extended north on Warden from Bamburgh Circle to 16th Avenue, looping via east on 16th Avenue, south on Village Parkway and west on Carlton.

June 21, 1992

Weekday midday service north of Steeles discontinued at the request of the Town of Markham. Weekday rush hour and Saturday daytime service remains.

July 23, 1992

Saturday daytime service north of Steeles is discontinued at the request of the Town of Markham.

January 3, 1993

Rush hour service to Ellesmere (Metropolitan Road) is discontinued.

September 7, 1993

At the request of the Town of Markham, weekday midday and Saturday daytime service north of Steeles Avenue is restored.

September 3, 2000

Looping at 16th Avenue revised so that 68B buses now loop via west on 16th Avenue, north on Village Gate, east on Calvert and south on Warden.

January 1, 2001

Transit service in the Town of Markham is now operated by York Region Transit. The TTC's contract to operate the 68B service north of Steeles is transfered from the Town of Markham to the Regional Municipality of York.

February 18, 2001

"Steeles" trips are extended north from Bamburgh Circle to a new off-street loop on the west side of Warden, just north of Steeles. No change in destination signs.

May 12, 2002

At the request of York Region Transit, early evening and Sunday service is added to the 68B "16th Avenue" branch.

November 24, 2002

Coincident with the opening of the SHEPPARD SUBWAY to Don Mills station, service on Warden Avenue north of Steeles is now provided by the new 268 WARDEN NORTH route. All trips that previously operated from [Warden station](/subway/stations/002-bloor-danforth-subway/warden.shtml) to 16th Avenue now turn back at Steeles.

September 5, 2004

Service on the 268 WARDEN NORTH route discontinued due to insufficient ridership to justify the duplication of service between Sheppard and Steeles. Service north of Steeles now provided by a restored 68B branch to 16th Avenue.

September 4, 2005

Service into York Region is extended north from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie. Buses now loop around the Angus Glen Community Centre on Major Mackenzie east of Warden. Service discontinued on 16th Avenue, Village Gate and Calvert.

November 23, 2008

Operation of this route transferred from Birchmount garage to Eglinton garage on Comstock Road. On this day, the opening of Mount Dennis Garage affected the routes throughout the system. With this change 40 years of operation of this route from Birchmount Garage ends.

February 15, 2009

Service designated accessible using low floor Orion VII buses on all trips.

June 22, 2014

As part of a system-wide reorganization of branch designations, northbound buses on the the 68 "Steeles" branch are redesignated 68A. All southbound buses show a 68 WARDEN exposure.

March 28, 2021

Operation of this route transferred from Eglinton garage to the newly-opened McNicoll garage on Milliken Boulevard.

October 10, 2021

With the introduction of new express service on route 968 WARDEN EXPRESS, service levels on 68 WARDEN will be reduced in the morning and afternoon peak period.

68 Warden Image Archive

	TTC CC&F CD-44A class bus #1924 poses alongside GM New Look #7529 at Birchmount garage. Bus 1924 is showing a rarely seen 68 WARDEN "Huntingwood" rollsign exposure. The shot was taken by Tom Shepherd in June 1974 and is donated from the Pete Coulman collection.
	TTC GM New Look #7383 sits at Birchmount Garage on October 24, 1984, bearing a 68 WARDEN sign. Photo by Dave Chalmers, courtesy the Pete Coulman collection.
	TTC GM New Look bus #3705 pulls out of Warden station, in service on 68 WARDEN. This September 1985 shot was taken by Patrick Semple and was donated from the Pete Coulman collection.
	TTC GM Classic 6247 departs Warden Subway Station on a 68 WARDEN run, on a sunny May 30th 2006 afternoon. Photo copyright Dan Dell'Unto.
	An official TTC map of 68 WARDEN operations effective January 3, 2011
	TTC Orion bus VII 7649 pulls out of Warden subway station to travel north to Steeles Avenue East. Photo taken by Roman Fomin on March 15, 2013.
	TTC Nova LFS bus #8635 operates in service on 68 WARDEN, painted in the new Flexity-inspired livery. This 2017 photograph was taken by Steven Sun.
	TTC NovaBus LFS #8368 pauses at the loop on Warden north of Steeles at the north end of the 68 WARDEN route. This photo was taken by Harry Huo on June 20, 2020.
	An official map of 68 WARDEN operations, effective June 21, 2020.
	TTC Nova LFS Artic #9091 awaits its next trip on route 68A WARDEN northbound towards Warden/Steeles Loop at Warden Station. The route typically uses standard 40-foot vehicles. However, due to the route being based at the brand new McNicoll Garage, articulated 60-foot vehicles may appear, although appearances would not be that often. Photo taken on April 8th, 2021, by Marcus Danchuk.