Compiled by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos

See Also:

• 85 SHEPPARD EAST
• 190 CITY CENTRE EXPRESS
• 190 SCARBOROUGH CENTRE ROCKET
• 385 SHEPPARD EAST NIGHT

Operations Overview

• Type: Express (Limited stop express)
• Established: September 2, 2018
• Distance: 8.68km (to Scarborough Centre Stn), 14.92km (to Meadowvale)
• Blue Night Service: 385 SHEPPARD EAST
• Types of vehicles used: Nova Bus LFS Artic
• Bus Length: 60’ articulated low-floor
• Division: Malvern
• Ridership: N/A

This route operates with 3 branches:

• 985A Don Mills Station - Kennedy Station
• 985B Don Mills Station - Meadowvale

September 2, 2018

As part of the TTC’s rebranding and expansion of its Express Bus Network branding, service begins on the 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS replacing the former 190 SCARBOROUGH CENTRE ROCKET, connecting Don Mills station with Scarborough Centre station on the SCARBOROUGH RT while extending the route east to Meadowvale Road operating on peak periods, supplementing service on the 85 SHEPPARD EAST, which in turn, replicates the former 85F branch that existed until 2002.

Service operates from Don Mills Station on the SHEPPARD subway line on the 985A branch via east on Sheppard, south on Midland, east on Progress, and south on Borough heading to Scarborough Centre Station before heading back to Don Mills Station over the reverse route. On the 985B branch, buses operate east on Sheppard looping through Meadowvale loop on the northeast corner of Sheppard and Meadowvale on the east end.

Buses on the 985A branch stop eastbound at Don Mills station, Consumers Road, Victoria Park Avenue, Pharmacy Avenue, Warden Avenue, Birchmount Road, Allanford Road, Kennedy Road, Agincourt GO, Midland Avenue and Scarborough Centre station while westbound buses stop at Scarborough Centre station, Midland Avenue, Agincourt GO, Kennedy Road, Birchmount Road, Allanford Road, Warden Avenue, Pharmacy Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue, Brian Drive and Don Mills station. On the 985B branch, buses stop eastbound at Don Mills station, Consumers Road, Victoria Park Avenue, Pharmacy Avenue, Warden Avenue, Birchmount Road, Allanford Road, Kennedy Road, Agincourt GO, Midland Avenue, Brimley Road, McCowan Avenue, Havenview Road, Markham Road, Progress Avenue, Lapsley Road, Neilson Road, Breckon Gate, Morningside Avenue, Grand Marshal Drive, Conlins Road, Dean Park Road, Idagrove Gate, Meadowvale Loop while westbound buses stop only at Meadowvale Loop, Meadowvale Road (farside stop), Idagrove Gate, Rouge River Drive, Conlins Road, Water Tower Gate, Morningside Avenue (farside stop), Brenyon Way, Neilson Road, Washburn Way, Malvern Street, Markham Road (farside stop), Shorting Road, McCowan Road, Brimley Road, Midland Avenue, Agincourt GO, Kennedy Road, Birchmount Road, Allanford Road, Warden Avenue, Pharmacy Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue, Brian Drive and Don Mills station.

Service operates 7 days a week, 18 hours a day on the 985A branch while the 985B branch operates rush hours only and runs every eight-to-nine minutes with 60 foot NovaBUS LFS articulated buses. This route operates out of Malvern Garage

September 3, 2019

Express service is adjusted to add stops and improve service reliabilty. The westbound stop at Morningside Avenue is changed from nearside to farside, once the concrete pad at the farside location is complete. Express stops are also added at 8150 Sheppard Avenue East (westbound), 8270 Sheppard Avenue East (both directions), Rouge River Drive (both directions) and Ecopark Gate (both directions).

March 23, 2020

Service is suspended due to coronavirus outbreak concerns. Local service operates on the 85C SHEPPARD EAST branch to Meadowvale. Customers travelling on the 985A branch between Don Mills Station and Scarborough Centre station can transfer between 85 SHEPPARD EAST and 129 McCOWAN NORTH services at Sheppard Avenue East and McCowan Road.

Service on Midland Avenue between Sheppard and Progress is still provided by the 57 MIDLAND while service on Progress between Midland and Scarborough Centre station remains provided by the 43B KENNEDY route.

January 4, 2021

Express service resumes on the 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS operating on weekdays excluding the weekends which is slated to resume later in the year.

September 5, 2021

Weekend and holiday service restored on this route, with schedules the same as they were for the February 2020 board period.

November 21, 2021

Weekend and holiday service is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19-related ridership declines and staff shortages.

May 8, 2022

Weekend and holiday service is restored on this route.

March 26, 2023

In preparation for the closure of LINE 3 SCARBOROUGH, the terminal at Scarborough Centre station is significantly altered to accommodate construction and modifications of the existing terminal. In Stage 1, buses on the 985A branch are extended eastward to McCowan station.

Service begins on the new 985D branch which replaces the suspended 134C PROGRESS and 913 PROGRESS EXPRESS routes. Eastbound buses route east of Triton Road from Scarborough Centre Station, south on McCowan Road, east on Bushby Drive, north on Grangeway Drive, east and north on Progress Avenue, looping through the cul-de-sac in front of Centennial College. Express buses stop at Scarborough Centre Station, Triton Road at McCowan Road, Markham Road, Roadway to Centennial College and Centennial College Progress Campus. Westbound 985D buses reverse this route. This branch operates only on weekdays until 10 p.m. and Saturdays until 7 p.m.

The 985A/D branches operates 12m 40’ Orion VII and Nova LFS hybrid buses. The 985B branch continues to run with 18m 60’ Nova LFS articulated buses.

May 7, 2023

Midday service introduced on the 985B-Meadowvale branch, while the 985A branch is replaced by the 985D during midday periods.

September 3, 2023

Following the conclusion of construction at Scarborough Centre station, service on the 985A branch fully resumes at Scarborough Centre station with the 134C PROGRESS and 913 PROGRESS EXPRESS service resumed on Tuesday. Midday service on the 985B-Meadowvale branch is discontinued.

November 19, 2023

Following the closure of the LINE 3 SCARBOROUGH RT in July after a derailment, buses on the 985A SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS branch are extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road. Stops on Midland/Ellesmere, Midland/Lawrence (southbound) and Kennedy/Lawrence (northbound) are added. Buses on this route board Bay 11 on Platform B in the new terminal at Kennedy Station.

Service on the 985B “Meadowvale” peak period branch will continue to operate.

Summary (Effective September 3, 2019; temporarily suspended due to Covid-19 pandemic)

Last Updated: September 2, 2018

985 Sheppard East Express Image Archive

	Official TTC map of 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS services, effective September 2, 2018.
	TTC Orion VII Next Gen Hybrid 1798 lays over at Don Mills Station operating on route 190 SCARBOROUGH CENTRE ROCKET service using the 985A SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS signage, although the route had not been formally launched at the time this photo was taken. Photo taken on August 28th, 2018 by Marcus Danchuk.
	TTC NovaBus Articulated #9074 turns the corner at Scarborough Town Centre station, in service on 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS. This photo was taken by Jimmy Jin on February 17, 2019.
	On the Sheppard Avenue East and Warden Avenue stop taken on Friday, September 14, 2018, TTC NovaBUS LFS articulated bus #9075 glares on running on the 985 SHEPPARD EAST EXPRESS westbound to Don Mills station. This photo was supplied by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos.