THE BLUE AND WHITE

This past Wednesday after practice, I was on Line 2 on my way back home, but in typical TTC fashion there was a security incident that forced all westbound trains to halt at Broadview. I decided to make the most of the situation and caught a bus to Don Valley Station in order to try out the LRT. Below is my review of the experience as well as some media from 2 separate trips on the LRT.

(Images will take some time to load)

The first thing you notice about the LRT is how much of an upgrade the stations are. They are incredibly modern and well lit, featuring a lot of glass and metal. They are a welcome update and are like the Line 1 Extension stations on steroids. They are much more spacious and everything has a glossy finish to it.

As you descend down towards the platform, you really get a sense for how far below the surface they are. It took me about 3 minutes from stepping into the station to reaching the platform.

The platforms are quite nice however with the predominately white floors, winter wear/dirt is easily seen. They are also a lot larger then the trains themselves, making it a bit confusing where to stand. The train was initially projected to arrive within 3 minutes, however it took 5 minutes and 30 seconds for it to arrive.

The trains themselves are another source of excitement. Even though they are almost 7 years old (The first one being delivered in 2019), they are definitely the best vehicle that the TTC currently has. They are spacious and have numerous accessibility features that are well integrated onto the trains. Chiefly among them, the platform is at the same level as the entrance to the train with a very small gap. A confusing element of the trains is the fact they have buttons even though the door seems to be automatic.

It took 12 minutes (including stops) from Don Valley Station to Eglinton Station, meaning an average speed of approximately 26 km/h between those stations which is 2-3 minutes faster then a car along that route . The train is pretty slow aboveground as they do not have signal priority yet, however underground it feels quite fast. The ride is very calm and unlike the subway the acceleration and braking feels very smooth.

Below is uninterrupted footage between Sunnybrook Park to Laird Stations:

There has been a lot of criticism about the LRT, chiefly among them UCC’s ward councillor who on the day of the LRTs opening posted these posters in front of the stations.

Politics aside, the LRT is (finally) open now. Although it’s still a work in progress, it is already a big upgrade from what we have come to expect from the TTC and in conjunction with the Ontario Line & Line 6 will be the future of transit in the GTA. For many UCC students who live near/along Eglinton, this will significantly reduce their travel time to school.