The Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line is set to officially commence operations on Sunday morning, more than seven years after the construction began. The highly anticipated transit line will cater to its first riders, with the inaugural ceremonial ride scheduled to depart from Finch West station at 7:20 a.m. The first official westbound train is slated to leave Norfinch Oakdale Station at 7:33 a.m., followed by the inaugural eastbound train departing from Jane and Finch Station at 7:47 a.m.
This new transit line spans 10.3 kilometers and features 18 stops along Finch Avenue West. It connects Finch West Station on the Line 1 Yonge-University subway system to Humber Polytechnic's North Campus. Additionally, the line offers links to local transit services, including York Region Transit, MiWay, and Brampton Transit, thereby enhancing connectivity in the region.
To celebrate the opening, the first day of rides on this new transit route will be free. Commuters will also have the opportunity to collect various souvenirs, such as ride guides, vehicle cutouts, and commemorative coins, marking the significance of this new addition to Toronto’s transit system.
On the eve of the line's launch, Premier Doug Ford expressed relief and excitement, stating, “Thank goodness, we're open for business now,” highlighting the collaborative effort that led to the completion of this project. “As they say, it takes a whole village. Well, it took the whole city and part of the province to get this going, but it's open now.”
The Finch West LRT will operate with “soft opening” hours commencing at 6 a.m. and concluding at 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, while Sunday service will run from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. To accommodate late-night commuters, shuttle buses will provide service between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Trains during the weekday morning and evening rush hours will arrive every six and a half minutes, while service frequency during off-peak hours is expected to vary between 10 and 12 minutes. However, it is important to note that onboard fare payment is not yet available on Line 6 vehicles; riders will need to complete fare transactions on the platform using Presto, credit, or debit cards. There will also be a vending machine for single-ride purchases using cash.
With the official opening of Line 6, the focus of transit developments now shifts to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. This line has recently achieved a significant milestone as independent engineers have confirmed it is ready for service, leading to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) assuming “full operational control.” The TTC is now tasked with determining an opening date, which is projected to be in 2026. Once operational, Line 5 will have similar operating hours and conditions as those of the Finch West line, at least until the following spring.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT project began construction in 2011, with an original opening date set for 2020. However, the timeline has faced multiple delays due to various legal, construction, and testing issues, as well as setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
