As many Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) riders along the Eglinton Crosstown corridor adjust their commuting habits with the introduction of the new Line 5 Eglinton Light Rail Transit (LRT), riders are reportedly experiencing time savings even as the service is in its initial operational phases.
CityNews conducted interviews with commuters at Avenue station shortly after the line opened on Sunday, February 7, 2026, marking the beginning of a 19-kilometre, 25-stop line launch with minimal fanfare.
One user travelling from Mount Dennis to Avenue station, accustomed to one-hour bus journeys, reported a significant reduction in travel time to just 30 minutes using Line 5 Eglinton. Another commuter echoed this sentiment, noting the convenience of transferring from Line 1 subway to the Eglinton Crosstown corridor without extended wait times.
Despite the initial positive feedback, riders expressed concerns regarding the above-ground segments of the Eglinton Crosstown line. Many trains currently lack priority at various intersections, causing delays as vehicles can proceed through before trains at several traffic signals. In response, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and city council members voted in January to implement transit signal priority measures at these intersections to improve service efficiency.
During the current “phased opening” stage, where TTC staff are still adjusting to the infrastructure and operational protocols, train speeds in tunnels are limited to approximately 60 km/h. Plans to increase this limit to 80 km/h are anticipated as service expands, since tunnel infrastructure can accommodate higher speeds.
Travel Time Analysis Across the Eglinton Crosstown Corridor
TTC officials previously estimated that transit time between Mount Dennis station at the western end and Kennedy station at the eastern end would range from 55 to 59 minutes, with buses taking as long as 105 minutes for the same route. To verify these estimates, CityNews undertook a comparison during the first weekday of Line 5 Eglinton operations.
A CityNews reporter boarded a westbound train at Kennedy station while a camera operator embarked on a similar journey by car. The trip took 47 minutes by car and 55 minutes by train, aligning with previously recorded travel durations. A breakdown of approximate travel times showed:
- Kennedy station to Victoria Park Avenue/O’Connor station: 15 minutes by train
- Kennedy station to the eastern tunnel opening (west of Leslie Street): 15 minutes by car, 27 minutes by train
- Kennedy station to Eglinton station: 36 minutes by train
- Kennedy station to Cedarvale station: 34 minutes by car, 43 minutes by train
During lunchtime, the reporter attempted to return to Kennedy station via a 34 Eglinton bus, but encountered difficulties due to a lack of clear directional signage and confusion among TTC staff. The reporter's bus journey resulted in a total travel time of one hour and 27 minutes as he faced delays with passenger interactions and driver reliefs along the route.
An eastbound trip reported the following approximate times:
- Mount Dennis station to Cedarvale station: 18 minutes by bus
- Mount Dennis station to Eglinton station: 34 minutes by bus
- Mount Dennis station to Laird station: 34 minutes by car, 46 minutes by bus
- Mount Dennis station to Don Valley Parkway/Aga Khan Park and Museum station: 55 minutes by bus
- Mount Dennis station to Victoria Park Avenue/O’Connor station: 62 minutes by bus
- Mount Dennis station to Birchmount station: 79 minutes by bus
Overall, as the Line 5 Eglinton LRT begins its operations, riders are witnessing welcome improvements in travel times, although some challenges persist concerning the efficiency of the above-ground sections.
