Eglinton Crosstown Opens: A Beautiful Milestone for Toronto Transit
Excitement filled the chill of the air as Torontonians celebrated the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) on Sunday. This landmark project has been a long time coming, taking 15 years since its inception in 2008.
Eglinton Crosstown LRT: A Historic Launch for Toronto Transit
Despite frigid temperatures, crowds gathered at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations to ride the newly launched Line 5. Residents eagerly awaited their first chance to travel on this significant addition to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Many expressed their joy, viewing this opening as a key milestone for the city’s transit system.
Inaugural Journey
The first train departed at 5:30 a.m., with operator Gavin Elliott noting the honor of being the inaugural driver. He shared that he had been preparing for this moment throughout his 27-year career with the TTC. Riders experienced the journey with enthusiasm, cheering and applauding as they made their way along the 19-kilometer route from Kennedy to Mount Dennis.
- Travel time from Kennedy to Mount Dennis: 55 minutes
- Distance covered: 19 kilometers
- Speed comparison: Faster than Line 6 trains
Among the first passengers was 11-year-old Isaac Mandelzys, who celebrated his birthday by riding the new line. He noted that the trains were much faster than he had expected, and his friend Luis Mario Carrington echoed his sentiments, reflecting on the impressive speed compared to other lines.
Community Reactions and Challenges
While the atmosphere was jubilant, the day was not without hiccups. A mechanical delay impacted westbound service at O’Connor Station shortly after the launch. Luckily, operations resumed shortly thereafter, allowing riders to continue their journeys.
The Eglinton Crosstown is phased in its rollout, operating on limited hours initially. The service runs from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. Full service is expected to extend to 1:30 a.m. as operations stabilize.
Long Journey to Completion
The path to the Eglinton Crosstown’s launch has been fraught with delays and political hurdles. Initially conceived in the controversial 2007 Transit City plan, the project faced numerous revisions and cost overruns. The estimated cost ballooned to over $13 billion, significantly higher than many initial projections.
City officials, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, expressed optimism regarding the new line. However, transit advocates remain cautiously hopeful, emphasizing the importance of reliable service for Toronto’s transit-dependent residents.
Future Prospects
The opening of the Eglinton Crosstown represents a significant step forward for Toronto’s transit solution. As the city implements enhanced signal priorities, residents look forward to the improvements this line promises, hoping it will alleviate some long-standing transit woes.
For more updates on transit developments and city initiatives, keep following Filmogaz.com.
