Toronto: Finch West LRT to open before Eglinton Crosstown

Regional agency Metrolinx is building two light rail lines in the northern suburbs of Toronto, Eglinton Crosstown (line 5) and Finch West (line 6). Eglinton Crosstown is a standard-gauge 28km line along Eglinton Avenue from Mount Dennis to Kennedy interchange station with the Bloor–Danforth subway line. The line is underground for 21km. Construction started in 2011, with the first phase expected to open in 2020, but there has been constant slippage in the construction schedule, caused in part by legal action that Metrolinx took against the construction consortium Crosslinx. The infrastructure has been completed, followed by extensive trial operation using the 76 Bombardier Flexity Freedom LRVs that are now 10 years old. The operation has failed to achieve its 30-day Revenue Service Demonstration, so no date for passenger service can yet be given. 

 

Finch West is a 10.3km standard-gauge surface light rail line From Finch West interchange with the Yonge–University subway line to the north campus of Humber Polytechnic in Etobikoke. Construction started in 2019 by Mosaic Transit Group and was completed in early September 2025, when operational control was handed over to the TorontoTransit Commission (TTC) after completion of the 30-day Revenue Service Demonstration. Passenger service should start before the end of October. The line uses 18 Alstom Citadis Spirit LRVs from the batch of 61 ordered when Bombardier were falling behind with their original order for 182 Flexity Freedom (order subsequently cut to 76). Delivery started in 2021. The balance of the Alstom cars will be used on the under construction Mississauga light rail line.