Commuters on Toronto’s Finch West LRT faced significant disruptions Friday morning, halting service between Finch West and Tobermory stations. Initial reports cited “communication issues,” quickly evolving into a more specific problem: malfunctions with the line’s switching mechanisms affecting all 18 stations.
While full service has now been restored on a portion of the line, a critical section between Humber College and Driftwood stations remains offline. Shuttle buses are currently deployed to bridge the gap, offering a temporary solution for stranded passengers.
The problems began earlier in the day, initially impacting service between Finch West and Driftwood. Further complications arose with blocked tracks between Driftwood and Humber College, necessitating the immediate implementation of the shuttle bus service.
The timing of these disruptions is particularly unfortunate. The Finch West LRT, celebrated just weeks ago with a grand opening, has already been plagued by a series of issues, sparking frustration among riders.
This isn’t the first time the new line has ground to a halt. Within days of its launch, “switch issues” forced two separate service suspensions, requiring the deployment of 40 shuttle buses to manage the fallout.
Beyond complete stoppages, a wave of complaints regarding sluggish service times has flooded the transit agency. Scheduled rush-hour trains are meant to depart every six-and-a-half minutes, with a frequency of 10-12 minutes during off-peak hours, but these schedules haven’t been consistently met.
The 10-kilometre line represents Toronto’s first new transit expansion in over two decades, a project envisioned back in 2007 during David Miller’s mayoral term. However, the path to completion was far from smooth.
Years of political debate, funding shifts, and relentless construction setbacks delayed the project, drawing criticism from local residents. Construction finally commenced in 2019, but the final cost ballooned to $3.7 billion – a staggering $1.2 billion over the original estimate.
The struggles of the Finch West LRT mirror those of the Eglinton Crosstown, another long-planned project first proposed in 2007. The Eglinton line has already exceeded $13 billion in costs and is now projected to open in 2026, six years behind its initial schedule.
The slow pace of the Finch West LRT even inspired a unique challenge. Toronto resident Mac Bauer took to the streets, racing the train on foot. Remarkably, despite navigating snowy, icy sidewalks, Bauer finished 18 minutes ahead of the light rail vehicle, highlighting the line’s performance issues in a dramatic fashion.
