Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown LRT launches with record passenger demand

Toronto's Line 5 Eglinton, also known as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, has officially launched passenger service. The new line connects 25 stations along a 19-kilometre route, using 76 light rail vehicles supplied by Alstom. Since opening on 20 March 2024, it has quickly become one of the busiest transit corridors in the city.

The project took shape after years of planning, with Alstom partnering with Metrolinx to deliver the trains. Final deployment began on 8 February, just weeks before the line's public launch. Each vehicle, built and tested at Alstom's Kingston, Ontario plant, features a low-floor, zero-emission design capable of carrying up to 200 passengers.

The line integrates seamlessly with existing transit, linking 68 bus routes, three TTC subway stations, and two GO Transit regional rail lines. By early 2026, daily ridership had climbed to between 55,000 and 65,000 passengers—surpassing initial forecasts. However, capacity constraints have emerged, with peak loads reaching 70–80% due to 20-minute headways and high demand in central Toronto.

To manage operations, Alstom installed a communications-based train control (CBTC) system, ensuring safe and efficient high-frequency service. The company will also maintain the entire fleet under a long-term service agreement. Compared to other recent North American LRT projects, such as Vancouver's Canada Line extension (around 45,000 daily riders) or Minneapolis's Blue Line (40,000–50,000), Eglinton faces greater utilisation pressures, similar to Calgary's Green Line Phase 1. In response, the TTC has announced plans to increase service frequency by 2027.

Line 5 Eglinton now serves an estimated 123,000 passengers daily across its network connections. The system's early success highlights its role in easing congestion along a key Toronto corridor. With further adjustments to frequency on the horizon, the line is set to accommodate even higher demand in the coming years.