Progress is happening on the Finch West LRT

What’s the latest on the Finch West LRT? In the first episode of Metrolinx Builds, we talk project facts, updates and what the next steps are to bring this important project into service for the community.
With 18 stops across 10.3 kilometres of rail, the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will run along Finch Avenue West from Keele Street to Highway 27, where it will turn, then travel south to the Humber College north campus. It will sport connections with other TTC lines, as well as connections to Peel and York Region local transit services.
The Finch West LRT project will give those in northwest Toronto a transit system that offers more choices to travel. The project will cut down travel time and increase transit reliability. The line will feature accessible platforms, improved streetscapes and cycling infrastructure that is safe and convenient.
Here's how to get in touch with the Finch West LRT team:
By phone: [phone]
By email: [e-mail]
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Quelles sont les dernières nouvelles sur le TLR Finch West ? Dans le premier épisode de Metrolinx Builds, nous parlons des faits du projet, des mises à jour et des prochaines étapes pour mettre en service cet important projet pour la communauté.
Avec 18 arrêts sur 10,3 kilomètres de voie ferrée, la ligne de transport léger sur rail (TLR) de Finch West longera l’avenue Finch Ouest de la rue Keele à l’autoroute 27, où elle tournera, puis se dirigera vers le sud jusqu’au campus nord du Humber College. Elle prévoit des correspondances avec d’autres lignes de la TTC, ainsi qu’avec les services de transport en commun locaux de Peel et de la région de York.
Le projet de la ligne de transport léger sur rail (TLR) de Finch West offrira aux habitants du nord-ouest de Toronto un système de transport en commun avec plus de choix pour se déplacer. Le projet réduira le temps de déplacement et renforcera la fiabilité du transport en commun. La ligne comprendra des quais accessibles, des paysages de rue améliorés et une infrastructure cyclable sûre et pratique.
Voici comment entrer en contact avec l'équipe du TLR de Finch Ouest:
Par téléphone : 416-202-6500
Par courriel: [e-mail]

[@thehelenkeller]

can't wait to use this in 2083!

[@sjappiyah4071]

More like 2183

[@ScotchOnyx]

They were thanking us for our patience. They need to continue thanking us till we all die and our great great great great... grandchildren can ride the Finch West LRT.

[@firewoodlake]

Well I was thinking 2032 but you could be right. By the time they open , people will just hail robo taxis and won't need ttc anymore.

[@Ilikerobloxreally]

U mean 2024?

[@firewoodlake]

@Ilikerobloxreally yeah finch lrt will open in September but not eglinton. That will open next decade

[@Vortexone112]

I’m betting Metrolinx is trying to open Line 5 and 6 on the same day. It’s going to be awesome

[@KB65YT]

if they do which one would u be going to first then?

[@funvideofan1625]

@@KB65YT Line 5

[@TheRandCrews]

@@KB65YTLine 5 cause you can at least take the subway or GO train at few different stations along eglinton

[@Transit_ON]

Line 6 for me cuz Im like 3 mins from Finch ​@@KB65YT

[@DanTheCaptain]

@@KB65YT Line 5 cause it’s closer

[@johnanderson9494]

2:21 "look like you're working, the camera is on us"

[@vuvuzela691]

I hope the trains actually run much faster than in the video

[@CANMONQUE]

They will not run faster. 34 minutes for 10 KM.

[@KardiFan2000]

​@@CANMONQUE You're a true comedian.

[@octranspo_owl]

Well uh, unless you wanna swap the motors out for something similar to the MTA in NYC like what Ottawa is doing with the same vehicle (in other words, sticking a V12 in a Honda Civic) then you probably won't get much faster.

[@gswarriors1439]

Probably not, gonna be slow asf like those gta v trams

[@JP..5-.]

Last time I was in the Finch bus, less than 20% of people paid. I imagine it'll be even less on the LRT. Great job Metrolinx!

[@funvideofan1625]

I kinda wish the Finch West LRT was underground between Jane and Keele because if the Jane LRT is build (which is inactive not canceled alright!?) it would be better interchange station, but also because the Finch Line feels like the 510 Spadina Streetcar with a underground stop at both ends. But nonetheless I’m still excited for this line to open

[@SyntaxOverflow]

Main difference is the operating speed. These trams run at 60km and I think the streetcars are like 30 to 40

[@TheRandCrews]

Wdym it is just like Spadina, it has terminating underground stations Spadina Station and Union Station while Finch has Humber College & Finch West Station. Rather see Jane as a continuation of the Ontario Line running along LE tracks passing Roncesvalles

[@mrxman581]

​@SyntaxOverflow Probably because it seems to have a dedicated ROW, allowing them to run at higher speeds. However, 18 stations over 10.3 km means there is a station roughly every 0.5 km. That's more like a streetcar than LRT. The train won't be able to run at its fastest speed if it needs to stop so often.

[@SyntaxOverflow]

@@mrxman581 it's higher voltage than streetcar too I think. Technically those trains can go like 80

[@jackmehauf8664]

@@mrxman581 Atleast the stop distance is 2x the Spadina line. Spadina averages 250m between stops which is rediculous. Amsterdam has a stop spacing of 500m ish and when I visited I was astonished how much faster it felt with essentially the same Infastructure. Spadina needs Priority signaling and to trim some of its close together stops. Im bullish for the Finch line tho

[@DarkxPunk]

Gonna break down every winter like in Ottawa 😉

[@jerrellholder8382]

I worked on the track construction of the finch west! good days

[@lfnayolga]

Hahaha me too

[@RedWolf3893]

Love seeing new light rail actually get put in. It seems a lot of people here don’t comprehend that there’s a ton of approvals that are needed before you can officially open. I’d love to see metrolinx bring their services to Niagara and connect St.Kits, Niagara Falls, & Welland… those 3 large population centres is on target to have 3/4 of a million people by 2050… so having metrolinx come in and build LRT for the region would be the perfect focal point to build around.

[@UzumakiNaruto_]

*Love seeing new light rail actually get put in. It seems a lot of people here don’t comprehend that there’s a ton of approvals that are needed before you can officially open.* That's the problem when everything moves so slowly when it doesn't have to. Decades ago things in Toronto and much of Canada simply got built. They drew up the plans and built it. Nowadays you need to do a ton of studies, get a ton of approvals, hope that there isn't too much opposition and all the construction goes relatively smoothly and not too overbudget and then it finally opens. Its mind boggling to me that in the time its taking to still try and finish the Eglinton LRT that Shanghai had built large portions of its massive subway system that's still expanding to this day. We should've just gave some Chinese construction companies the contracts to build GTA public transit and they probably would've finished many if not most of those projects by now.

[@declanrawlins5778]

I will move to Toronto in September for the Finch West LRT soon!!

[@officialmuseumoftranspo]

That's literally the Alstom Spirit that also runs on the O-Train Line 1!

[@my2iu]

Yes, the Alstom Spirit that has trouble handling snow and that repeatedly derails, and which set back transit ridership in Ottawa considerably.

[@magnabaddelta-thriller5603]

and the REM

[@officialmuseumoftranspo]

@@magnabaddelta-thriller5603 N- yeah but it's not the same train.

[@magnabaddelta-thriller5603]

@@officialmuseumoftranspo yeah but it's also built by Alstom and has the same issue (minus the derailing)

[@finding_footprints]

Thanks Metrolinx. I am form Tobermory Drive, North York and eagerly waiting for an inauguration.

[@ScotchOnyx]

Thank you for sharing this video, we finally see your workers working for the first time. Please dont go bankrupt you cant be let off the hook that easy. Literally

[@AndrewMott6]

I like these two guys, keep making videos with them.

[@thevikasnam]

What about the fking Eglinton crosstown/lrt???

[@marcodonis6633]

Theyre trying to distract you from that by finishing the Finch one first :)

[@taysira.505]

Nice one! (can we get the Eglinton LRT for goodness sake?)

[@trainglen22]

Seeing that the Finch West LRT is finished, it probably won't open until after the Maple Leaf Stanley Cup parade in 2060!

[@philip6770]

I hope this project opens by the end of this year.

[@eurosoe]

Are you going to test trains for the next 5 years like you’re doing with Line 5?

[@SyntaxOverflow]

Doubt it. This probably opens before line 5

[@awesomeman116a]

Only if there’s problems with this line I’m pretty sure there were a few problems with Line 5, that’s why it’s not open yet

[@eurosoe]

@@awesomeman116a The main problem holding back Line 5 is a premier with vengeance and contempt for the residents of Toronto.

[@UzumakiNaruto_]

@@awesomeman116a Why are there problems though? Why wouldn't you have constant inspections along the way to catch problems and fix them before they're start adding up? Why wouldn't you have workers look out for issues themselves and then flag it and get it fixed right away?

[@awesomeman116a]

@@UzumakiNaruto_ Apparently the contractors are delaying it on purpose cuz that means more money for them (I’m not fully sure if this is true but this is what I’ve seen other people talking about)

[@stephenayeni992]

Thank you for your amazing work! This is excellent

[@mikescar2]

It will be an improvement over the bus service. But I think we need to stop calling it rapid transit. This is not rapid transit, but rather an upgraded local service, no different than the downtown streetcars on Spadina. The 11km journey on the Finch West LRT will take about 34 minutes. This in no faster than the bus it is replacing, except for maybe in the height of rush hour traffic. The current bus takes about 35 minutes or so to make the same journey. 11km on the Toronto Subway takes about 21 to 22 minutes. Almost 15 minutes faster than the Finch West LRT. Again, it will offer a nicer ride. But this line is not going to decrease commute times, and it will not offer an auto competitive trip like the subway does. Meaning, you are likely not going to see many auto drivers switching modes of transport. This begs the question. Would less expensive and faster to construct bus lanes have done the job just as well, and for a longer length? If we are going to build rapid transit, it has to be fully grade separated, and have stations spaced a proper distance apart from each other.

[@tonylorefice6109]

How about Eglinton crosstown? Any update?

[@Merle1987]

Lol, that's what I was wondering.

[@my2iu]

Do you really think Metrolinx cares about keeping the public informed? They literally ran a multi-million dollar ad campaign about how much disdain they feel for people asking about when the Eglinton line will be ready and about how people were spoiled and entitled brats for wanting the construction to be finished. We just pay their salaries; why do we deserve any information about what our money is being spent on?

[@kadnan67]

Yes 2045 ​@@Merle1987

[@Loyatyispriceless]

This construction was so messy!! So many senior people have fell because of the sloppy work and the way the workers leave the streets when their shift is finished. So frustrating when they blast Rock n roll music at 6am! We have to yell out and ask to lower it. I can’t wait until this thing is finished ..

[@HBHeavyTransport]

Hopefully doesn't have a shaky launch like the Montreal REM - test everything you can please

[@Blakpepa]

Sounds like this should be opened to the public and up and running by fall 2030

[@ibvghgfvbnbc]

Mmmm....Jane and Finch...that will be an adventure

[@terrygelinas4593]

I was hoping to get a date when line will be open.

[@mmcer]

They need to bring in the developers that built subways in London or New York. The Toronto system has not any any meanful or functional transit added since the 1960’s. 😞

[@cleanairbus]

You can bring in the folks that built transit projects in New York...even those that finished the 12-years-late East Side Access tunnels for the Long Island Rail Road to serve Grand Central Terminal. they kept on pushing back the opening date here as well, with little defects that kept it from opening by each new deadline, even with the one ventilation fan that delayed the whole project until early 2023 (this was when the MTA kept on telling us that it was surely going to open "before the end of the year [2022]"). BTW, @metrolinxofficial any new on the Eglinton Line opening date?

[@tertur2957]

Marvellous, now when will they open the Eglinton line? It’s been 13 years and no sign of completion, what a disgrace.

[@MSZsama]

How about line 5?

[@cingkole7893]

HURRY UP!

[@Patrickair4444]

I’m hoping to ride it when it opens later this year if it does open because I’ll be huge adventure to get down to Finway Subway station

[@cowankadeem]

I can't wait till the ride on new train

[@user-gk8gg1zt7l]

Very good video, like!!!

[@kevinblackwood6384]

When it starts???

[@DopeyFish]

likely in september

[@kevinblackwood6384]

@@DopeyFish Great👍 How about Eglinton LRT???

[@DopeyFish]

@@kevinblackwood6384 both are targeting same time, at least that's when TTC shows revenue service. Part of delay is issues with construction and part of delay is software. They were expecting updated software by June and it seems like they are already testing tomorrow. So it's really hard to say for sure if both will open in September because there was a lot more problems with line 5 construction

[@kevinblackwood6384]

@@DopeyFish Thanks.

[@locholoco]

Finally.. It started in 2010😢😢😢

[@Nunavuter1]

The initial work of relocating utilities for line 6 began in 2016. Major construction of Line 6 began in 2019. You are mixing up Line 6 with Line 5, which has had nothing but delays from day one. A different contractor is building Line 6, and they are not incompetent like the contractors building Line 5.

[@compubrito]

Great news so when is going to be available? Also we need news others projects please thank you

[@bradrichardson8062]

This should have been a subway and built 25 years ago

[@Blvckfox]

What about west side scarborough like morningside and malvern😢

[@Tom-nj3ru]

I have done electrical technician program, did my bachelor in mechanical back home, I have been applying metrolinx for a while, just an entry-level technician job. Always get an automated email of rejection

[@TheReactorLore]

Through-running GO service also needs to happen, and the LRT would truly be faster if transit priority over cars happens.

[@skunkdaswell]

Can wait till it’s done… so that the roads can get fixed and construction crews can get off finch… tired of spending money on ball joints and wheel bearings, oh and a tire that blew due to construction debris. Been dealing with the stress of traffic for far too long

[@amo_res9266]

Same model as what we have in Edmonton

[@mrhunter3886]

Stop corruption and open it for public

[@mrxman581]

This is great news. Congrats, Toronto! Though I beg to differ that it's the largest expansion in North America. That title belongs to Los Angeles. It currently has a much larger system than Toronto and will continue to expand for the foreseeable future. It's great to see more cities in North America investing meaningful funding in public rail transit.

[@Vortexone112]

LA is certainly building a lot but LA metro also has 3x the population and their ridership is dismal. Quite sad to see

[@user-bj2sj3hi8x]

Lovely ❤

[@trnstn1]

Why don’t it go all the way east to Finch-Yonge

[@SuperLuch]

The algorithm is not as advanced as we thought. Why am I getting this ad if I own a car...?

[@jtsholtod.79]

The fact that this isn't branded in red like the rest of the TTC is a mistake. It's almost like they're dissociating themselves from it, and from a user perspective that's a fail.

[@Cardi185]

The red TTC livery would look so much nicer than the grey and white. Maybe Metrolinx is trying to associate the LRT lines with the subway system, and that's why they chose the colour scheme that they did.

[@alexmcpherson6884]

@@Cardi185 That's exactly the reason its the sad looking grey. I have a friend that works at Metrolinx and when he showed me the colour scheme options for the line, i asked about it and that's the reasoning I was given. To me it makes sense "technically" but visually it makes them look sad.

[@stephen9609]

The subways are not red. The old Scarborough RT was blue (in its later years). There is no issue with the colour at all...

[@Balasidine957]

The seat interior is awful. Should be red and blue.

[@MultiBrodeur]

By the time these lines are completed, the population would have increased and overtaken the LRT capacity. Dedicated lines mean less lanes for live vehicular traffic. Should have spent money with subways

[@TowardsUnity]

Any update on the Hamilton LRT? It was meant to start years ago and still nothing.

[@GarrisonSiberry]

At least 2-3 years before construction can start as they haven't even started the bidding process for contracts

[@UzumakiNaruto_]

@@GarrisonSiberry They should just give the contracts to Chinese construction companies and they'll have it done in a few short years. Just look at what they did with the Shanghai subway system and how quickly it grew and is still growing in the past couple of decades. Its like they're building Toronto's entire subway system every few years.

[@Blazecfc]

Would have been nice if they built finch east too

[@KardiFan2000]

There was never a Finch East, you just made up a line lol.

[@cat-.-]

What is metrolinx? I thought it's just a card issuer? It says it builds the trains but I thought Bombardier is the maker? And why are the trains shaped like TTC trains but black? Why is there TTC logo on the trains? Will it have free transfers to the TTC system? So confusing. Why can't there be just one public facing entity? I'm eternally confused by this.

[@Merle1987]

No dates.

[@cdnbearguy]

OMG I cannot believe they are doing a promo video on something that is A) not finished, and B) on the heels of the Eglington line that is 3 years delayed and now 13 years in the making.....do they have no shame??????

[@alvima1986]

whats update for Eglinton LRT??

[@romanrat5613]

0:40 why is the LRT going slower than the buses? This is embarrassing--should've been a subway

[@tangiers365]

thats not the real LRT

[@CripplingDuality]

Would have taken longer, caused more disruption to build, and cost more to run.

[@stephenp448]

It's in testing. Not running at operational speeds yet.

[@Seibanori]

Why? Like for the money that it costed , for the working time period that it took, why don’t just build a proper subway line instead of this nonsense.

[@youbetcha6880]

We should have a subway straight across Finch.

[@TDK2K]

Why'd they get a guy that looks and sound like Trudumb?

[@adammills7911]

All this and it's only gonna be one minute faster than a bus... Toronto desperately needs transit signal priority

[@markgrant5396]

Should of been a subway...at least Ford got us the Ontario line, hopefully Jane line gets made into a subway.

[@funvideofan1625]

Yeah because Jane is too small for an LRT too be put in the middle of the road

[@eurosoe]

@@funvideofan1625 original plans for the Jane LRT had it running at grade North of Wilson and underground south of it.. “sorta” At Eglinton they were looking at 2 options. Surface until Bloor with many stops or the underground option with stops at St Clair and Annette only.

[@amirkania9838]

what is the top speed of these vehicles?

[@brucemacneil]

There was a better choice that would be running now at 90% less cost.

[@fantomas8335]

Wasting Money for no reason, every corner now are in "U" turn and will slow the traffic, people who live in Buildings will cross the train lines to get to MC Donald and Burger Kings example Finch and Weston Rd, they have to walk to much to go all around, Power cables in the top of every intersections are everywhere, and to be completely finish will take forever!!! Was a lot better if they do like highway 7!!! No Train!!

[@noneofyourbeeswax371]

The fact that you had to make a video to tell us that there is "process" itself shows that jack all is happening

[@dackpack6956]

Just a glorified streetcar. Literally the same size and speed. Whats the difference

[@smudgekitty19]

Thats basiclly what lrts are

[@zuberpatel3638]

By the time Finch LRT will be ready, it may be outdated transportation solution.

[@mukeshvig174]

I have seen it disrupt lives and businesses in the area for almost 10 years now. To make it worse, no one knows if this was ever needed in most part of this area - certainly not in Weston Road and Finch area. A nexus between builders and politicians is nothing new anyway!

[@eurosoe]

Yes it’s needed. I won’t even waste my time explaining why.

[@bill-zc1wi]

This is a clear project of Transit BEFORE Development. This is how it should work. Transit should be built first, then development around it.

[@johnanderson9494]

Construction started in 2019 for this line.

[@mukeshvig174]

@@johnanderson9494 The preparations started much earlier. Roads were blocked and dug. The actual work started much later and still not finished in 5 years. I sold my house in the area in 1915-16 when roads were being blocked on Finch.

[@eurosoe]

@@mukeshvig174 you’re about to find out how much of a mistake that was. 👋💸

[@andrewenglish3810]

China full built their high-speed network across China in 10 years, that's more high-speed rail link then all the other high-speed rail links in the world combined. Metrolinx built its tranist rail link in 20 plus years which less than 1% of China's high-speed link coverage.

[@randyreadstheholyquran2342]

20 years too late

[@danielluo6499]

why the F it's on the surface?? dotn we have enough traffic already, and now the car have to stop for the train???? this is not forward thinking at all. so in 10 year when north york population boom. then what??

[@scarboroughbluffer169]

What's crazy is construction started on this line almost a decade after Eglinton broke ground and I predict it will open first. And let's get serious, this is a glorified tram/streetcar - not hating but stating facts.

[@wintertarzanjagrup2527]

This finch LRT ruined my life and my health I've lost friends due to this curse . What's so important about going to humber college that place is wack

[@JP..5-.]

Why don't you tell us a little about the cost over runs and ridiculous delayed openings? Metrolinx = Incompetence

[@Panther-kid]

34 Minutes for 10km distance and no signal priority. You guys are a joke.

[@alanmartin4780]

LOL SO HOW MANY MORE YEARS BEFORE IT OPENS !!?? And will It GO FASTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO BUILT IT !!?? 🚂

[@guillermonievas1695]

Ok , this is my opinion. If you would have built the center lanes to be used for buses only taxpayers would have saved a chunk of money and it would have been done ages ago . Maybe next time you geniuses try to build something ask us !!

[@beatman9758]

this LRT is not needed in this area

[@aircanada8022]

money laundering

[@Quin881]

hurry up lmao

[@juannpan3945]

Illusion

[@Horton.1114]

Metrolink has good intentions, but the way you waste our money, sorry to say,,pathetic.

[@georgesingh5714]

I would like to know how many more of our beautiful roads you fine people are planning to destroy with your nonsense.

[@rally_chronicles]

So much waste. Should have made more car lanes like florida. I dontbwanna sit on a bus or train next to some crackhead

[@mrxman581]

It takes a crackhead to know a crackhead 😆

[@cmmartti]

lol, if you want to drive it's in your best interest if everyone else doesn't drive. Do you like traffic jams? Forcing everyone to drive is how you get traffic jams.

[@rally_chronicles]

@cmmartti I drove all though florida without being stuck in traffic once. Had this city built more than just 2 lanes each way there wouldn't be jams. You should get out more and see the world

[@stephen9609]

maybe you should move to Florida then...

[@cmmartti]

@@rally_chronicles Just one more lane bro. One more lane, that will fix traffic! Toronto has the widest freeway in the world and it still gets jammed up, but if we add just one more lane it will fix everything. Just one lane, please!

[@alhassantahiri5782]

Guys we need housing housing housing first We are dying here