Tunnelling for The Crosstown

Metrolinx is moving ahead on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, part of the Province's 8.4 billion dollar investment in transit expansion for Toronto. Construction will begin by digging tunnels that will be constructed by large tunnel boring machines or TBMs for short. Visit www.thecrosstown.ca to learn more.

[@gmancasey1983]

10 years ago. “Construction” notices were posted in Eglinton Station in 2012, when we still had old trains and turnstiles. Absolutely ridiculous.

[@24gamingtriviaandmore10]

Still waiting for this to open lmao.

[@700016597]

A half loaf of bread better than none! The amazing part is when LRT going under ground from Keele to other side of Bayview where the congestion building up

[@OptimusWombat]

LOL. 2023 and we still have don't have any bread at all.

[@BattlestarPacifica]

Finally! It's exciting to see Toronto making it's first steps to a more robust transit system that (one day) will be comparable with those found in New York, Britain and France.

[@Happi-HD]

idk about that but it's still at least better than ottawa's subways lol

[@CharlieND]

+PizzaProGaming True. Ottawa's is mediocre.

[@annv1169]

too bad it takes 20 years of construction, and many bankrupted businesses from the construction.

[@AlikVolkov]

It's still not done lmao

[@OptimusWombat]

Still not done.

[@alexanderip1003]

We want both subways and LRT NO more Buses (you cannot find a seat for long and get clattered like peas on a frying pan)

[@sjappiyah4071]

+Alexander Ip Especially Underground LRT'S!

[@alexanderip1003]

Samuel Appiah yep In Belgium we call these underground LRTs PreMetros

[@sjappiyah4071]

Alexander Ip "PreMetros" That is an Awesome name! Is that Translated to English from French or German, or is that it's actual name?

[@alexanderip1003]

Samuel Appiah Still English I Found them in Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Brussels

[@sjappiyah4071]

Alexander Ip oh that's cool! And I glad we agree, more subways and 'premetros', would serve Toronto better than surface routes!

[@IainHendry]

That is an AWESOME video! Love the animation!

[@soli82cat]

I'm originally from Brooklyn, NY and coming from a city that has an expansive subway and overhead railway system, I strongly believe this LRT is too costly and time consuming. It's a great idea but I think it's a much better idea only because it is faster and cheaper to build cemented or concrete overhead railway tracks. They might be eyesores but the city and the GTA's will finally have rapid transport.

[@OtakuUpNorth]

Toronto tried a half-ass version of that once with the Scarborough RT and have been scared off of doing that ever since. Even though Vancouver ironed out the glitches and it would be easy and fast to install. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I would much rather see clean and efficient transit gliding though the city than gridlocked streets.

[@OUTNABOUTwithYoursTrulyLIZZOC]

I find this all amazing! This should have been in the making 20+ years ago!!! Now Metrolinx needs to plan for the next LRT project! Keep going there is more to be done as for someone that doesn't know how to drive a car or own one, travelling out of the city is really limited.

[@cynicalbluewhale]

underground LRT is sometimes called a light metro or pre-subway, it's used as a cheaper method in an area where a city is unsure about building a full subway line, and many cities around the world use light metros as their actual subway system.

[@itsdabull]

Wonderful engineering

[@marklee8644]

The tunneling is done right now

[@canucktunes]

Cool video.

[@lazerlayne]

11 Years Ago Now and Phil Verster is still King of the Hill....making nearly a Million bucks a year for the LONGEST DELAY IN TORONTO HISTORY.....!!!!!!

[@SparenofIria]

If it's grade separated for the entire route, it is a better option to build the entire route to heavy rail standards since heavy rail has greater capacity and you are already building underground tunnels. Then again, the light rail shown here seems to have 2 units of 5 sections each, so I assume that it will have greater capacity than standard light rail elsewhere around the world,

[@redkulaT]

Very nicely done! Now... how much did it cost?

[@geoffreycarman]

Very well done animations. Are they using two TBM's one for each tunnel, or just reusing the same one for both tunnels?

[@stcywll]

How are the TBM's powered?

[@thetransitgamer9379]

Almost 10 years later and still not open LOL

[@junkboxxxxxx]

In the old days they had mules and lads from County Donegal to do the digging.

[@leonqian6044]

Almost done now!

[@davidng8732]

Very few transit projects are on budget, so you'll get your wish for the cost increase part. On the other hand, it's *very* unlikely for the project to be altered mid-course--the engineering and construction companies usually cover their behinds with advance payments and/or penalty clauses to make sure their clients are in it for the long haul.

[@schnuurtchke]

Reliably and comfortably! 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚉🚉🚉🚊🚊🚊

[@aaronyee5212]

SAME THING, APRECIATE IT

[@SPS148669]

Edmonton, Canada was the first city to build a subway style LRT.

[@RohanShammi]

same for both as said in video

[@JohnUnit]

Subways are (other than the walk to the stops) a better service, yes. But they're so much more expensive that in this case they weren't really an option. It was either stay with buses, or go to the system outlined here. Sort of like we'd all prefer high-speed bullet trains over GOtrains, but in practice the choice is gotrain or nothing because bullet trains are too expensive.

[@jamesacgray]

1:08 "regular monitoring of boring activity will be undertaken"

[@KardiFan2000]

The Eglinton strip today is denser than it was 25 years ago, and as more people move into the city, lines like this need to be built...I get what you're saying though, this could've been done for much cheaper, had it been built in the first place.

[@JcDizon]

Would this LRT function the same way as the Scarborough RT? They look really similar to each other. It would be awesome to see this project completed but it's going to take about 10 years.

[@duncan6861]

No its not the same as the Scarborough RT. The Scarborough RT is a Light Metro that is basically a smaller subway. The LRT is similar to a streetcar but always has the right of way and has a higher capacity and speed. Therefore it can intersect with roads and allow cars to cross the tracks. The Scarborough RT must be separated from roads as no vehicles can cross the tracks.

[@OtakuUpNorth]

Not really, the Scarborough RT was built using a knee-capped version of the Vancouver SkyTrain. This system uses traditional tried and true electric lrvs. This has much more in common with some Japanese and French subways using trams.

[@davidng8732]

I don't know where you get your information, or where you got your maps. The eastern border of the old City of Etobicoke starts on Humber River, 3 km to the W of where the line goes above ground at Keele (where they're going to put the train yard--you know, train yards are above ground, no exceptions). The entire length of Eglinton at Etobicoke isn't even funded yet--that's Phase 2. Really, get your facts right before you yell at people for no good reason.

[@cypriusvumsam6300]

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ITS YORK MOMORIAL

[@MrAlec00]

they use 2 different TBMs

[@davidng8732]

The LRT technology has been used very successfully in suburban areas of cities around the world, so the difference is nowhere as stark as you think it is. Sheppard was halted before shovel in ground--that's not mid-course. Eglinton's TBM's are in place, Kennedy is being reno'ed as a result--Etob. gets their Egl. LRT above ground, and so will Scarb. No government is going to give Toronto the kind of money it needs to bury the line on aesthetics, or "sexiness".

[@Swordisk]

I undertand subways are an expensive venture, but with inflation its still cheaper to build them now then in the future. The thing is when you build subways development starts growing around them so if its empty today it will be packed tomorrow. Pulling it to the airport and making it 24/7 gives extra revenue. NYC did the same thing, they built subways to nowhere in the 1930s but the city built around the subway system, and people realized that this was a successful venture.

[@davidng8732]

The problem is the word "subway" itself is misleading. Nearly every subway system in the world has at grade and above ground sections (NYC, Tokyo, HKG, Paris). Montreal's metro is one of the very few exceptions (rubber tires + snowy winters = bad). Many "prefers" an entirely underground subway. Not one of them who "prefers" that thinks about the extra $100 million/km involved and who exactly is paying. (higher fares? extra gas tax? extra property tax?)

[@alexanderip1003]

this is why Montreal Metro abandoned Line 3 Red because it would require trains to go outside

[@genuso25]

Soo in the crosstown the streetcar is gonna be the one traveling underground

[@DanieleGiorgino]

Cool. When's the expected completion date?

[@duncan6861]

2021

[@alexanderip1003]

@@duncan6861 that's the year when I graduated from College I really need to find a job

[@transportationland6395]

2030

[@OptimusWombat]

@@transportationland6395 I think you're being optimistic.

[@thevultrantransituniverse1487]

Ten years later, hasn't opened yet... 😑

[@namilolichilawa9296]

Line 5 Eglinton Line Will Be Open 2020

[@alexanderip1003]

Nope it's 2021 (besides the earth hardens during winter you need diamond pneumatic drills to excavate the earth)

[@rottenorange7179]

@@alexanderip1003 nope its going to open in 2022 (expect some delays later on)

[@alexanderip1003]

@@rottenorange7179 Shortage of workers is to blame

[@tomstur119]

hey it's 2021!!! where is it!!??

[@alexanderip1003]

@@tomstur119 Insufficient manpower and seasonal cold would hinder the process of construction

[@marklee8644]

It finished 6 months ago

[@bloorwestreno]

They should use the excess earth to create islands/isthmuses/spits/fjords on Lake Ontario

[@mohoromitch]

Underground they travel at the roughly the same speeds.

[@MEHRAN43240]

the most disaster intersections in Canada are Yonge and finch and yonge and steels so far city dosnt have any plan to fix them we need Defenetly subway stations between finch to steels

[@Islington_Express_Bus]

Extending to Vaughan Mills would have turned an 8 km line into a 12 km line. Much more expensive!

[@danmack3173]

oh damn this is old ah, and after googling I see we arent't done yet

[@CallMeDrewChristian]

This was a plan. It started around 2016-2017

[@mrrobot5963]

@@CallMeDrewChristian Tunneling ended in 2016

[@CallMeDrewChristian]

@@mrrobot5963 ooof I thought it was 2017

[@Dedicated2WendyWilliams]

11 people disliking this is from durham region

[@Skyfoogle]

idk why people from durham think they should get more than the lakeshore go line pickering barely even has 100k people lol

[@godmode9]

Fuckin technology so awesome!

[@davidng8732]

DRL serves Scarborough by cutting a 16-stop, one transfer ride from Kennedy to Union; to a 12-stop, one transfer ride between the same two stops. Literally tens of thousands of people from Scarborough works downtown. Go draw ludicrous lines on the map all you want, but transit planning is a bit more complex than sitting at a computer and make KZbin comments.

[@franki3Ru550]

10 meter per day not bad!

[@airplaneplustrainguy8143]

$8.4 billion budget? Gosh Manila new subway systems cost $7 billion bucks

[@alaindumas1824]

@nicklindsey1765 Given that real subways such as Paris 14 km Ligne 14 extension scheduled to open in 2024 and Madrid 26 km Linea 11 ampliacion will cost about CA$ 4.3 and 2.4 billion respectively, the question is how much construction workers earn in Eglinton and do they know what they are doing?

[@vistarox]

Two at the same time.

[@JohnUnit]

because the whole route won't be underground, and subways are too huge, slow, and have a 3rd rail so they can't be used on streets. These trains are basically big streetcars above ground and small subways below ground

[@Swordisk]

if they are digging why not just put a subway?

[@jasondelaca5318]

It seems more expensive

[@duncan6861]

and some parts of this line (such as in scarborough) will be above ground and in the middle of streets where there is low density and it is not economical to support underground transit, subways cannot be in the middle of streets

[@alexanderip1003]

it was previously attempted but it was cancelled for Bus service (Much to my Extreme Disgust) So now the LRT Ought to finish the job were we failed

[@OtakuUpNorth]

It is a subway, all LRT means is that the vehicles are "lighter" capacity. They are also cheaper to build.

[@schnuurtchke]

Amerika 🇺🇸 Kanada🇨🇦

[@timcarrington5977]

And it only took 12 years

[@OptimusWombat]

More than that. It may not even open in 2024.

[@JohnUnit]

the projection is that there won't be enough use to make money in the next 50 years if they do a subway, which will cost several times more to build and maintain. This system will also have nearly as many stops as buses, instead of having to walk huge distances (think Warden to Kennedy station) like subways. A subway along eglinton would immediately become a huge money loser for the city.

[@popoishere3931]

2020? Anyone who watching this

[@schnuurtchke]

Zazur train 🚂

[@zeighy]

Great idea, but I think it isn't about the eyesore problem, but street space problems... If they decide to use overheads, they don't have space for regular traffic on the street, or use up pedestrian space, plus there isn't enough overhead space to actually execute the idea. I'm pretty sure this was considered before they started drilling. Afterall, if they are dumb politicians who know nothing about transit (like what some people say out there) they would have executed something worse.

[@matthewgoldsilver2521]

Wow missasaga to Scarborough

[@Ahuc899]

Not quite Mississauga

[@CharlieND]

Not even close to Mississauga.

[@OtakuUpNorth]

It will be Mississauga on phase 2 to Pearson airport. One of the major stations would be renforth (a Mississauga Transitway station)

[@schnuurtchke]

Canada 🇨🇦 Amerika 🇺🇸

[@vuvuzela691]

Should've used cut and cover instead of tunneling. Would've taken 3 years instead of 15

[@MichaelLauzon1976]

So, basically, just building another subway, regardless of what you call it...!

[@OtakuUpNorth]

Yup. The main thing most Torontonians don't understand about the LRT is that is expandable when the ridership increases.

[@schnuurtchke]

James Obiago Mikey Luccisano

[@schnuurtchke]

Toronto 🏙🏙🏙🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@mqzpt]

They should've made it elevated from Laird to Kennedy!

[@mrrobot5963]

Damn it where are they gonna make it elevated???? There's no space to put it in the sky! Sorry if in being rude 50% of the comments say make it elevated

[@northlanderdude]

forget LRT's and streetcars... this should have been a subway from the get go.

[@ppolow]

An Eglinton West line between Black Creek and Allen had started, though it was cancelled and would have turned out like the Sheppard Line, or a subway to nowhere. An LRT is a better option for that corridor, not to mention that the LRT is at least going to be useful.

[@treebush]

blame the people and the city if you happen to have interested in this city they mulitple plans since the 50s to contruct many other things that toronto really need but from what i learned there was always conflict between the citizens and the problems of the new mayor deciding to stop all the good plans from the previous mayors sighh so much potential that is always lost :/ toronto is moving slower then a snail's pace

[@treebush]

except its cheaper and take less the time

[@alexanderip1003]

4 people are from ford nation (now collapsed when John Tory Rises)

[@coastaku1954]

I hate the fords with a burning passion but I love subways more than LRTs

[@alexanderip1003]

@@coastaku1954 You can use your Cellphone for most of the journey on the LRT Whereas Subways since it is underground there is No Signal and I Too hate the Fords to the point of launching the same Revolution that obliterated the Ceausescu Regime even with Yellow Umbrellas

[@coastaku1954]

@@alexanderip1003 My Cellphone reception has nothing to do with me loving Subway's over LRTs, I just like them more because I'm Autistic and I love trains, plus the Bombardier T1 (The ones running on Line 2) look really cool. I hate Doug Ford for his cuts to everything, especially Healthcare and Education, putting wage raise caps on Public Service workers while he gives raises to himself and party members

[@alexanderip1003]

@@coastaku1954 I Should have seen that coming (Unrelated topics despite my experience)

[@GolfFanaticEstRBackup]

I am from the future, and it is now Olivia Chow's Toronto

[@mrtommyisgreat]

I hope that this project costs increase dramatically so that they run out of money for the above ground section thereby saving our streets from streetcars. Just build it as a subway till Yonge St or Don Mills until more money becomes available in the future to take it to Kennedy (as a subway).

[@mrtommyisgreat]

This is going to clog Eglinton Ave East just like streetcars clog St Clair as east of Laird this is effectively a streetcar with reserved lanes. Ask your councillor, MP, MPP, and Mayor to bury the line completely & replace it with proven subway technology.

[@duncan6861]

If people ride this line instead of sitting in their cars, it will reduce congestion. Rapid Transit can carry more people per space than cars. If you put the entire line underground it will not be economical in areas that have low density. That is why they put in an lrt instead of a subway because it can go both underground and aboveground and be on a street

[@annv1169]

Stupid Stupid. 5 lanes on Eglinton are reduced to 2!!!!! Horrible for businesses and drivers.

[@ExploringToronto]

well the point is to remove cars and buses off the street

[@duncan6861]

LRTs can carry much more people and take up much less space when compared to cars. if most people took this line, it would leave room for businesses and other vehicles that can't use public transit

[@OtakuUpNorth]

@@duncan6861 but you are expecting people to understand logic.

[@OptimusWombat]

@@duncan6861 you're assuming that people will actually ride it.

[@Swordisk]

i still see no purpose of doing it like that, i prefer if its underground that way it doesnt take away from the street.

[@bobjeffersonjeffy7968]

Waste of money

[@CallMeDrewChristian]

bobjefferson jeffy Its too late now to cancel it...

[@alexanderip1003]

the only waste of money is VIVA in York Region (they should have used LRT Instead of *BRT) *BRT's are Carcinogenic it's a fact Look it up

[@CallMeDrewChristian]

true

[@jobern17]

we want subway not LRT!

[@OtakuUpNorth]

It's basically the same silly. Especially if built with large station boxes.

[@OptimusWombat]

@@OtakuUpNorth the rolling stock is different. What they're using on the Crosstown is smaller and shorter than the subway trains in service on lines 1, 2, and 3.

[@OptimusWombat]

@@OtakuUpNorth the rolling stock is different. What they're using on the Crosstown is smaller and shorter than the subway trains in service on lines 1, 2, and 3.