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How Slow Is My Streetcar: Overview

Back on July 20, I began a series to review the operating speeds of TTC streetcar routes.

I hoped to get through the system fairly quickly with a separate detailed article for each route. After a few of these it was obvious that there was too much detail and not enough overall analysis. Readers quickly let me know that something else was needed.

Hence a pause during which little has happened on this site beyond editing of comments. Behind the scenes I have pulled together the route-level articles, for which this intro provides an overview and general comments. Readers interested in specific routes can refer to the articles below:

505 Dundas is a special case because it was not operating with Flexitys prior to the retirement of the CLRV fleet, but ran with buses thanks to a shortage of working streetcars. In place of a 2026 vs 2020 comparison, the Dundas article looks at 2026 vs 2023 before transit priority changes were implemented in 2024 and 2025.

Through all of the route analyses there are several consistent observations:

  • Travel speeds in many locations and time periods are slower in 2026 than they were in 2019/20 with the same vehicles (new Flexity streetcars) operating on the system.
  • Slower operation occurs not just at intersections but along routes. Any program to speed up streetcars has to include the “in between” areas.
  • Transit signal priority is absent or ineffective at many locations including streets where there is no transit stop, but streetcars can be held anyway.
  • Farside stops often entail extra delay with streetcars held nearside before they can cross to and serve the stop.

This article includes a section on the methodology behind the charts, a brief review of proposals to improve streetcar operations published by Fast-Track.to, and comments on TTC special track maintenance (junctions) and technology.

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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 512 St. Clair

This article compares travel times for the 512 St. Clair streetcar for June 2026 and June 2019. It is part of a series setting out the changes in operating speed of streetcar routes since the introduction of the new Flexity streetcars in the past decade.

Three sets of charts here show the operational behaviour of the route from different points of view:

  • Comparisons of travel speeds over segments of the line show broadly how, when and where travel speeds have changed.
  • A fine-grained speed profile of the line compares 2019 and 2026 data showing specific locations of changes, and in particular that speed differences lie across the route.
  • Charts of dwell times show locations and times where streetcars are held for passenger service and traffic signals. Congestion generally does not play a role because almost all of the route is on reserved lanes.

“Double stops” at traffic signals before farside loading islands remain a problem with streetcars not always getting a clear run through intersections. This is often discussed in transit and social media circles, but more work is needed to get true transit priority for streetcars on 512 St. Clair.

St. CLair also has very high terminal recovery times compared to travel time along the route. It is not clear that this time is needed, or if it is a relic of an era when TTC made service run “on time” by padding schedules so that it would never be late.

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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 511 Bathurst

This article continues a series reviewing the operating speeds of streetcar lines in detail looking at:

  • Evolution of travel times on 511 Bathurst from September 2019 to June 2026 by route segment.
  • Detailed profiles of operating speeds over the full route for the same months.
  • Locations where streetcars spend long dwell times including stops, traffic signals and road congestion.

The two intervals compared here are:

  • June 1-5, 2026: This was just before the upheavals of the World Cup period, but without any construction diversions that would distort the data. At this point, red lanes were installed on Bathurst from Bloor to Nassau (north side of Western Hospital), and from Dundas southward.
  • January 13-17, 2020: This was early in the operation of 511 Bathurst with the new Flexity streetcars, after the holiday period but before traffic conditions changed with the pandemic in March.

Locations of substantial delays lie mainly south and west of Queen and Bathurst, although the focus on priority has been further north. Some benefits of the red lanes are evident, but the south end of the route needs a detailed review to determine why supposed priority areas on Bathurst and on Fleet are locations for delay.

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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 509 Harbourfront

This article compares travel times for the 509 Harbourfront streetcar for June 2026 and September 2019. It is part of a series setting out the changes in operating speed of streetcar routes since the introduction of the new Flexity streetcars in the past decade.

This article continues a series reviewing the operating speeds of streetcar lines in detail looking at:

  • Evolution of travel times on 509 Harbourfront from September 2019 to June 2026 by route segment.
  • Detailed profiles of operating speeds over the full route for the same months.
  • Dwell time profiles showing locations where streetcars are held by traffic signals, stop service and congestion.

Like many other routes, service on 509 Harbourfront is slower in 2026 than it was in 2020 in parts of the route, although the degree of change varies by route segment, direction and time of day. The lack of meaningful transit priority is evident at intersections, including those with traffic signals but no associated transit stop.

Reductions in travel speed occurred across the operating day and were not confined to periods when passenger and road traffic volumes would typically be heavier. The common excuse of “increased congestion” cannot be used to explain away the changes.

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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 505 Dundas

This article continues a series reviewing the operating speeds of streetcar lines in detail. Although other routes were compared between 2019/20 and 2026, the analysis for Dundas uses 2023 as the “before” data. For an extended period, 505 Dundas operated with buses due to a shortage of streetcars, and there are no data with Flexity cars on Dundas to use as a 2019/20 comparison.

April 2023 saw Flexity operation over the normal 505 Dundas route with no diversions or extensions. This month also predates transit priority changes made in 2024 and 2025.

  • Evolution of travel times from April 2023 to June 2026 by route segment.
  • Detailed profiles of operating speeds over the full route for the same months.
  • A review of dwell times in June 2026 showing where streetcars are most likely to spend excessive time in the AM and PM peak periods.
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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 504 King

This article continues a series reviewing the operating speeds of streetcar lines in detail looking at:

  • Evolution of travel times on 504 King from January 2020 to June 2026 by route segment.
  • Detailed profiles of operating speeds over the full route for the same months.
  • Dwell time profiles showing locations where streetcars are held by traffic signals, stop service and congestion.

The analysis covers the main route from Broadview Station to Dundas West Station, but does not include the two stubs south of King to Distillery Loop and Dufferin Loop.

Like many other routes, service on 504 King is slower in 2026 than it was in 2020 in parts of the route, although the degree of change varies by route segment, direction and time of day. The lack of meaningful transit priority is evident at intersections, including those with traffic signals but no associated transit stop.

Reductions in travel speed occurred across the operating day and were not confined to periods when passenger and road traffic volumes would typically be heavier. The common excuse of “increased congestion” cannot be used to explain away the changes.

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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 501/507 Queen/Long Branch

This article continues a series reviewing the operating speeds of streetcar lines in detail looking at:

  • Evolution of travel times on 501 Queen and 507 Long Branch from January 2020 to June 2026 by route segment.
  • Detailed profiles of operating speeds over the full route for the same months.
  • Locations of long dwell times showing poor/missing transit signal priority, congested areas and times, and delays that are not associated with stop service.

The two intervals compared here are:

  • June 1-5, 2026: This was just before the upheavals of the World Cup period, but without any construction diversions that would distort the data (other than the Ontario Line diversion in the core). Service to Long Branch was provided by 507 streetcars until about 10pm, and thereafter by an extended 501 Queen. Data from both routes are presented here
  • January 13-17, 2020: During this period, service to Long Branch was provided all day by an extended route 501 Queen.
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In Case You Were Wondering …

Yes, it’s been a tad quiet in here recently. We’re in the summer doldrums for transit news, and not yet into the fall which brings a rebound in activity, and in 2026, the municipal election.

A while ago I started a series “How Slow Is My Streetcar?”, and pushed out a few articles that, I must admit, were heavy on charts and thin on analysis. My intent was to leave that until most of the routes were covered, but my activity drifted elsewhere. The work on other routes is now substantially complete, and I will publish all of the charts and stats for them in one go, together with an omnibus commentary.

Sitting in the wings are the TTC’s Service Standards Review and 2027 Annual Network Plan for which public consultation might start soon. I say “might” because, with the election, it’s an odd year and TTC staff might keep their proposals under wraps until the new Council and TTC Board are in place.

2027 as a budget year will be challenging for presentation of any major changes with an uncertain political landscape. We know that Mayor Chow has pledged a reduction in the monthly fare cap from 47 to 40 effective in September 2027, but nothing specific beyond that. As for additional service, there will be the constant tug between responding to and encouraging ridership growth, and dealing with slower travel times and that old bugbear “congestion”.

Although there are route and neighbourhood-specific proposals for better transit priority, the overall effects of traffic conditions, signal priority and operating practices are network-wide issues. Red lanes on one street will do nothing for most riders on the rest of the system.

Ambition for a much higher transit share of the travel market requires a city-wide view, and goals will not be served by a few fantasy subway, LRT or BRT lines that won’t see construction, let alone operation, for a decade.

There’s lots to write about in coming weeks, but first I will get the streetcar route analyses out of the way during the August lull. Stay tuned.

PS: Over 1,500 people visit this site every day just to check if there is anything new. The count is much higher when an article appears, but there’s a base of regular visitors that lets me know someone is “out there”. Thanks for reading!

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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 506 Carlton

This article continues a series reviewing the operating speeds of streetcar lines in detail looking at:

  • Evolution of travel times from November 2019 to June 2026 by route segment.
  • Detailed profiles of operating speeds over the full route for the same months.
  • A review of dwell times in June 2026 showing where streetcars are most likely to spend excessive time in the AM and PM peak periods.

The two intervals compared here are:

  • June 1-5, 2026: This was just before the upheavals of the World Cup period, but without any construction diversions that would distort the data.
  • November 11-15, 2019: This was the first period when route 506 Carlton was scheduled with the new Flexity streetcars.

Issues of note:

  • Streetcars are slower in 2026 compared to 2019 on many parts of the route.
  • Peak period congestion effects are not consistent across the route. Some delays occur on the outer parts of the route (Upper Gerrard eastbound near Woodbine, College westbound from Dufferin to Dundas).
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How Slow Is My Streetcar: 510 Spadina

The operation of Toronto’s streetcars is under considerable fire for what is portrayed as the slowest cars in the world. Ironically, the very slowest of Toronto’s routes operates on a private right-of-way: 510 Spadina. The usual excuses about mixed traffic operation do not apply here.

Recently, I published charts showing the speed of each streetcar line over various segments and by time of day. 510 Spadina did not show well, although the actual speeds vary from one place to another. This article looks more deeply at the data including a comparison with September 2019 before the pandemic. but after service was operating with the new Flexity cars.

There are three sets of charts in this article:

  • Travel times by segment comparing June 2026 to September 2019 values. The 2026 numbers are the same as those in the previous article, but the 2019 numbers show how in almost every case travel times are longer today than seven years ago.
  • Travel speeds over the route showing the relationship to stop locations and intersections, and contrasting 2019 values with 2026. This shows the areas with the greatest change in travel speeds.
  • Locations of long dwell times by streetcars. Some of these are at stops, but many are at traffic signals. Some dwell times have grown since 2019 (not shown) in spite of recent transit priority changes at some locations.

The charts in this article are fairly dense, and readers should click on them to view details, preferably on a device larger than a phone.

I do not offer a “magic bullet” to deal with slow operation, but note that it occurs at many locations along the route. Some are at traffic signals, and some but definitely not all are at junctions.

This is the first of a series of articles that will review each route’s performance.

Updated Aug. 16 at 11:10pm: Dwell time charts and commentary have been added for off-peak periods.

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