The November 2017 schedules bring only minor changes, with one big exception: trains on Line 1 will begin operating to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station, albeit as “ghosts” for training and testing. Revenue service will begin, using the same schedules, on Sunday, December 17, 2017.
The revised subway schedule preserves existing headways, more or less, including the AM peak short turn at Glencairn which is not being extended further north. Service beyond Glencairn in the AM peak will operate every 4’42”. In the PM peak, it will operate every 2’36” with no short turn.
Queen streetcars return between Neville and Sunnyside with no diversions. A date for return of service at least to Humber has not yet been announced. Service beyond Humber to Long Branch is planned for mid 2018 due to ongoing road reconstruction on Lake Shore Boulevard. Please see my article on the Queen West projects for more details on the status of this work.
The December 17, 2017 schedules will appear in a separate article. They include all of the surface route changes associated with opening the Vaughan subway extension, as well as plans for special schedules over the holiday period.
Steve Munro 
Any idea why they are keeping the short turn so far south?
I don’t buy that it is for operational purposes. When I was in London in June the Bakerloo line had 3 turnback points in rush hour and 2 in the off peak.
In the peak trains turned back at Harrow and Wealdstone, Stonebridge Park and Queens Park.
In the Off Peak only Queens Park and Harrow and Wealdstone.
If the TTC was smart they would have trains turning back at Sheppard West and Glencairn or Wilson and St Clair West during the peak.
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Are you allowed to ride the ghost service to Vaughan?
Steve: No.
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Why are bus trippers being added back to King again? Is it simply that it was needed all along but there were no buses available for it until now?
Steve: Yes. The buses were used on Queen.
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How many extra trains will the TYSSE require? And do they have those sitting around waiting to go?
Steve: The number of added trains by day and time period is shown in the linked PDF which summarizes the service change. The TTC ordered extra trains as part of the TYSSE budget.
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How many streetcars that were scheduled to be retired have been put through Hillcrest for overhaul to extend their life? How many more to go?
This ought to continue indefinitely considering Bombardier’s complete failure to deliver new Flexity cars. At least we know Hillcrest workers can do a good job with these rebuilds.
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Instead of just retiring them, the TTC should rebuild and refurbish older streetcars – the CLRVs and ALRVs – and put on streetcar routes currently using shuttle buses, such as “511 Bathurst”. This would solve the current streetcar shortage problem. Also, streetcars have more seating capacity,an almost 360-degree view through the windows, plus they and don’t jerk in traffic, unlike buses – plus they run on electricity. Shuttle buses should be used on streetcar routes only in emergency situations, such as power outages affecting the route.
Steve: The TTC is already rebuilding some of the old cars to carry the system over until more Flexitys arrive. Some cars are simply beyond hope and these are being scrapped, although they are used as a source of spare parts where possible.
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The “511 Bathurst” route is currently using shuttle buses (since just after the Labour Day long weekend and the last days of the CNE), and they will be sticking around for a few more months. Streetcars are expected to make their “triumphant” return to the route in May, just in time for the tourist season, which begins the Victoria Day long weekend. Many tourists visiting Toronto’s downtown would prefer to ride streetcars as opposed to buses, and one of those streetcar routes is “511 Bathurst”, a maunly north-south route, running from Bathurst station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line to the Exhibition Loop, via Fleet Street.
Over the next year, more of Ontario Place will be open for business, and the Cinesphere will reopen and show movies again. There will also be some new food vendors.
When major events take place in Toronto, particularly the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), there is increased demand, and the TTC responds to this by adding extra service to this route. Many people planning to go to the CNE choose to take the TTC, and the bulk of those opt for taking the “511 Bathurst” streetcar to get to and from the CNE. Aboard the streetcar – especially getting there- you’ll feel the high-spirited excitement of the passengers.
Which types of streetcars would you expect to see on this route?
Steve: The TTC’s plans currently are to put new cars on King to address capacity issues there. I expect to see CLRVs on Bathurst with Flexitys on the weekend as we had last summer.
This comment has been edited together from two overlapping comments that you left.
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It looks like TTC will continue to run a curbside shuttle bus service (which has existed since early September) on its “511 Bathurst” route for a few more months – a period of eight months, and this is longer than last year’s run of shuttle bus service (five and a half months).
People choosing to take the TTC’s “511 Bathurst” route to go to major events at Exhibition Place – such as the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (running from November 3-12) and the upcoming One-of-a-Kind Christmas Show & Sale (running from November 23 to December 3) should get accustomed to (and will be) taking shuttle buses to get to get to and from the venue.
As more of the new Flexity Outlook streetcars arrive, the priority is to put them on the “504 King” route, the busiest of the streetcar routes (and is currently using CLRVs and some ALRVs), and to complete the conversion of the “512 St. Clair West” route which still has some CLRVs.
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This past Sunday, November 12, I went to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Exhibition Place – the Enercare Centre, Ricoh Coliseum, and the Horse Palace. To get there (and back), I took the subway and then a “511 Bathurst” shuttle bus. I’ve noticed that the shuttle buses that are running on the “511 Bathurst” route are stopping on the streetcar stops (just like streetcars would do) instead of at stops on the curb side which is typical of buses. It looks like this shuttle bus operation will continue for another few more months, until new shipments of Flexity Outlook streetcars arrives from Bombardier. When is this expected?
Steve: As I have stated here many times, the current plans are for streetcars to return to Bathurst in mid-May 2018.
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I’m looking forward to the return of streetcars in May of next year, 2018. In the mean time, however, I should get accustomed to taking the shuttle buses on the “511 Bathurst” route, to go to events at Exhibition Place. Although they lack the mistique of streetcars – and have less viewing through the windows (no rear view) and less seating capacity, the shuttle buses are fast and frequent. They are wheelchair accessible which is ideal for those with physical limitations, and outpatients of Toronto Western Hospital who use aids such as wheelchairs or walkers. The other day, when I went to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (on November 12), I learned that they stop at the streetcar stops instead of at the curbside.
There is the One-of-a-Kind Christmas Show (at the Enercare Centre) from November 23 to December 3; the Toronto International Boat Show in January, the Artist Project (at the Better Living Centre) in February, the National Home Show & Canada Blooms (at the Enercare Centre) in March, and the One-of-a-Kind Spring Show & Sale(at Enercare Centre) in either late March or early April. Also, there’s the Battle of York Commemorative Event at Historic Fort York which happens the last Sunday of April, close to the anniversary of the Battle of York (April 27).
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