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Toronto subway

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The Toronto subway is a massive rapid transit network in Ontario, Canada.

Toronto rapid transit map 2026
Toronto rapid transit map 2026

It serves the city of Toronto and the neighboring city of Vaughan. The system is operated by the Toronto Transit Commission, also known as the TTC. This agency is part of the City of Toronto. The network is the busiest rapid transit system in Canada. On a typical weekday, it carries about 1.2 million riders. It includes 109 stations across various routes.

VaughanSubwayCrossover
VaughanSubwayCrossover

The system uses different types of rail technology to move people. Some lines use heavy-rail subway trains that run in deep tunnels. Others use light rail technology, which can run on the surface. For example, Line 5 Eglinton is a light rail line. It has 25 stopping points in total. Fifteen of these are underground stations. The other ten are at-grade stops located in the road's median.

Extraction of TBM Don at Yonge&Eglinton
Extraction of TBM Don at Yonge&Eglinton

This mix of underground and surface travel helps the system cover more ground.

Line 1 Yonge–University is the longest and busiest line in the system. It has a U-shaped route. Its southern end is at Union Station in downtown Toronto. The two northern terminals are at Finch and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

VaughanSubwayCrossover
VaughanSubwayCrossover

This line has grown significantly since it first opened. In 1954, it was much shorter. It has grown to be over five times its original length. A new extension to Richmond Hill is also planned for the 2030s.

Line 2 Bloor–Danforth is another major part of the network. It opened in 1966 and runs east and west. It follows the paths of Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue. The line runs between Kipling station in Etobicoke and Kennedy station in Scarborough.

Bloor-Yonge TTC Subway station, August 26 2025 (02)
Bloor-Yonge TTC Subway station, August 26 2025 (02)

Construction has begun on a three-stop extension for this line. This extension will go from Kennedy station toward Sheppard Avenue and McCowan. This project is also expected to open in the 2030s.

There are also shorter or more specialized lines in the system. Line 4 Sheppard opened in 2002. It runs under Sheppard Avenue East. It is the shortest rapid transit line in Toronto. It is also the only line that is fully underground without open sections.

TTC DonMills 01
TTC DonMills 01

Line 6 Finch West opened on December 7, 2025. It runs westward at-grade in the median of Finch Avenue. It has 18 stops between Finch West and Humber College.

The history of the subway began with the Yonge subway in 1954.

Front street excavation
Front street excavation

This was Canada's first underground rail line. It ran under Yonge Street between Union Station and Eglinton Avenue. In 1963, the University subway opened as an extension. This new section ran northwest under University Avenue. In 1985, the Scarborough RT, or Line 3, opened.

Trainkennedytoronto
Trainkennedytoronto

This line used Intermediate Capacity Transit System technology. However, Line 3 closed permanently in 2023 following a derailment.

New projects are currently changing the face of the network. The Ontario Line is one major project under construction. It will be an underground line from Exhibition station to Don Valley station. This will provide the first east–west rapid transit through the Financial District. The project is expected to cost between $17 billion and $19 billion. It is scheduled for completion in 2031.

Extraction of TBM Don at Yonge&Eglinton
Extraction of TBM Don at Yonge&Eglinton

Another project is the Line 5 Eglinton west extension. This will add seven new stations to the line by the 2030s.

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🖼️ Images & Media (21)
File:Toronto rapid transit map 2026.svg
Toronto rapid transit map 2026.svg
File:Front street excavation.jpg
Front street excavation.jpg
File:TTC DonMills 01.JPG
TTC DonMills 01.JPG
File:Extraction of TBM Don at Yonge&Eglinton.jpg
Extraction of TBM Don at Yonge&Eglinton.jpg
File:VaughanSubwayCrossover.jpg
VaughanSubwayCrossover.jpg
File:Bloor-Yonge TTC Subway station, August 26 2025 (02).jpg
Bloor-Yonge TTC Subway station, August 26...
File:St Patrick TTC orange dot.jpg
St Patrick TTC orange dot.jpg
File:Next Station LED Display on Toronto Rocket Subway Train, December 7 2025 (01).jpg
Next Station LED Display on Toronto...
File:Main Street TTC Station, March 27 2025 (cropped).jpg
Main Street TTC Station, March 27 2025...
File:Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station (49165637602).jpg
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station...
File:Sky Ellipse art wall at Highway 407 station (37369751004).jpg
Sky Ellipse art wall at Highway 407...
File:Rosedale TTC 2.jpg
Rosedale TTC 2.jpg

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