The Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) long-awaited, C$2.6 billion Line 6 Finch West will launch Dec. 7. Serving 18 light rail stops along 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) of Finch Avenue West between Finch West Station on Line 1 Yonge-University and Humber Polytechnic's North Campus, it will operate under "soft opening" conditions with trains running from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. until spring 2026, according to the transit agency.
In addition to connecting with TTC Line 1, Line 6 Finch West will link with TTC bus routes and regional transit services, including GO Transit, MiWay, York Region Transit, and Brampton Züm.
Fifteen Alstom Citadis Spirit trains will operate during weekday morning and afternoon rush hours, with service every six and a half minutes; at all other times, including weekends, trains will arrive approximately every 10 to 12 minutes, according to TTC's Nov. 24 announcement. This soft opening follows "the recommendations of the Ottawa LRT public inquiry," the transit agency said, and "will provide the line's maintainers, Mosaic Transit Group, with an extended maintenance window, allowing staff to become more familiar with the line and monitor it for any issues while in full revenue service."
Between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., service will be provided by buses operating every 10 minutes, serving on-street LRT stops along the Finch West corridor. The TTC's Blue Night bus service will operate after 1 a.m. until the start of train service at 6 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and 8 a.m. on Sundays.
TTC reported that the opening of Line 6 also means the names of two existing TTC stations will officially change: Eglinton West Station will become Cedarvale Station, and Dundas Station will become TMU Station.
Under agreements with line owner Metrolinx and the City of Toronto, TTC is responsible for operating trains, providing security and revenue control, and staffing stations for Line 6 Finch West. Mosaic Transit Group is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and vehicles. Mosaic -- a consortium of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Aecon Concessions (a division of Aecon Construction Group Inc.), and CRH Canada Group Inc. -- was awarded a DBFM (design, build, finance and maintain) contract in May 2018 by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario.
Line 6 Finch West construction began in 2019. While it was originally expected to launch in 2021, the date was "pushed back for various reasons, including vehicle delivery delays, the pandemic and a lawsuit," according to the Toronto Star. The line "has leapfrogged the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, despite starting construction eight years after it," the newspaper reported Nov. 24. "The new Line 6 is just over 10-km long, with 18 stops and all but [two] station[s] above ground. Eglinton, by comparison, is 19-km long, with 25 stops and has both underground and street-level sections." Metrolinx and TTC, it said, "have yet to provide an opening date for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT."
"We are thrilled to welcome customers on board the new Line 6 Finch West," TTC CEO Mandeep S. Lali said. "Since January, the TTC has worked tirelessly, 24/7, with Metrolinx to operate tens of thousands of test train-hours to ensure a safe and reliable experience. Now, with independent certification confirming the line's readiness, we are excited and fully prepared to begin this new chapter in Toronto transit. I want to thank our staff, our partners, and the community for their dedication and patience throughout the testing period. We are committed to delivering a safe, reliable, and outstanding customer experience on Line 6 from day one."
"We look forward to welcoming customers on board Line 6 Finch West from December 7," TTC Chair Jamaal Myers said. "This is the most significant expansion of Toronto's transit network since the Spadina subway extension [opened in 2017], and it will bring faster, more reliable service to thousands of riders every day. Line 6 will help connect communities, support local jobs, and play a real role in reducing congestion across our city by giving people a faster, more dependable alternative to driving. I want to thank our partners at Metrolinx and the Province of Ontario for their collaboration in bringing this project over the finish line."
"The opening of Line 6 Finch West is a transformative moment for Toronto," Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said. "Line 6 Finch West will connect northwest Toronto communities, support local businesses, and make it easier for people to get to work, school, and home. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to deliver this project. Together, we are fighting congestion and building a more connected, accessible, and sustainable city."