Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Toronto

Toronto, Ontario:
Streetcars

Description

The Toronto Transit Commission operates the only remaining large streetcar system in North America that still uses mostly in-street operation. Currently the following routes operate:

Up until the late 1970s Toronto operated PCC-type streetcars exclusively, but in 1979-1981 most of them were replaced with modern Canadian Light Rail Vehicles (CLRVs). Beginning in 1988, articulated versions of these, the ALRVs, were placed in service. The last PCCs ran in revenue service in 1996 on the 604 Harbourfront line, now part of 510 Spadina.

For much more information about transit in Toronto, see the Transit Toronto site.

Pictures

These pictures are all from two brief visits in the 1970s.

[picture] A westbound PCC on Queen Street crosses Bay Street (with an eastbound one in the distance), in a view from the elevated plaza in front of City Hall. [July 1971]

[picture] An eastbound PCC on the Dundas route turns from Albert St. onto Bay St., in a view from the east side of the City Hall elevated plaza. This is the "City Hall loop" which was used for short-turn runs on the Dundas route. [July 1971]

[picture] A westbound PCC on the Carlton route, at University Avenue. [July 1971]

[picture] An eastbound PCC of the Long Branch route on Lakeshore Boulevard West, not far from the Humber loop. [July 1971]

[picture] A CLRV on the 507 Long Branch route waits at its eastern terminal, the Humber loop. The Long Branch route was the first one to receive CLRVs, less than a month before this picture was taken. [November 1979]

Once upon a time, the Humber loop was on a fare-zone boundary, so passengers had to transfer here between the Queen and Long Branch routes and pay an extra fare. In the mid-1970s, the extra fare was eliminated, but the two routes remained separate until 1995, when 507 Long Branch route was absorbed into the 501 Queen.

This page was last updated on 30 January 2003, and reviewed on 29 May 2005.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Toronto

This page is © 2003 by Jon Bell (jbell at presby.edu), who is solely responsible for its content. If you're interested in using these pictures, please read my terms of usage.