Toronto is getting busier by the day, and millions of new residents will call the city home in the coming years. So, it’s no surprise that there are major transit projects in the works to keep the city moving. Commuters will soon get to experience several new train services in Toronto that will extend across the city, the province, and even south of the border.
Here are 5 game-changing new train services in Toronto that are all set for completion within the next 15 years.
Toronto to Chicago Amtrak
In 2021, the U.S.-based rail transport company Amtrak released its plans for a passenger train service from Toronto to Chicago, via Detroit. The new route is part of Amtrak’s 2035 Vision, and it would provide service between Toronto and Chicago through the new Michigan Central Terminal.
If the proposal goes through, service between Toronto and Chicago would take 9 hours and 57 minutes in total, with several stops in between and one round-trip per day. The plans also mention ramping up service from Buffalo to Toronto via Niagara Falls.
Northeastern Passenger Rail
The government of Ontario is bringing back the Northeastern Passenger Rail that extends from Toronto all the way to Timmins.
Starting in 2026, Ontarians will have a direct line from the city all the way from the north.
The trains will run four to seven days a week, based on seasonal travel demands. There will be 16 stops on the Northeastern Passenger Rail, starting at Toronto’s Union Station.
Recent Posts
Here are the cheapest places to live in Ontario with the best quality of life
Here’s how Toronto traffic delays compare to cities around the world
Ontario Line
This new 15-stop subway line is set to be completed by 2031. It will extend 15.6 kilometres from Exhibition Place to the Ontario Science Centre.
It will offer more than 40 transit connections to other TTC subway, bus, streetcar, and GO Transit lines, “linking communities from east to west, north to south.”
When the Ontario Line is up and running, it is set to reduce crowds at Union Station by as much as 14% during its busiest hour when it’s coupled with a GO train line at East Harbour.
During rush hour, the province says that trains will arrive every 90 seconds to keep things moving as quickly as possible.
Eglinton Crosstown LRT
The long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT is finally set to open in 2023. It will be the TTC’s fifth subway route and will have 25 stations along Eglinton Avenue.
When it’s all said and done, the line will link the city’s far west to the far east, allowing commuters to get across town up to 60% faster than current travel times.
The transit line will span 19 kilometres, with more than 10 kilometres running underground. It will also link to 54 bus routes, three TTC subway stations and GO lines.
VIA High Frequency Rail
VIA Rail Canada has proposed a new High Frequency Rail service, which could “transform passenger rail service in Canada,” according to the federal government.
The rail service would create new trains on dedicated tracks between major centres along the Québec City-Montréal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor.
This would allow VIA Rail to increase its train frequencies while reducing trip times by 25% and improving on-time performance to over 95%.
Back in October, the federal government advanced the procurement process for the new High Frequency Rail, bringing it a step closer to reality.
