Finch West Line 6 LRT

[FW36]

The only updates I have seen regarding traffic lights is when a red light turns green along finch, the left turn light remains red and LRT trains/straight through traffic gets the green first. After the LRT has passed and straight traffic has proceeded do all light turned red and left turn traffic lights switch to green.

 

[APTA-2048]

The only updates I have seen regarding traffic lights is when a red light turns green along finch, the left turn light remains red and LRT trains/straight through traffic gets the green first. After the LRT has passed and straight traffic has proceeded do all light turned red and left turn traffic lights switch to green.

That’s exactly what’s in place right now. I’m not sure what the next phase includes, though.

 

[TRONto]

The only updates I have seen regarding traffic lights is when a red light turns green along finch, the left turn light remains red and LRT trains/straight through traffic gets the green first. After the LRT has passed and straight traffic has proceeded do all light turned red and left turn traffic lights switch to green.

That should be a big improvement on it's own. Hopefully Spadina and St Clair get similar treatment.

 

[yurt2022]

Yeah, except getting to Pearson by car costs my $40, and getting there by TTC costs $3.25.

Someone that is taking a flight likely doesn't worry about $40 to save 1+ hours of travelling on a handicapped streetcar...

 

[ownthesky]

Someone that is taking a flight likely doesn't worry about $40 to save 1+ hours of travelling on a handicapped streetcar...

Do you fly regularly? I think you're really missing just how cheap some people are. People are willing to do all manner of insane baggage nonsense to avoid paying a few bucks for a checked bag. Hell I kid you not, there was a guy in front of me going through security tonight at Pearson with a FISHING ROD poking two feet out of his "personal item" bag lmao

 

[Thaboss]

Someone that is taking a flight likely doesn't worry about $40 to save 1+ hours of travelling on a handicapped streetcar...

Speak for yourself! I'm cheap as hell.

 

[Jonathan's Junction]

Yes, but to save a whole hour is 100% worth it. Especially if it is at an awkward time. If the time savings aren't that substantial (different for every person), then yes, people will cheap out.

 

[Amare]

No service yet again....

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

Rode the line again last night to do errands. The trams are moving faster but they are still hobbling about on random straight segments. The asinine speed restrictions are still in place at all intersections even at segments of the route with TSP trialling. Makes one wonder why there is such a difference in Operations Standards compared to the Eglinton LRT.

Speed restrictions still in place in all segments going into a dip or valley. This makes no sense at all. Speed restriction under the railway bridge before Weston Rd. and Hwy 400.

As for the flat spots that others have noted. I suspect that this is from westbound trams traversing over the trackwork at York Gate Blvd. The trams do hit the trackwork quite hard and loudly, definitely not a similar experience found on the existing TTC streetcar network or even on the Eglinton LRT. Probably related to the use of incorrect grade of rails and wheel profiling.

 

[smallspy]

As for the flat spots that others have noted. I suspect that this is from westbound trams traversing over the trackwork at York Gate Blvd. The trams do hit the trackwork quite hard and loudly, definitely not a similar experience found on the existing TTC streetcar network or even on the Eglinton LRT. Probably related to the use of incorrect grade of rails and wheel profiling.

Audible flat spots are caused by skidding while braking, not by impacts. The impact point when a wheel hits trackwork is so small as to be imperceptible. A flat spot that you can feel and hear will be the size of a quarter or bigger.

Dan

 

[robmausser]

Makes one wonder why there is such a difference in Operations Standards compared to the Eglinton LRT.

2 reasons

1. The Eglinton Line has a lot of fence and concrete barrier protected sections, that allow for higher speeds. The more open/walkable streetcar ROW style rails of Line 6 need more speed restrictions

2. The trains are awful. Heavy, prone to breaking down, literally the worst choice for a system like Finch. They are babying the Alstoms because of this. The Flexities are way better.

 

[FW36]

I rode the Finch West LRT in the Morning of March 4 2026 from Finch West station to Albion.

Below I will break down trip into segments, delays encountered, and what red lights could have been avoided if toronto added extended green lights for approaching LRT vehicles.

1. Finch west station to Jane Station
Time: 9 minutes and 15 seconds

Red Lights: 1
Red light delay at Jane: 1 minute 30 seconds
Could have been avoided by having extended green lights

2.Jane to Weston :Time 10 minutes and 40 seconds

Red lights:3
Red light at 400 intersection West side: 25 seconds ,Could have been avoided by having extended green lights

Red light at Signet: 48 seconds

Red light at Weston Rd: 1 minute 17 seconds. Could have been avoided by having extended green lights

3. Weston to Islington : 8 minutes and 5 seconds

Red lights: 2
Red light at Milvan 35 seconds

Red light at Duncawood: 1 minute 9 seconds,Could have been avoided by having extended green lights.

4. Islington to Albion
Time: 6 minutes 10 seconds

Red lights:1
Red light at Kipling: 50 seconds, Could have been avoided by having extended green lights.

Overall time from Finch West station to Albion is: 34 minutes and 10 seconds.

If extended green lights implemented: 28 minutes and 59 seconds

With no red lights: 27 minutes and 36 seconds


I've made it clear in the past I think Driftwood, Duncanwoods, Stevenson are unnecessary. Removing all stations plus removing slow zones at intersections could save additional 3 minutes.

Meaning with extendeded green lights and stop removal, LRT trip could go from current 34 minutes 10 seconds to 25 minutes and 59 seconds, or with a more aggressive TSP with no red lights trip decreases to 24 minutes and 36 seconds.

 

[mikey7767]

Good luck with parallel traffic with your extended green lights, including transit (buses).

 

[nfitz]

Good luck with parallel traffic with your extended green lights, including transit (buses).

Extended greens have existed on 2-way streets in Toronto for decades. On a line where there's a vehicle every 90 seconds it could be a problem. Finch is every 7 to 13 minutes.

 

[FW36]

Good luck with parallel traffic with your extended green lights, including transit (buses).

At most it would be a 10 second delay that could result in a 5- 10 minute improvement for the LRT. I think that a valuable trade off.

In addition most drivers already drive above speed limit, they would easily be able to make up that loss time