Eglinton Crosstown LRT to begin service on February 8, 2026
Premier Doug Ford confirmed the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown will open on Feb. 8. The 19-kilometre, 25-stop line has been under construction since 2011 and has hit major community and business impacts.
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By Torontoer Staff
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will begin carrying passengers on February 8, 2026, Premier Doug Ford confirmed on Monday. A source close to the project first told CTV News the date, and TTC board members have since signalled cautious optimism about the launch.
The line spans 19 kilometres and includes 25 stops. It has been under construction since 2011, and was originally slated to open in 2020. Multiple delays, legal disputes and project setbacks have pushed the completion date back by years.
What riders can expect on day one
When service begins, the Crosstown will provide an east-west rapid transit link across central Eglinton Avenue. Initial operations will focus on core segments where infrastructure and systems have been fully tested and certified by transit authorities. The TTC has not released a detailed day-one service map or exact operating hours, and final schedules are expected in the lead-up to February 8.
A long timeline of delays
The project first broke ground in 2011. It was intended to be a flagship expansion of light rail in Toronto, but ran into prolonged construction challenges. The original 2020 completion date slipped as work encountered technical, contractual and coordination problems, extending the timeline by several years.
- Start of construction: 2011
- Original expected completion: 2020
- Current confirmed opening: February 8, 2026
- Length: 19 kilometres, Stops: 25
Local businesses and community impact
Businesses along Eglinton Avenue have borne heavy economic costs during prolonged construction. The Little Jamaica Business Improvement Area declared a state of emergency last week, saying roughly 300 businesses between Marlee and Keele have closed since work began on the Crosstown. The declaration highlighted long-term revenue losses and concerns about neighbourhood viability.
Owners and residents will be watching how quickly the new service restores foot traffic and accessibility for shops, restaurants and services that struggled through years of disruption.
How this compares to other projects
The Finch West LRT, which began construction in 2019, entered service in December 2025, beating the Crosstown to completion despite a later start. With Finch West now operating, attention will shift to the Crosstown's reliability and early performance, including whether systems run smoothly under real-world conditions and whether service matches TTC expectations.
Cautious reaction from civic leaders
Councillor Josh Matlow, a member of the TTC board, said last week he had been hearing the same opening date and advised cautious optimism. City officials and transit authorities have repeatedly emphasised that final commissioning, safety approvals and system testing must be completed before regular service begins.
Provincial and municipal leaders will face scrutiny in the coming weeks as they prepare for the line's launch and respond to questions about the project costs, timelines and mitigation for affected neighbourhoods.
What to watch between now and February 8
- TTC announcements on schedules, fare integration and day-one service details
- Final safety certifications and testing updates from transit authorities
- Any transitional arrangements for existing bus routes that connect with the new LRT
- Local economic support measures for businesses along Eglinton Avenue
After years of delay, the Crosstown's opening will be a practical change to how many Torontonians travel across the city. Early service performance and how quickly benefits reach local businesses will determine whether the long wait produces the improvements planners promised.
Eglinton CrosstownTTCtransitLittle JamaicaDoug Ford
