After years of delays and significant cost overruns, Toronto's first new transit line in over two decades has officially begun carrying passengers. The Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, known as TTC Line 6, opened to the public on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
A Long-Awaited and Costly Debut
The 10-kilometre line, which runs between Humber College and Finch West Station, represents the most significant expansion of Toronto's transit network since the Spadina subway extension. However, its journey to completion was fraught with challenges. The project concluded approximately two years later than its initial 2023 target and came in at a staggering $1.2 billion over its original budget.
According to a recent Metrolinx report, the line's total cost, including life cycle, operating, and maintenance expenses, reached $3.7 billion. This figure far exceeds the initial estimate of $2.5 billion set by the provincial transit agency.
Celebration Amidst Setbacks
Despite the budgetary and timeline issues, the launch day was marked by celebration. A ceremonial first run was attended by numerous officials, including Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay, and TTC CEO Mandeep Lali. To mark the occasion, the TTC offered free fares all day and distributed commemorative coins to the first customers at stations along the route.
"Today is a great day for transit users, especially those in the northwest of the city who now have a dedicated transit line to connect them to work, school and home," Mayor Chow stated in a news release.
Service Details and Connections
Line 6 Finch West services 18 stations and provides crucial connections to the broader transit network. It links directly to the TTC's Line 1 subway, 30 different bus routes, and regional services including GO Transit, Mississauga's MiWay, York Region Transit, and Brampton's Zum.
For commuters, service frequency is set at:
- Every 6.5 minutes during weekday rush hours.
- Every 10 to 12 minutes at all other times.
"Thousands of riders will now benefit from faster connections to communities, jobs and schools," said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, who also serves as the city councillor for Scarborough North.
A History of Delays
The Finch West LRT's path to opening was long and complex. The line was first proposed back in 2007 under the leadership of then-Mayor David Miller. Its progress was subsequently hampered by years of political debate, shifting funding models, and repeated construction setbacks, which drew criticism from local residents.
Physical construction finally began in 2019. The opening of the Finch West line casts a spotlight on another delayed Metrolinx project: the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Also first proposed in 2007, the Crosstown has incurred costs over $13 billion. Premier Doug Ford indicated this week that its opening is now expected in 2026, years after its original 2020 target and following a missed September 2025 date due to performance issues.
The launch of the Finch West LRT, while overdue, marks a tangible improvement in transit access for Toronto's northwest communities, ending an 18-year wait for a major new transit line in Canada's largest city.