TTC Riders Face Longer Weekend Subway Closures and Earlier Weeknight Suspensions

Toronto: The TTC is warning riders that things are about to get a bit rougher. They’re planning more weekend subway closures and earlier weeknight service suspensions to tackle some much-needed repairs and upgrades.

In a report set to be discussed at the upcoming TTC Board meeting, they mentioned that in 2024, there were 25 full weekend closures and 169 early closures. But in 2025, they’re looking at 38 weekend closures and over 200 early closures. Some of these closures will overlap, so the total might be around 28 for certain subway sections.

These weekend closures will cover larger areas and last longer. For instance, they’ll affect routes from Kennedy to Broadview and Sheppard West to Spadina. Plus, they’re planning to start nightly closures at 10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m., with some services stopping as early as midnight.

Looking ahead, the TTC doesn’t expect things to get better in 2026 and beyond. They’re facing major work on the Queen, College, and Dundas streetcar lines, along with ongoing Gardiner Expressway projects that will stretch into 2030.

The report emphasizes that delaying these projects could lead to bigger issues down the line, like asset failures and more service disruptions. Councillor Josh Matlow and TTC Chair Jamaal Myers are pushing for better communication with riders during these disruptions and exploring options for improved shuttle bus services.

Recently, a power rail issue near Yorkdale Station caused a six-hour subway service halt, highlighting the challenges commuters face. Matlow pointed out that service disruptions are becoming all too common, and many riders are frustrated with the unreliability of the TTC.

Last week, a report from the transit advocacy group TTCriders showed that the TTC’s on-time metrics don’t reflect what riders actually experience. Riders are waiting an average of four minutes longer than expected, especially on routes where bus bunching is a problem.