Sweet Sunday Aboard the Eglinton Light Rail Transit

Volume 7, Issue No. 38

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . 

Our latest as of Tuesday, February 9, 2026 

~ A joyful ride it was for the most part of this free ride on Sunday, Feb. 8, aboard Toronto's newest light rail transit servicing the east-west section of the city. There were minor glitches for the inaugural run, but passengers and their families didn't seem to mind as they cheered and sang on the west-bound trip from Eglinton Station. 

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EGLINTON CROSSTOWN LRT

Joyride to Toronto's 

East-West Region

 

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“You can't understand a city without using its public transportation system.” ― Erol Ozan 

TORONTO - Enthusiastic crowds on Sunday, Feb. 8, thronged each of the 25 LRT (light rail transit) stations along the 19-kilometre route from Kennedy in the east and Mt. Dennis in the west. 

The day was free ride day to mark the official opening and inaugural run of the much-delayed LRT. "It's a major milestone for commuters in the Greater Toronto Area," the Ontario provincial government said in a press statement.

Known as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT or Line 5 Eglinton, it runs between Kennedy and Mt. Dennis stations along Eglinton Avenue, linking 68 routes, three TTC subway stations and two GO transit lines.

(Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fs4jsAxow8&t=356s)

"The Eglinton LRT will connect people and communities across the city, helping thousands commute each day and reducing congestion on our roads," Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said.

I had planned to start my news coverage from the west end at Mt. Dennis, but skipped it and the five stops in between since Cedarvale, the station nearest to me, was along the way anyway.

A sizable crowd had already gathered at 9:30 a.m. and shortly after 10 a.m., we were at Eglinton station, which was five stops away. We stepped out here to take photos and videos. 

A while later, we boarded the next train. It was jampacked; one could hardly move. Everyone with a cell phone was taking pictures. At Laird station where the train stopped for nearly 10 minutes, the operator announced the train was "out of service."

Apparently somebody had jumped the tracks, and once the sensors had felt it, the train automatically stopped, according to the operator. All through the ordeal, however, no transit official made an effort to explain what happened. 

The inconvenience it caused - a delay that set back our timetable - was the only problem we encountered on the way to its terminal at Eglinton station. Besides, the atmosphere was a bit subdued.

In contrast, the travel back west to Cedarvale was upbeat as passengers, evidently enjoying the free ride with their families and pets and the scenic route above ground from Kennedy to Laird, cheered and sang. Ten kilometres of the rail tracks - from Laird to Mt. Dennis - are underground.

On my reckoning, the west-bound trip ending at Cedarvale took an hour. But it was fun, regardless, and educational. For me, it's a Sunday well spent. (Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved).