Toronto Streetcars

Travellers guide to riding Toronto Streetcars for sightseeing and visiting Toronto attractions and landmarks

While many destinations and attractions in Toronto are just a short walk from a subway Station others will require a connection via Toronto's bus or streetcar system. Toronto supplements the rapid transit system not only with buses, but with a network of 11 streetcar routes. These routes are numbered 501 thru 512. Unlike rapid transit, streetcars have frequent stops along their routes where they stop as required to pick-up and drop off passengers.

Most of the routes run on roads in mixed traffic, however many routes are being upgraded to operate inside dedicated rights-of way to provide separation from general traffic, by running along medians with raised curbs and aided by special traffic lights at intersections. This helps provide more efficient service and safer operations. Cars are required by law to stop when streetcars open their doors, however, it is important to always look to your right when getting off a streetcar to ensure that all cars have stopped, then move quickly to the sidewalk when safe. When boarding a streetcar wait until it comes to a full stop and opens it doors, then check for traffic before stepping from the sidewalk to board the streetcar.

Streetcars in Metro Toronto are operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and operate under the same fare system as the TTC subway and buses. Streetcars connect to the subway in underground stations at Union, Spadina, and St. Clair West stations. At St. Clair, Bathurst, Broadview, Dundas West, and Main Street streetcars connect with the subway at grade level stations. These stations are all located inside of 'Fare Paid Zones" and therefore do not require a proof of payment for transferring. At subway stations where the streetcars stop outside of the station entrance a proof of payment is required for transferring between the subway and streetcars.

Toronto Streetcar Map