Yonge-University-Spadina (TTC) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Yonge-University-Spadina Line
A subway train waits for passengers at Bloor-Yonge station.
Overview
Owner	Toronto Transit Commission
Locale	Toronto, Ontario
Termini	Finch Downsview
Stations	32
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Toronto subway and RT
Operator(s)	Toronto Transit Commission
Rolling stock	RT75 T1, RT75 H5
History
Opened	March 30, 1954
Technical
Line length	30.2 km (18.8 mi)
Track gauge	58.875

The Yonge-University-Spadina Line is the oldest and busiest subway line in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is run by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). This subway line has 32 stations and is about 30.2 kilometers (18.8 miles) long. It first opened in 1954. Over the years, new stations were added in 1963, 1973, 1974, 1978, and 1996, making it longer and more useful for people in Toronto.

How the Subway Runs
- How Often Do Trains Come?
- What Happens When the Subway Closes?
History of the Line
Images for kids
See also

How the Subway Runs

The Yonge-University-Spadina Line runs almost every day. From Monday to Saturday, trains operate from around 6:00 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. On Sundays, the subway starts a bit later, at 9:00 a.m., and also runs until 1:30 a.m.

How Often Do Trains Come?

During most of the day, a subway train comes every 4 to 5 minutes. This means you usually don't have to wait very long! During busy times, called rush hours, even more trains are added. This makes the wait time shorter, usually only 2 to 3 minutes between trains.

What Happens When the Subway Closes?

When the subway closes late at night, the 320 Yonge bus takes over. This bus follows the same route as the subway line, making sure people can still travel even after the trains stop running for the night.

History of the Line

Building the Yonge-University-Spadina Line was a huge project for Toronto. It was the first subway line in the city and a big step forward for public transportation.

Early Construction Methods

To build parts of the subway, workers used a method called "cut-and-cover." This meant they would dig a big trench (a "cut") in the ground, build the subway tunnel inside it, and then cover it back up. Sometimes, homes and buildings had to be moved or taken down to make space for these large construction areas.

Homes were demolished east of Yonge Street near Summerhill to build a cut-and-cover tunnel.

Subway excavations in front of Union Station on Front Street in 1950.

What Did the First Trains Look Like?

When the subway first opened, the trains were called Gloucester (G-series) trains. These were the first trains used on the system.

The Gloucester (G-series) trains were chosen to be the system's first trains.

The TTC had thought about using trains that were more like streetcars, but they decided on the Gloucester trains instead.

Station Design

Some of the older stations had special walls made of Vitrolite tiles. These shiny, colored glass tiles were popular for a while. Today, Eglinton station is one of the last places where you can still see these original Vitrolite-tiled walls.

Eglinton station's Vitrolite-tiled walls are the last such station wall treatment left in the system.

Images for kids

Construction underway at York University Campus
An open cut section looking south to Rosedale Station from atop the Rowanwood Portal
The TTC intended the subway to use streetcar-derived trains, like this former Chicago 'L' train preserved at the Halton County Radial Railway
A subway entrance sign in Downtown Toronto, iconic until 2002 when the logo was abandoned for the original TTC logo
A Toronto Rocket train at Rosedale Station