Scarborough RT

The Scarborough RT or SRT is an ICTS (Intermediate Capacity Transit System) light rail public transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that uses linear induction technology. The line has six stations and is 6.4 km in length. It is operated by the Toronto Transit Commission and administered with their subway system, though that system uses different trains and technology. RT simply stands for "Rapid Transit".

History

A line extending the Bloor-Danforth Line had been planned for streetcars, but the UTDC system was substituted for conventional light rail to develop and promote the new technology, which could then be sold to other transit companies. The Scarborough RT opened in 1985.

The linear induction technology was developed by the Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC) of Ontario, then a Crown corporation but now a division of Bombardier. The business proposal has borne little fruit – it was later used only by Vancouver's SkyTrain , Detroit, Ankara and Kuala Lumpur (see advanced light rapid transit).

When the Scarborough RT built sufficient technology existed to allow the trains to be operated exclusively by computers, doing away with the need for a human operator. The public, however, was not ready for 'driverless' trains, and operators were retained. The RT trains have only one operator, unlike TTC subway trains which feature both a guard, who is responsible for the operation of the doors, and an operator, who drives.

Stations

The line follows an upside-down L shape route northward from Kennedy Station, paralleling the CNR tracks, between Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue, 4 km to Ellesmere Road; then eastward between Ellesmere and Progress Avenue, through Scarborough Town Centre to McCowan Road. The unique SRT trains have their own yard east of McCowan station.

Almost all of the line is elevated or at grade; a short underground section is located just north of Ellesmere station to underpass the rail tracks.

All stations, whether by transfer or fare-paid terminal, connect to surface TTC bus routes. Other surface connections are noted below.

Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations have elevators for wheelchair access.

Kennedy

Kennedy Road at Eglinton Avenue East, opened 1985 (Scarborough RT).
Connections: Bloor-Danforth Line; GO Transit Stouffville Line in 2005.
Nearby landmarks: Mid-Scarborough Community Centre

Although the RT trains are symmetrical, at this station they originally reversed on a loop like single-ended streetcars. They would enter the station from the east, unload passengers, run onto an elevated loop west of the station to reverse, return to the station, and call at a second platform to load passengers before departing eastward. However, they did not take the sharp curves of the loop as well as expected, and the station was rebuilt in 1988 to eliminate it. Because of another curve at the east end of the station, it was not possible to add a scissors crossover there, so the station was reduced to a single terminal track with the loading platform on one side and the unloading platform on the other. Trains now reverse into that track, then open their doors on both sides.

The station is on four levels: RT (top), buses, entry concourse, subway, with the RT and subway tracks parallel. Leaving the station, the RT line descends to ground level and turns north to run alongside the railway.

A new train station for GO Transit's Stouffville Line is under construction adjacent to the subway station, for a 2005 opening. It will provide faster connection for commuters from that area who have no need to use downtown stations.

Lawrence East

Lawrence Avenue East between Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue, opened 1985.

Ellesmere

Ellesmere Road between Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue, opened 1985.

After this station, the line turns 90° east, dipping briefly into tunnel to cross under the railway tracks, then rising to an elevated structure. The rest of the line is elevated.

Midland

Midland Avenue and Cosentino Drive, opened 1985.

Scarborough Centre

North of Ellesmere Road between Brimley Road and McCowan Road, opened 1985.
Nearby landmarks: Scarborough Civic Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, Scarborough YMCA
Connections: GO Transit buses

McCowan

McCowan Road at Bushby Drive/Town Centre Court, opened 1985.

McCowan Station is the last stop in the line. Further east is the train yard housing to-be serviced trains and trains not running in service. A double crossover exists before the station entrance but only one side is in use. In earlier years both sides of the platform were used for line-end and westbound trains but the double-crossover allows eastbound trains to cross to westbound platform making for a more efficient system.