I was excited before taking the Eglinton LRT on opening day, but cautious. I mean the official opening feels more like a secret than a celebration. After 15 years of construction, there is no grand opening, no fanfare, no balloons. Do the politicians and the engineers know something I don’t? Will the train break down along the way?
Since it was free, I couldn’t resist. I walked with my eldest daughter to Oakwood station, and it took only three minutes. The entrance was very steep. No elevators, no escalators, just stairs. I asked a lady who had just come up from the station if it was open. “Yes, it is,” she said, a little out of breath. Then we descended into the depths of the southern entrance to catch our first train on Eglinton Line 5.
We kept walking down the stairs. More stairs. And more stairs. We picked up our pace to catch the train going west to Dufferin; we didn’t want to wait the three minutes it said on the digital display for the next train to arrive.
My daughter noted the new LRT trains looked a lot like the old streetcars or subway trains we already have. It took about one minute to get from Oakwood to Dufferin. Everything good so far. My daughter and I were chatting all the way, and the ride felt effortless. She went to Shoppers Drug Mart. I went to my shop.
I wanted to see how long it took from our shop to get back home. I timed it. It took three minutes to walk to the station, including the time it took for the lights to change at the intersection at Dufferin and Eglinton. Inside, the trains were jammed with people. No room to get in. The next train came three minutes later.
When I was at Oakwood station, I realized I had no idea where to go. I wanted to leave the same way I came in but no signs pointed to the name of the exit. One is the intersection of Eglinton and Oakwood. The one I was looking for is southwest of the corner.
I had to guess which exit it was and started climbing. And climbing. And climbing. It felt like 50 meters up steep stairs to Eglinton.
A dad and his young son were coming down. They were astonished at how steep those stairs were. “Holy smokes!” he said, “And no elevator! How are people with strollers supposed to get through here?” Good question.
If you think this is the end of the line when it comes to waiting for the LRT, think again. It isn’t finished yet. The simplicity of the stations and the trains is amazing, but after $13 billion and a six-year delay, the opening is only in its initial phase – maybe they can add elevators, escalators and signs?
I can report that I got home safe and sound and relieved the Eglinton LRT was not just a mass delusion but a real, tangible reality. Take a ride and see with your own eyes. But bring your climbing shoes.
