Toronto streetcar system loops

Streetcar loops in Toronto serve as termini and turnback points for streetcar routes on the Toronto streetcar system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The single-ended streetcars require track loops in order to reverse direction. Besides short off-street track loops these can also be larger interchange points, having shelters and driver facilities, or be part of a subway station structure for convenient passenger interchange.

Some loops include separate unloading and loading stops, some have a single stop, and some off-street loops have no stops and passengers are not allowed to ride around the loop. If streetcars loop clockwise, the track entering the loop must cross over the track exiting, and any loading or unloading platforms must be inside the loop; if anticlockwise, any platforms must be on the outside.

The minimum radius of curvature may be as short as 36 ft (10.973 m).

Current loops

Loops have various shapes according to the space available. For example, the "loop" track may actually be mostly straight, using on-street trackage to complete the looping motion (as at Bingham Loop or Oakwood Loop), or there may be a single sharp curve through almost three-quarters of a circle (as at Union Station Loop or Wolseley Loop).

Some loops consist only of a single track and are blocked when occupied by a stopped streetcar. Others have a side track or dead-end "tail track" where a streetcar can wait, or a track that allows a streetcar on the loop to make a complete circle (or equivalent) and reenter the loop.

Loops at subway stations

Bathurst Station Loop

Main article: Bathurst (TTC)

Anticlockwise loop, northern terminus of the 511 Bathurst route, on the east side of Bathurst St. north of Bloor St. The tracks continue north of the station to connect to the Hillcrest Complex and St. Clair Ave. Streetcars can enter or leave the station from/onto Bathurst either northbound or southbound.

Broadview Station Loop

Main article: Broadview (TTC)

Anticlockwise loop, eastern terminus of the 504 King and 505 Dundas routes, on the east side of Broadview Ave. north of Danforth Ave. The loop track splits into two, one for each route. All streetcars enter the station from Broadview northbound, and exit onto Erindale Ave. westbound, leading to Broadview southbound.

Dundas West Station Loop

Main article: Dundas West (TTC)

Clockwise loop, western terminus of the 504 King and 505 Dundas routes, on the west (nominally south) side of Dundas St. north of Bloor St. The loop track splits into two, one for each route. All streetcars enter the station from Dundas northbound (nominally westbound), and exit onto Edna Ave. eastbound, leading to Dundas southbound.

Main Street Station Loop

Main article: Main Street (TTC)

Clockwise loop, eastern terminus of the 506 Carlton route, on the east side of Main St. north of Danforth Ave. All streetcars enter the station from Main northbound, and exit onto Main southbound.

Spadina Station Loop

Main article: Spadina (TTC)

Anticlockwise underground loop, northern terminus of the 510 Spadina route, on the east side of Spadina Rd. north of Bloor St. A tunnel runs from Spadina Ave. and Washington Ave. to the station. All streetcars enter the tunnel northbound on Spadina, turn eastbound under Bloor, northbound under Madison Ave., and westbound into the station; they exit southbound under Spadina Rd. and Ave.

St. Clair Station Loop

Main article: St. Clair (TTC)

Anticlockwise loop, eastern terminus of the 512 St. Clair route, on the south side of St. Clair Ave. east of Yonge St. All streetcars enter the station from St. Clair eastbound, and exit onto St. Clair westbound.

St. Clair West Station Loop

Main article: St. Clair West (TTC)

Clockwise underground loop, an intermediate stop and possible turnback point on the 512 St. Clair route, on the north side of St. Clair Ave. two blocks east of Bathurst St. There are separate eastbound and westbound loading stops on the same loop track. A tunnel runs under St. Clair from Wells Hill Ave. halfway to Tweedsmuir Ave. Streetcars can enter or leave the station from/into this tunnel either eastbound or westbound.

Union Station Loop

Streetcar underground on the Union Station Loop

Main article: Union (TTC)

Anticlockwise underground loop, eastern terminus of the 509 Harbourfront and southern terminus of the 510 Spadina route. A tunnel runs under Bay St. from Queens Quay station. All streetcars enter the station from the tunnel northbound and exit into the tunnel southbound.

Loops at carhouses

Roncesvalles Loop

Clockwise loop through the Roncesvalles Carhouse trackage, at Roncesvalles Ave. and the Queensway, 43°38′21.5″N 79°26′48.0″W, a possible turnback point for westbound 501 Queen and 508 Lake Shore streetcars and for 504 King in either direction. Streetcars on King or Queen westbound or Roncesvalles southbound can run onto the Queensway westbound, then turn northbound to enter the loop. They can exit the loop onto Roncesvalles Ave. northbound or southbound, with the latter leading onto the Queensway westbound or King or Queen eastbound.

No passenger access, no use by buses.

Other off-street loops

Bingham Loop

Counter-clockwise loop northwest of Kingston Rd. and Victoria Park Ave., 43°40′53.5″N 79°17′05.3″W, eastern terminus for 502 Downtowner and 503 Kingston Road streetcars. From Kingston Rd. eastbound, all streetcars turn onto Victoria Park Ave. northbound, turn west to enter the loop, and exit onto Bingham southbound to return to Kingston Rd. westbound. Until 2013, the Bingham Loop had a rarely-used "loop-the-loop" capability wherein streetcars could exit back on to Kingston Rd eastbound, and re-enter the loop.

Shelters are provided. Westbound 12 Kingston Road buses enter the loop as an intermediate stop, and when the streetcars are not running, 22A Coxwell or 322 Coxwell Blue Night buses use it as a terminus.

Dufferin Loop

Station at Dufferin Loop

Anticlockwise loop northwest of Dufferin St. and the Gardiner Expressway, 43°38′03.5″N 79°25′34.5″W. From Dufferin southbound, all streetcars turn west on Springhurst Ave. and south on Fort Rouille St., turn east to enter the loop, and exit onto Dufferin northbound.

During the Ex (Canadian National Exhibition), this loop is an access to Exhibition Place via its Dufferin Gates just south of the Gardiner Expressway; it is then the southern terminus of the 29 Dufferin bus, the loading platform is operated as a fare-paid area with ticket booths and turnstiles, and a control tower is used. Formerly during the Ex the loop was also as the eastern terminus of the 522 Dundas Exhibition streetcar and special buses. The 522 operated from Dundas West station via Roncesvalles Ave., King St., and Dufferin St.

At other times the special facilities are out of use; the loop is still a terminus for the 29 Dufferin bus at some times, but is operated as an ordinary bus stop. It is still a possible turnback point (accessed via Dufferin) for westbound 501 Queen streetcars or for 504 King or 508 Lake Shore in either direction, but is now rarely in regular use by streetcars due to extensive road construction in the area.

Earlscourt Loop

Earlscourt Loop

Clockwise loop southwest of St. Clair Ave. and Lansdowne Ave., 43°40′32.5″N 79°27′03.4″W, possible turnback point for westbound 512 St. Clair streetcars. Streetcars from St. Clair in either direction can turn southbound on Lansdowne to enter the loop, and exit onto St. Clair eastbound.

A cabin is provided for drivers. Northbound 47 Lansdowne buses use the loop as a regularly scheduled turnback point.

Exhibition Loop

Main article: Exhibition Loop (TTC)

Anticlockwise loop northeast of Manitoba Dr. and Nova Scotia Ave., western terminus of the 509 Harbourfront and southern terminus of the 511 Bathurst route. Private right-of-way runs along the north side of Manitoba from Fleet St. at Strachan Ave. to the loop. From Fleet westbound, all streetcars continue west along the private right-of-way to the loop, where they cross north under the elevated Gardiner Expressway, run west, and cross back south under the expressway before returning eastbound to Fleet.

During the Ex, this loop is an access to Exhibition Place and is operated as a fare-paid area with ticket booths and turnstiles. At other times the these are closed and it is operated as an ordinary stop. Storage tracks are provided so that extra streetcars can be rapidly dispatched for peak traffic, as well as a passing track allowing the two routes to have separate stopping points without conflict.

Exhibition GO Station is adjacent to the loop. Overnight the 310 Bathurst Blue Night and 316 Ossington Blue Night buses use the loop as their southern terminus.

The loop opened in 1996, replacing a previous Exhibition Loop that could not be used by buses and was on land about to be redeveloped.

Fleet Loop, with 511 Bathurst streetcar looping around the lighthouse.

Fleet Loop

Anticlockwise loop on the south side of Fleet St. in the angle with Lake Shore Blvd., surrounding the Queen's Wharf Lighthouse, 43°38′09.2″N 79°24′18.8″W, a possible turnback point of the 509 Harbourfront and 511 Bathurst routes. Streetcars can enter and exit the loop from/onto Fleet St. either eastbound or westbound.

There is no passenger access and no bus access.

Gunns Loop

Gunns Loop

Anticlockwise loop northwest of St. Clair Ave. and at Gunns Rd., 43°40′19.2″N 79°28′17.6″W, western terminus for the 512 St. Clair route. All streetcars westbound on St. Clair turn northbound on Gunns, enter the loop westbound, and exit onto St. Clair eastbound.

A shelter is provided. The loop is also a northern terminus for the 71 Runnymede bus.

CLRV #4100 departs High Park Loop

High Park Loop

Anticlockwise loop west of Parkside Dr. opposite Howard Park Ave., on the edge of High Park, 43°38′53.0″N 79°27′28.6″W, western terminus for the 506 Carlton route. All streetcars enter the loop from Howard Park westbound and exit onto Howard Park eastbound.

Public washrooms and a shelter are provided. No bus access.

Humber Loop

Humber Loop

A pair of anticlockwise loops south of the Queensway, just west of the Humber River, 43°37′51.7″N 79°28′43.8″W, an intermediate stop and possible turnback point for the 501 Queen route. The loops are accessed by private right-of-way that connects tracks on the Queensway to the east and Lake Shore Blvd. to the west. All streetcars either eastbound or westbound enter the private right-of-way; streetcars in either direction can turn left onto one of the loops to return the way they came.

This arrangement exists because Humber Loop was formerly the western terminus of the 501 Queen route and the eastern terminus of a separate 507 Long Branch route along Lake Shore, and through passengers had to transfer. It was also formerly a fare zone boundary.

An enclosed waiting room is provided, as well as staff facilities. The loop is also the southern terminus of the 66A Prince Edward bus and the eastern terminus of the 80B Queensway bus.

Peter Witt car at Kipling Loop

Kipling Loop

Anticlockwise loop on the west side of Kipling Ave., north of Lake Shore Blvd., 43°35′55.8″N 79°31′03.3″W, a possible turnback point for westbound 501 Queen or 508 Lake Shore streetcars. Streetcars can turn from Lake Shore either eastbound or westbound onto Kipling northbound to enter the loop, and exit onto Kipling southbound, leading to Lake Shore eastbound. The loop was once known as New Toronto Loop.

No bus access.

Long Branch Loop

Long Branch Loop

Anticlockwise loop northwest of Lake Shore Blvd. and Brown's Line at 43°35′30″N 79°32′41″W, western terminus for 501 Queen and 508 Lake Shore routes. All streetcars enter from Lake Shore westbound and exit onto Lake Shore eastbound. The loop is both the westernmost and the southernmost point in Toronto's streetcar system, based on either true directions or the street grid.

A shelter is provided. The loop is the southern terminus for the 110A and 110B Islington South and 123 Shorncliffe buses, as well as MiWay (from Mississauga) 5 Dixie buses, and the eastern terminus for MiWay 23 Lakeshore buses. The loop is just across a parking lot from Long Branch GO Station.

Media related to Long Branch Loop at Wikimedia Commons

McCaul Loop

Anticlockwise loop northeast of McCaul St. and Stephanie St., at 43°39′05.8″N 79°23′24.6″W, western terminus of the 502 Downtowner and a possible turnback point for the 501 Queen in either direction. Streetcars either eastbound or westbound on Queen St. can turn north onto McCaul and then can turn into the loop, exiting onto McCaul southbound to return to Queen either eastbound or westbound.

No passenger access, no bus access. The loop was previously in the open air, but was covered when the Village by the Grange mixed-use development was built over it, opening in 1976. Two old streetcar bodies were incorporated into the building inside the loop, the space originally being used for a restaurant.

McCaul Loop Gallery

• 
  A Peter Witt car on tour service, decorated for Dominion Day, 1975
• 
  Entrance to the loop, now enclosed by the Village by the Grange
• 
  Detail of the track looping around inside the building

Neville Park Loop

Neville Park Loop

Anticlockwise loop southwest of Queen St. and Nursewood Rd., 43°40′25.5″N 79°16′53.0″W, eastern terminus of the 501 Queen route. All streetcars enter the loop from Queen eastbound and exit onto Nursewood northbound to return to Queen westbound.

No passenger access. Eastern terminus of 143 Downtown/Beach Express buses.

Oakwood Loop

Oakwood Loop

Anticlockwise loop northeast of St. Clair Ave. and Oakwood Ave., 43°40′50.2″N 79°26′07.8″W, a possible turnback point for route 512 St. Clair in either direction. Streetcars either eastbound or westbound on St. Clair can turn northbound onto Robina Ave., then westbound to enter the loop, exiting onto Oakwood Ave. southbound to return to St. Clair either eastbound or westbound.

No passenger access. Northern terminus of 63A Ossington buses.

Queen–Coxwell Loop

Clockwise loop northeast of Queen St. and Coxwell Ave., 43°40′00.4″N 79°18′59.1″W, a possible turnback point for route 506 Carlton in either direction. Streetcars either eastbound or westbound on Gerrard St. can turn southbound on Coxwell to reach the loop, then eastbound to enter the loop, exiting onto Queen westbound to return to Coxwell northbound and turn eastbound or westbound onto Gerrard. The loop exit track briefly overlaps the westbound track on Queen but does not connect with it, leading only onto Coxwell northbound.

No passenger access, not currently used by buses.

Queens Quay and Spadina

Queens Quay and Spadina Loop

Anticlockwise loop northeast of Queens Quay and Spadina Ave., 43°38′18.5″N 79°23′28.5″W, a possible turnback point for 509 Harbourfront or 510 Spadina streetcars in either direction. Streetcars southbound on Spadina can turn eastbound on Queens Quay to reach the loop; streetcars eastbound or westbound on Queens Quay can turn northbound into the loop. Streetcars exiting the loop can turn northbound on Spadina, or southbound on Spadina to reach Queens Quay eastbound or westbound.

No bus access.

Sunnyside Loop

Anticlockwise loop northeast of the Queensway and Sunnyside Ave., 43°38′20.0″N 79°26′53.5″W, a possible turnback point for westbound route 501 Queen or 508 Lake Shore streetcars. Streetcars can enter the loop from the Queensway westbound and exit onto Sunnyside southbound to return to the Queensway eastbound.

No passenger access. Southern terminus of 313 Jane Blue Night buses.

Wolseley Loop

Anticlockwise loop northeast of Bathurst St. and Wolseley St., 43°38′53.8″N 79°24′14.6″W, a possible turnback point for westbound route 501 Queen streetcars, and routes 504 King and 508 Lake Shore in either direction, as well as an alternate western terminus for the 502 Downtowner route if McCaul Loop is unavailable. Streetcars eastbound or westbound on King St. or westbound on Queen St. can turn northbound on Bathurst, then can turn eastbound on Wolseley to enter the loop northbound, exiting onto Bathurst soutbound to return to Queen St. eastbound or King St. eastbound or westbound.

No bus access, no passenger access. A cabin for drivers is provided.

Woodbine Loop

Clockwise loop northeast of Queen St. and Kingston Rd., 43°40′04.8″N 79°18′41.5″W, a possible turnback point for eastbound route 501 Queen and for 502 Downtowner and 503 Kingston Road in either direction. Streetcars eastbound on Queen can turn northeast (nominally east) onto Kingston Rd.; streetcars running northeast or southwest on Kingston Rd. can turn eastbound into the loop, exiting onto Queen westbound, and can then turn northeast from Queen onto Kingston Rd.

The name Woodbine refers not to Woodbine Ave., some blocks away, but to the former Woodbine Race Course, which was nearer the loop. The racetrack was renamed Greenwood Raceway after the New Woodbine Racetrack opened in another part of the city in 1957, and demolished in 1994.

No bus access, no passenger access.

Named on-street loops

In addition to these named locations where a streetcar just runs around one or two city blocks to reverse, there are several places on the system where a longer loop around city streets is possible. The western terminus of the 503 Kingston Road, for example, is an on-street loop via Church St. southbound, Wellington St. westbound, York St. northbound, and King St. eastbound.

Waiting on Charlotte Street

Charlotte Loop

Clockwise on-street loop via King St. westbound, Spadina Ave. northbound, Adelaide St. eastbound, and Charlotte St. southbound, 43°38′47″N 79°23′38″W, a possible turnback point for routes 504 King, 508 Lake Shore, and 510 Spadina in either direction. It is used regularly to short-turn southbound 510 Spadina streetcars. Streetcars can enter and exit the loop from/onto King eastbound or westbound and Spadina northbound or southbound.

College Loop

Anticlockwise on-street loop via Lansdowne Ave. northbound, College St. going southwest (nominally westbound), and Dundas St. going southeast (nominally eastbound), 43°39′02″N 79°26′23.4″W, a possible turnback point for routes 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton in either direction. Streetcars can enter and exit the loop from/onto either Dundas or College in either direction.

Future Loops

A streetcar loop at Cherry St. and Distllery Lane is being built for 504 King cars; see Cherry Street streetcar line.

Former loops

Mutual Loop in 1929

Name	Location	Streetcar route last using loop	Status and notes
Asquith Loop	Church Street north of Bloor Street East	Church	Later bus loop, now redeveloped
Avon Loop	Weston Road & Rogers Road	Weston Road	Later trolleybus loop, now buses. Currently under renewal for new streetcar/bus loop in 2014.
Bedford Loop	Bloor Street West & Bedford Road	Bloor	Partially redeveloped, partially parking lot
Bicknell Loop	Rogers Road & Bicknell Avenue	Rogers Road	Belongs to the City of Toronto. Currently under renewal for new streetcar/bus loop in 2014.
Birchmount Loop	Birchmount Road & Kingston Road	Kingston Rd.	Sold, redeveloped into condominiums
Caledonia Loop	St. Clair Avenue West & Station Street	St. Clair	Commercial development
Christie Loop	Dupont Street & Christie Street	Dupont	Redeveloped
City Hall	on-street: Louisa, James & Albert Streets	Dundas	Tracks removed
Danforth (or Danforth-Coxwell) Loop	Danforth Avenue & Coxwell Avenue	Coxwell	Was part of Danforth Carhouse property; now redeveloped
Erindale Loop	Broadview Avenue & Erindale Avenue north side of street, opposite parkette	King	Redeveloped
(old) Exhibition Loop	north of Princes Boulevard, 1/4 mile (400 m) west of Strachan	Bathurst	Redeveloped into National Trade Centre (now Direct Energy Centre)
Ferry (or Ferry Docks) Loop	Queens Quay West west of Bay Street	Dupont	Parking lot
Gilbert Loop	Eglinton Avenue West & Gilbert Street	Oakwood	Parkette
Glen Echo Loop	Yonge Street & Glen Echo Avenue	Yonge	Redeveloped as retail and residential area
Hillingdon Loop	Danforth Avenue & Hillingdon Avenue	Bloor	Was part of Danforth Carhouse property
Jane Loop	Bloor Street West & Jane Street	Bloor	Now redeveloped as new mall
Keele Loop	Keele Street north of St. Clair Avenue West	512 St. Clair	Redeveloped
Keele Stn. Loop	Indian Grove & Bloor Street West	Bloor	Temporary loop 1966–68; redeveloped
Lawton Loop	north of Yonge Street and Lawton Boulevard intersection	Yonge	Lawton Parkette
Lipton Loop	Lipton Avenue & Pape Avenue	Harbord	Bus loop, part of Pape Station
Luttrell Loop	Danforth Ave., between Luttrell & Kelvin Avenues (west of Victoria Park Ave.)	Bloor	Sold, redeveloped into housing
Main Loop	Main Street north of Danforth Avenue	Carlton	Rebuilt into Main Street Station Loop
Mt. Pleasant Loop	Eglinton Avenue East & Mount Pleasant Road	Mt. Pleasant	Also known as Eglinton Loop. Later trolleybus loop, now buses. Originally open-air, now under an apartment building.
Mutual Loop	Mutual Street & Queen Street East	Lakeshore	Redeveloped, now a parking lot
Moore Park Loop	Mount Pleasant Road & St. Clair Avenue East	St. Clair	Loring-Wyle Parkette
Northlands Loop	Weston Road & Northlands (or Northland) Avenue.	Weston Rd.	Redeveloped as commercial plaza
Park Loop	Bloor Street West & High Park Avenue	Bloor	Part of High Park
Parliament Loop	King Street East	Parliament	Later bus loop only; now under part of a car dealership. Currently under renewal for new streetcar/bus loop in 2014.
Prescott Loop	Prescott Avenue and St. Clair Avenue West	Dovercourt	Now St. Clair Garden Parkette
Royce Loop	Lansdowne Avenue & Dupont Street	Harbord	Redeveloped
Runnymede Loop	Dundas Street West & Runnymede Road	Dundas	Later trolleybus loop, now buses
St. Clair (or Wychwood) Carhouse Loop	Wychwood Avenue & Benson Avenue	St. Clair	Reduced to wye after carhouse closed, then closed
St. Clarens Loop	St. Clarens Avenue & Davenport Road	Harbord	Primrose Avenue Parkette
Simcoe Loop	Front Street West & Simcoe Street	Yonge	Redeveloped
Small Arms Loop	Long Branch Small Arms factory, on Lake Shore almost 0.5 mile west of Long Branch Loop	Long Branch	For temporary 1942–45 extension of route
Terauley	on-street: Bay, Richmond, Victoria, Queen	Bay	Bus loop
Townsley	north of St. Clair Avenue West & Old Weston Road	512 St. Clair	Bus loop
Vaughan Loop	north of Bathurst Street/Vaughan Road intersection	Bathurst	Redeveloped
Viaduct Loop	Bloor Street East & Parliament Street	Parliament	Parkette
Vincent Loop	across from Dundas West Station	King	Redeveloped as Crossways Mall and condos
Woodbine Stn. Loop	Cedarvale Avenue & Strathmore Boulevard	Danforth	Temporary loop 1966–68; part of parking lot

Former wyes

As an alternative to a loop, a streetcar can also be turned using a maneouvre similar to a three-point turn, involving at least two switches and a suitable layout of connecting tracks. This can be done if necessary at any intersection or other track junction where suitable tracks exist, but the TTC also had a few wye tracks with no other purpose. There are none of these any more; the table shows some of the last ones to be removed.

Name	Location	Date closed	Notes
Adelaide Wye	Bathurst Street & Adelaide Street West	1973	Remnant of through tracks on Adelaide Street
Glencairn Wye	Yonge Street & Glencairn Avenue	1954	Closure with the opening of Yonge subway and closure of Yonge streetcar
Hillside Wye	Lake Shore Boulevard West & Hillside Avenue	2002
Junction Wye	Keele Street & Junction Road	1963	Removed as part of closure of Bloor streetcar route
St. Clair Carhouse Wye	Wychwood Avenue & Benson Avenue	1998	Access tracks for former carhouse retained when it closed in 1978

External links

• TTC Toronto Track Diagram 1966
• Toronto Transit Commission Track Diagram 1973
• TTC Streetcar Track Map (1995)