Yonge-University-Spadina - History

History

On March 30, 1954, after five years of work, the first subway in Canada opened to the public. The original Yonge Street subway line went from Union subway station near the namesake railway station north to Eglinton Station. Premier Leslie Frost and Mayor Allan A. Lamport, among other important people, rode the first train that morning, going north from the yards at Davisville Station, and then from Eglinton south along the entire line. The line was then opened to the public, and that day at 2:30 pm, the last streetcar to travel Yonge Street made its final trip.

Nine years later, the University segment of the line opened, continuing the line from Union north to St. George Station.

On March 31, 1973, the line was extended north to York Mills Station, and the next year to Finch Station as part of the North Yonge Extension project, bringing the subway to North York. Stations were also planned for Glencairn (between Eglinton and Lawrence, though another Glencairn Station would be built on the Spadina line), Glen Echo (between Lawrence and York Mills) and Empress (between Sheppard and Finch, later opened as North York Centre Station). In 1978, the Spadina segment of the line was opened, going from the north terminus of the University line to Wilson Station.

In 1987, the North York Centre station was added between Sheppard and Finch Stations.

On August 11, 1995 at 6:02 pm, the Russell Hill subway accident occurred as a southbound subway train heading toward Dupont Station crashed under Russell Hill Drive, killing three passengers. This accident prompted the Toronto Transit Commission to review its practices and put resources into safety.

In 1996, the Spadina expansion was opened, adding one new station, Downsview.