The Long Branch route originally operated from 1935 to 1995, and was numbered "507" when the CLRV streetcars were put into service beginning in 1979. Between 2016 and 2020, the 501 Queen route had a branch that operated like the 507 streetcar but was signed as route 501 Queen.[3] On November 19, 2023, the TTC split the 501 Queen route, rebranding the portion west of Humber Loop as 507 Long Branch.[2]
History
Before 1935
Until September 27, 1928, service along Lake Shore Boulevard west of Humber Loop was provided by the single-track Mimico radial line which continued west to Port Credit. Starting from that date, the TTC replaced the radial track to Long Branch with a double-track streetcar line. On December 8, 1928, the Lake Shore streetcar service (not the same as the later 508 Lake Shore) began operation from downtown Toronto to Long Branch Loop where, until 1937, passengers could transfer to the shortened Port Credit radial line. An extra fare was required to travel from west of Humber Loop to downtown.[3]
1935–1995: first Long Branch route
On October 28, 1935, the Lake Shore streetcar route was split, and the new Long Branch route was created to run between Long Branch Loop and Roncesvalles Carhouse. In 1958, when a new reserved streetcar right-of-way was opened on the Queensway, the Long Branch route (later called 507 Long Branch) was cut back operating mainly west of Humber Loop.[3]
On January 1, 1973, passengers could transfer between the Long Branch and Queen streetcars at Humber Loop without paying an extra fare.[4]
On September 30, 1979, Long Branch (by now 507 Long Branch) became the first route to employ the then-new CLRV in revenue service.[5] On January 19, 1988, 507 Long Branch was also the first route to employ the ALRV in revenue service.[6]
On March 26, 1995, the TTC merged the 507 Long Branch route into 501 Queen, making one continuous route from Neville Park Loop in the east to Long Branch Loop.[3]
2016–2020: Pseudo 507 route
Between 2016 and 2020, a branch of 501 Queen operated between Humber and Long Branch Loops just like the former 507 Long Branch.
By 2015, passengers were complaining about service on the 501 streetcar. Streetcars would often arrive at irregular intervals, causing unscheduled waits of 20–30 minutes. Streetcars would also do unscheduled short turns at Kingston Road or Roncesvalles Avenue, forcing passengers to exit and wait for the next streetcar. To address these problems and make service more predictable for riders, the TTC split the 501 Queen route.[7]
On January 3, 2016, the 501 Queen route was split into two sections at Humber Loop. The split was in effect only from 5am to 10pm. During the split, service over the entire route operated at intervals of ten minutes or better. The change was also made to provide more frequent service on each segment and to eliminate all but emergency short turns (such as for an accident) on the segment east of Humber Loop. Transfer-free service through Humber Loop was still provided by 3 runs in the morning, in the late evening and overnight. Some riders reported shorter streetcar wait times after the split.[7][8][9]
The split was suspended starting from January 8, 2017,[10] due to construction projects affecting Humber Loop. When streetcar service west of Humber Loop resumed on June 24, 2018, the split was reinstated.[11] Initially, the TTC provided five transfer-free trips during the morning peak period; however, effective September 2, 2018, the TTC temporarily suspended these five runs due to a shortage of streetcars.[12]
From June 21, 2020, most 501 Queen streetcars operated the full route between Neville Park and Long Branch loops. This ended the split in 501 Queen service at Humber Loop where passengers from Long Branch had to change streetcars to continue downtown.[13]
2023–present: reinstated 507 route
In a presentation dated July 12, 2023, the TTC announced that it intended to restore the 507 Long Branch streetcar along its original route between Long Branch Loop and Humber Loop.[14] Service was expected to start on September 3, 2023.[15] However, as of October 2023[update], the track west of Sunnyside Loop was still closed due to ongoing construction.[16] On November 19, 2023, the TTC restored the 507 streetcar.[2]
^Bow, James (July 1, 2017). "A History Of Fares On The TTC". Transit Toronto. Retrieved March 1, 2018. On January 1, 1973, the two zone fare system within Metropolitan Toronto was abolished…
^"501 Queen - Service increase". Toronto Transit Commission. January 3, 2016. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016. The route will be temporarily split into two separate sections, operating between Long Branch Loop and Humber Loop, and between Neville Park Loop and Humber Loop.
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