Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan takes effect Sunday, November 19
Since September 3, 2023, interim express bus service has been operating between Scarborough Centre and Kennedy stations to replace Line 3 Scarborough train service following a derailment that permanently closed the line ahead of the original November 18 decommissioning date.
The official Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan with full transit priority measures and full priority routing will go into effect on November 19, 2023.
The adjustments implemented with the Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan will reduce travel times and improve the quality of service for customers travelling between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations. Current interim express service will be replaced by extended bus service between Scarborough Centre and Kennedy stations on the following routes:
- 38 Highland Creek/938 Highland Creek Express
- 129 McCowan North
- 131 Nugget
- 133 Neilson
- 903 Kennedy-Scarborough Centre Express (renamed to 903 Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Express)
- 939 Finch Express
- 985 Sheppard East Express
The extended bus service is a significant change for customers travelling between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations who will no longer need to transfer from connecting routes to the 903 Kennedy-Scarborough Centre Express.
The Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan provides Scarborough customers with accessible transportation service that meets Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards.
Customers will be able to see all routes included in the bus replacement service in trip planning apps.
Service Changes Effective November 19, 2023
As part of the Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan, current interim express service will be replaced by extended bus service between Scarborough Centre and Kennedy stations on the following routes:
- 38 Highland Creek/938 Highland Creek Express
- 129 McCowan North
- 131 Nugget
- 133 Neilson
- 903 Kennedy-Scarborough Centre Express (renamed to 903 Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Express)
- 939 Finch Express
- 985 Sheppard East Express
Buses will stop at Scarborough Centre Station then continue to Kennedy Station along the Line 3 bus priority route. Bus bay adjustments have been made to accommodate additional routes and increased number of buses, as indicated by the map below.
TIP #1: Customers wanting to connect to Line 2 can wait at Bays 9 to13 and take whichever bus arrives first to go to Kennedy Station.
TIP #2: Customers travelling on any of the eight extended routes should stay on their bus which will continue as an express bus from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station.
At Kennedy Station, buses will drop off and pick up customers on Platform B in the new terminal.
Extended bus service will operate on the priority route as follows:
Southbound: via Triton Road, Brimley Avenue, Ellesmere Road, Midland Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East. All buses will stop on Triton Road at Borough Drive, Ellesmere Road at Midland Avenue and Midland Avenue at Lawrence Avenue East.
Northbound: via Eglinton Avenue East, Kennedy Road, Ellesmere Road, Brimley Road and Triton Road. All buses will stop on Kennedy Road at Lawrence Avenue East, Ellesmere Road at Midland Avenue and Triton Road at Borough Drive. All buses will stop on Kennedy Road at Lawrence Avenue East, Ellesmere Road at Midland Avenue and Triton Road at Borough Drive.
TIP for customers connecting to GO Transit: All routes included in the Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan travelling northbound and southbound will stop on Triton Road at Borough Drive. Customers can easily connect to and from GO buses from the stops on Triton Road at Borough Drive.
TIP for customers travelling to the McCowan Station area: Most routes travelling eastbound from Scarborough Centre Station can be used to connect to the McCowan Station area at stops located on Triton Road at McCowan Road:
- 129 McCowan North
- 130 Middlefield
- 131 Nugget
- 132 Milner
- 133 Neilson
- 134 Progress
- 169 Huntingwood
Extended route details:
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38 Highland Creek/938 Highland Creek Express
Service will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will be at Bay 14 on Platform B in the new terminal.
The frequency of service will be adjusted Monday-Friday in the early evening and late evening periods, on Saturdays in the late evening period and on Sundays in the early evening and late evening periods to match scheduled capacity to demand.
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129 McCowan North
Service will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road.
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will be at Bay 13 on Platform B in the new terminal.
Service will be improved Monday to Friday in the morning peak period from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. with buses now scheduled to arrive every 21 minutes. The frequency of service will also be adjusted by approximately one to three minutes in most time periods to match scheduled capacity to demand.
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131 Nugget
Service will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road.
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will be at Bay 13 on Platform B in the new terminal.
The frequency of service will be adjusted by one to two minutes on Saturdays in the morning, afternoon and early evening periods, and on Sundays in the afternoon and early evening periods to match scheduled capacity to demand.
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133 Neilson
Service will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road.
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will be at Bay 14 on Platform B in the new terminal.
The frequency of service will be adjusted by one to five minutes on weekends in most time periods to match scheduled capacity to demand.
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903 Kennedy Station-Scarborough Express
903 Kennedy-Scarborough Centre Express will be renamed 903 Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Express and will continue to drop off and pick up customers at Bay 11 on Platform B in the new terminal.Service will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Centennial College on weekdays and weekends in most time periods.
Service will be removed Monday-Friday during the late evening period. Service frequency will be reduced in all time periods.
Service Monday-Friday in the early morning period and on weekends in the late evening period will only operate between Kennedy Station and Scarborough Centre due to reduced travel demand to Centennial College. Customers travelling to and from Centennial College can use 134 Progress.
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939 Finch Express
Service on 939A (Finch Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn Express) and 939B (Finch West Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn Express) will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road.
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will be at Bay 12 on Platform B in the new terminal.
The frequency of service will be adjusted by approximately one minute Monday-Friday in the morning and afternoon peak periods and on Saturdays in the morning period to match capacity to demand.
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985 Sheppard East Express
Service on 985A (Don Mills Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn) will be extended from Scarborough Centre Station to Kennedy Station along the priority route southbound on Midland Avenue and northbound on Kennedy Road.
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will be at Bay 11 on Platform B in the new terminal.
TIP: Most routes travelling eastbound from Scarborough Centre Station can be used to connect to the McCowan Station area at stops located on Triton Road at McCowan Road:
- 129 McCowan North
- 130 Middlefield
- 131 Nugget
- 132 Milner
- 133 Neilson
- 134 Progress
- 169 Huntingwood
Routing, bus stops and service frequency will be adjusted on the following routes:
- 21 Brimley
- 43 Kennedy/343 Kennedy Night Bus
- 134 Progress/913 Progress Express
- 954 Lawrence East Express
- 996 Wilson Express
Routing, bus stops and service frequency will be adjusted on the following routes:
-
21 Brimley
Service frequency will be improved by eight minutes on weekdays and weekends in the late evening period to reduce wait times and provide more room on board for customers travelling between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations.
Service will be relocated to the new stop on the southeast corner of Brimley Road at Ellesmere Road.
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43 Kennedy/343 Kennedy Night Bus
Service will be relocated to the new stop on the northeast corner of Kennedy Road at Ellesmere Road.
At Scarborough Centre Station, 43B will continue to drop off and pick up customers at Bay 14.
At Kennedy Station, 43A, 43C and 343 will continue to drop off and pick up customers at Bay 9 on Platform A.
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134 Progress/913 Progress Express
Service on 134C/913 (Scarborough Centre Stn-Centennial College) will be removed and replaced by new service on 903 Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Express.
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick will be at Bay 11 on Platform B in the new terminal.
The frequency of service on 134D (Scarborough Centre Stn-Finch via Centennial College) will be adjusted by one minute Monday-Friday in most time periods to match scheduled capacity to demand.
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954 Lawrence East Express
At Kennedy Station, customer drop off and pick up will continue at Bay 8 on Platform A in the main terminal.
The stop on Lawrence Avenue East at Midland Ave will be removed. Westbound buses will stop at the new bus platform on the southbound far side of Midland Avenue at Lawrence Avenue East.
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996 Wilson Express
Service will be extended from Ellesmere Station to Scarborough Centre Station to connect with routes included in the Line 3 Bus Replacement Plan.
At Scarborough Centre Station, customers can board at Bay 17.
Service at Ellesmere Station will no longer be provided.