Quick Facts
- Opened
- 30 March 1954
- Operator
- Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
- Stations
- 70 subway stations, plus 25 on Line 5 and 18 on Line 6
- Lines
- 5: subway Lines 1, 2 and 4; light rail Lines 5 and 6
- Daily riders
- ~1.0 million
- Fare
- $3.30 tap fare; monthly cap after 47 fares
- Airport
- Pearson via UP Express from Union Station
- Payment
- PRESTO, credit or debit card, phone, cash
The Toronto subway is Canada's busiest rapid transit system. It opened on 30 March 1954 and is run by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Three subway lines (Line 1 Yonge–University, Line 2 Bloor–Danforth and Line 4 Sheppard) are now joined by two light rail lines: Line 6 Finch West, which opened in December 2025, and Line 5 Eglinton, which opened in February 2026.
Line 1 is shaped like a U. It runs south from Finch down Yonge Street to Union Station, then north again under University Avenue to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Line 2 crosses the city east to west along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue, from Kipling to Kennedy. The two lines meet at Bloor–Yonge, St George and Spadina.
Line 5 Eglinton is a 19 km crosstown line with 25 stations and stops from Mount Dennis to Kennedy, running underground through midtown. It connects with Line 1 at Eglinton and Cedarvale and with Line 2 at Kennedy. Line 6 Finch West runs 10 km along Finch Avenue West from Finch West station on Line 1 to Humber Polytechnic. On both new lines you pay before boarding and keep proof of payment.
The adult fare is $3.30 when you tap a PRESTO card, a credit or debit card, or a phone, and $3.35 in cash. Transfers within two hours of your first tap are free, and since 2026 the TTC caps fares monthly: after 47 paid fares in a calendar month, the rest of your TTC trips that month are free.
Line 3 Scarborough closed in 2023 and has been replaced by buses while Line 2 is extended into Scarborough. Toronto Pearson Airport is not on the subway: the UP Express train links it with Union Station in about 25 minutes.
How to Pay
Payment methods: PRESTO card · Credit or debit card (tap) · Apple Pay or Google Pay · PRESTO Ticket (single ride or day pass) · Cash (exact fare).
💡 Tap PRESTO, a credit or debit card, or your phone for the $3.30 fare ($3.35 in cash). Transfers within two hours are free, and after 47 paid fares in a calendar month, the rest of the month is free.
Peak hours: No peak surcharge. The same fare applies all day.
Toronto Subway Lines
Key Stations on the Toronto Subway
Ticket Prices
Payment methods: PRESTO card, Credit or debit card (tap), Apple Pay or Google Pay, PRESTO Ticket (single ride or day pass), Cash (exact fare).
💡 Tap PRESTO, a credit or debit card, or your phone for the $3.30 fare ($3.35 in cash). Transfers within two hours are free, and after 47 paid fares in a calendar month, the rest of the month is free.
| Journey | Off-Peak (CAD) | Peak (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult fare (PRESTO, card or phone tap) | $3.30 | $3.30 |
| Adult fare (cash) | $3.35 | $3.35 |
| Day Pass (PRESTO Ticket) | $13.50 | $13.50 |
| Monthly cap (47 fares) | $155.10 | $155.10 |
| UP Express, Union to Pearson (PRESTO) | $9.25 | $9.25 |
| UP Express, Union to Pearson (standard) | $12.35 | $12.35 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Pearson Airport (YYZ) to downtown Toronto?
Take the UP Express from Terminal 1 to Union Station: about 25 minutes, $9.25 with PRESTO or $12.35 standard. At Union, connect to Line 1 for the rest of the city. The cheapest option is the TTC 900 Airport Express bus to Kipling station on Line 2, for a single TTC fare.
What is the PRESTO card?
PRESTO is the reloadable fare card used by the TTC, GO Transit, UP Express and other transit systems around Toronto. Load money online, at station machines or in the app, and tap it on every trip. For the TTC alone, you can simply tap a credit or debit card or your phone instead.
Can I use my bank card or phone on the TTC?
Yes. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay at subway gates, on buses and streetcars, and on the Line 5 and Line 6 platform machines. You pay the same $3.30 fare as with PRESTO, and it counts towards the monthly cap.
How does TTC fare capping work?
Once you have paid 47 TTC fares in a calendar month with the same PRESTO card, bank card or phone, the rest of your TTC trips that month are free. The count resets on the first day of each month. Cash and PRESTO Tickets do not count.
What time does the Toronto subway run?
The subway runs from about 6:00 until about 1:30 to 2:00 from Monday to Saturday, and from about 8:00 on Sundays. Blue Night buses cover the main routes overnight.
Which subway stop is closest to the CN Tower?
Union Station (Line 1). From there it is about a 10 to 15 minute walk west along Front Street, through the covered SkyWalk, to the CN Tower and Rogers Centre.
What is Line 5 Eglinton?
Line 5 Eglinton is a 19 km light rail line that opened in February 2026. It crosses midtown Toronto from Mount Dennis to Kennedy, with 25 stations and stops, and connects with Line 1 at Eglinton and Cedarvale and with Line 2 at Kennedy.
Is the Scarborough RT still operating?
No. Line 3 Scarborough closed permanently in 2023 and was replaced by buses. Line 2 is being extended into Scarborough to replace it.
Source: Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Wikipedia. Always verify fares with the official operator.