The Rise and Fall of the Scarborough RT

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Did you know Toronto’s famous Scarborough RT wasn’t supposed to exist the way it did?

Originally planned as part of the city’s subway expansion, the Scarborough Rapid Transit line opened in 1985 as a futuristic experiment — running on lightweight, elevated trains unlike anything else in Toronto. But what began as an engineering innovation soon became a symbol of transit isolation for Scarborough residents. After nearly four decades of service (and countless “Please Stand Clear of the Doors” memories), the RT officially shut down in 2023 — marking the end of an era and sparking city-wide debate about transit equity and urban planning.

2023

Scarborough RT is decommissioned

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