Route 50 Kingsway Route History

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50 KINGSWAY Route History	By Peter Coulman
*Last revised February 16th, 2001*

April 11th, 1927

New route, originating at Bloor & Jane Streets and running to Bloor & Church Street (now Royal York Road). Operated by Realty Company through their real estate subdivision.

April 1st, 1928

Operations taken over by the Toronto Transportation Commission through an agreement with the Realty Company and the Township of Etobicoke. Running from Jane Street via Bloor Street, the new high-level bridge over the Humber River, Bloor, the Kingsway, Lambton Avenue (now Prince Edward Drive) and Bloor to Dundas Street, then return via the same routing.

June 6th, 1929

Service reduced to operate only during the morning and afternoon rush hours on week days, and during the morning rush and from noon to midnight on Saturdays. No Sunday or Holiday service provided.

June 16th, 1929

Normal daytime and Sunday service resumed.

October 5th, 1931

Rerouted from Jane via Bloor Street, the Kingsway, Burn (now Kingsgrove Boulevard), Church Street (Royal York) and Bloor to Montgomery Road and return. Extended west on Bloor from Montgomery to Dundas Street during rush hours and on Saturday.

April 1st, 1936

Rerouted, from Jane via Bloor, Lambton (Prince Edward), the Kingsway, Burn (Kingsgrove), Church (Royal York) and Bloor to Montgomery and return. Extended west to Dundas & Bloor during rush hours.

January 7th, 1937

Change in equipment used as the TTC's new Twin Coaches are placed in service.

The Twin Coach 23-R was unveiled in 1935. Its revolutionary rear-engine design allowed for a flat, low (17") floor, and it rapidly became Twin's most popular pre-war bus. Number 570 (serial 95732) was the first of 82 model 23-Rs that the Toronto Transportation Commission bought between 1936 and 1940.

Toronto Transit Commission photo

February 8th, 1937

Rush hour extension changed to loop via Bloor Street, Islington Avenue, Canning and Dundas to Bloor, returning east on Bloor to Jane Street.

January 23rd, 1938

Saturday service after 12:00 noon and Sunday evening service to 12:00 midnight extended from Montgomery to Dundas.

July 5th, 1938

Rerouted again, now running from Jane via Bloor, the Kingsway, King Georges Road, Prince Edward, the Kingsway, Royal York and Bloor to Dundas, returning via Bloor, Brentwood Road, White Oak Boulevard, Royal York, the Kingsway, Prince Edward & Bloor to Jane during rush hours. Normal service continues to short turn at Montgomery & Bloor.

May 1st, 1939

Rush hour route revised, looping via Bloor, Islington, Canning and Dundas to Bloor.

September 8th, 1941

Stops designated and painted. Buses once again rerouted, from Jane via Bloor, Prince Edward, the Kingsway, Royal York, Bloor, Islington to Dundas, looping counterclockwise via Burnhamthorpe Road, Mattice Road and Grosvenor Road to Dundas Street. During rush hours extra short turn service operated to Bloor & Montgomery over the regular route.

March 5th, 1945

Rush hour routing changed, now running eastbound from Montgomery via Bloor, Royal York, Burn, the Kingsway, Prince Edward and Bloor to Jane Street.

November 26th, 1945

Normal route extended via Burnhamthorpe to wye at Kipling Avenue instead of looping via Mattice and Grosvenor. Express coach service to downtown introduced.

April 13th, 1946

Premium fare KINGSWAY COACH discontinued.

March 10th, 1947

New SOUTH KINGSWAY branch inaugurated. Additional rush hour service provided from Jane Street via Bloor to Prince Edward, looping clockwise via Prince Edward, Glenroy Drive and Royal York to Bloor. No change in normal service or other rush hour short turns.

May 19th, 1947

Free transfers initiated between the second zone of the ISLINGTON and KINGSWAY routes.

December 15th, 1947

SOUTH KINGSWAY loop reversed, operating via Royal York, Glenroy and Prince Edward.

June 21st, 1946

SOUTH KINGSWAY loop extended south, running clockwise (again) via Prince Edward, Sunnylea Avenue, Humbervale Boulevard, Glenroy and Royal York to Bloor.

December 5th, 1948

By arrangement with Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission, rush hour service provided from Jane via Bloor, Islington, Bering Avenue and Kipling Avenue to the new Hydro Plant during the morning rush hour, returning via Kipling, Bering, Islington, Bloor, Royal York, Kingsgrove Boulevard, the Kingsway, Prince Edward and Bloor to Jane. Afternoon rush hour service operated in the reverse direction.

August 13th, 1951

Main route extended via Burnhamthorpe Road from Kipling Avenue to Meadow Bank and return.

July 31st, 1953

Service to the Hydro-Electric Power Commission plant discontinued after this date.

October 19th, 1953

SOUTH KINGSWAY loop changed to run via Prince Edward, Glenellen Road and Grenview Boulevard.

January 1st, 1954

Operation transferred from Gray Coach Linesto the new Toronto Transit Commission. Red city buses replace Gray Coaches.

July 1st, 1954

Buses now loop at the west end via Bloor, Islington, Dundas, Burnhamthorpe and Laurel Avenue, returning via Bloor to Jane Street. Rush hour short turn service from Jane to Royal York, looping via clockwise Royal York, Kingsgrove Boulevard, the Kingsway and Prince Edward to Bloor Street.

KINGSWAY	LAUREL J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	KINGSGROVE J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only
KINGSWAY	MONTGOMERY J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only
KINGSWAY	GLENELLEN J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only sign assumed

May 31st to September 8th, 1956

Kingsgrove service now operating all day, seven days per week, due to the intersection of Dundas & Royal York being closed for construction of a new underpass, replacing the ANGLESEY service normally operating in the area.

KINGSWAY	LAUREL J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	KINGSGROVE J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	MONTGOMERY J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only
KINGSWAY	GLENELLEN J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only sign assumed

September 9th, 1956

Operation changed and Laurel loop replaced by service operating along Bloor Street, Cordova Avenue and Burnhamthorpe Road, looping counterclockwise via Renforth Drive, Rexton Road and Mulgrove Drive. Warwood branch replaced by buses operating via Bloor to loop counterclockwise via Roydon Drive (now the East Mall), Lynnford Drive and Tremont Road.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	ROYDON J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50B	KINGSGROVE J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50C	MONTGOMERY J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only

August 6th, 1957

Kingsgrove (50B) service enhanced to operate from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in order to accommodate passengers in the area west of Prince Edward between Bloor & Dundas which is under serviced by the diversion of the ANGLESEY bus.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	ROYDON J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50B	KINGSGROVE J A N E
Monday through Friday, 12 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50C	MONTGOMERY J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only

January 6th, 1958

Express service between Jane & Royal York inaugurated during the afternoon rush hour only, stopping only at Prince Edward Drive.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	ROYDON J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50B	KINGSGROVE J A N E
Monday through Friday, 12 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50C	MONTGOMERY J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50D	RENFORTH
EXPRESS	50D	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50E	ROYDON
EXPRESS	50E	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only

May 24th, 1959

Bloor/Roydon service extended in the form of a large loop via south on Tremont Road, west on Lynnford Drive, south on Roydon Drive, west & south on North Service Road, west on Dundas Highway, north and east on Municipal Drive, north on Rayside Drive and northwest on Leavenworth Crescent to Bloor Street.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	RAYSIDE J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50B	KINGSGROVE J A N E
Monday through Friday, 12 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50C	MONTGOMERY J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50D	RENFORTH
EXPRESS	50D	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50E	RAYSIDE
EXPRESS	50E	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only

May 24th, 1960

Rush hours short turn service extended to the Six Points intersection at the junction of Bloor, Dundas & Kipling, looping clockwise around the traffic island and connecting with the KIPLING bus. Associated with this extension, the Kingsgrove (50B) and Montgomery (50C) branches are discontinued.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	RAYSIDE J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50D	RENFORTH
EXPRESS	50D	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50E	RAYSIDE
EXPRESS	50E	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50F	KIPLING J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only

September 1st, 1963

Roydon loop abandoned and Rayside service extended into the Markland Wood subdivision via west on Bloor Street, looping via north on Mill Road, east on Toledo Road and south on Markland Drive to Bloor, 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	MARKLAND WOOD J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50C	MARKLAND WOOD
EXPRESS		J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50D	RENFORTH
EXPRESS		J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50E	RAYSIDE
EXPRESS		J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only
KINGSWAY	50F	KIPLING J A N E
Monday through Friday, rush hours only

January 23rd, 1966

Operations changed from Parkdale Garage to the new Queensway Garage.

May 24th, 1966

Express (50C & 50E) and Kipling (50F) short turn services cancelled.

KINGSWAY	50	RENFORTH J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50A	MARKLAND WOOD J A N E
Daily, 18 hours/day
KINGSWAY	50D	RENFORTH
EXPRESS	50D	J A N E
Monday through Friday, p.m. rush hours only

May 10th, 1968

Last day of operation, replaced the following day by the new 49 BLOOR WEST and 50 BURNHAMTHORPE routes from Islington Station at the western terminal of the Bloor-Danforth subway extension. Route name applied to the new 3 KINGSWAY bus route running from Jane Station to Highway 27 via Bloor and Dundas Streets.

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