The Scarborough Rapid Transit line was approved by the TTC in January 1977 to meet the considerable population growth anticipated in Scarborough. After Kennedy Station, there would be stations at Lawrence, Ellesmere, Midland, the Scarborough Town Centre, and McCowan. The line would run entirely on its own right of way, separated from street traffic, and for part of the way would be elevated above ground.
While the original plan called for light rail cars to be used on this route, the Province’s Urban Transportation Development Corporation suggested that its new Intermediate Capacity Transit System (ICTS) be used, and the plans were changed from light rail to the new system after construction had already commenced. The ICTS cars used a new method of power and propulsion, and was the first instance in North America of a computer-controlled automatic train operation.
In 1982, believing that the new technology required it to be identified as something other than a subway, the TTC held a naming contest for the new line. The winning suggestion, out of 5600 entries, was the Scarborough RT, submitted by Alvin Frost. In 2014 the line was renamed Line 3 Scarborough, as part of the new line numbering for all four TTC rapid transit lines. Use of the “Scarborough RT” name, and the “SRT” abbreviation, remain common.
Scarborough Rapid Transit – Kennedy Station to Town Centre – progress report no. 3 (recto) October 1981 Fonds 16, Series 836, Sub-series 1, File 33, Item 3.
Scarborough Rapid Transit – Kennedy Station to Town Centre – progress report no. 3 (verso) October 1981 Fonds 16, Series 836, Sub-series 1, File 33, Item 3.
View looking east through Kennedy Station showing paver tiles installed on south platform. The top level of Kennedy Station had been built for light rail trains. It was altered for the new ICTS trains, which required higher platforms. Raising the platforms also required the roof to be raised, to provide enough clearance for customers on the platforms. May 31, 1983 Fonds 16, Series 1604, File 4183, Item 830590-1
Excavation for the installation of the pedestrian underpass under the Canadian National Railway line and under the future Scarborough RT tracks, near Lawrence East Station June 13, 1981 Fonds 16, Series 1604, File 136, Item 810643A-1.
Superstructure construction at Midland Station, one of three elevated stations on the line September 28, 1983 Fonds 16, Series 1604, File 5802, Item 830989-5.
Elevated track structure to Scarborough Town Centre, looking east from Midland Station April 10, 1984 Fonds 16, Series 1253, File 864, Item 8.
Construction of elevated track structure heading to Scarborough Centre Station April 10, 1984 Fonds 16, Series 1253, File 858, Item 8.
Construction at Scarborough Centre Station April 10, 1984 Fonds 16, Series 1253, File 863, Item 8.
Construction and architectural finishing for McCowan Station. The view looks west, and Scarborough Civic Centre and Scarborough Town Centre mall are both visible. September 19, 1983 Fonds 16, Series 1604, File 4179, Item 830953-2.
Looking east at the McCowan Yard trackbed under construction. The yard and a small car house were built to store and maintain the trains on the Scarborough RT. September 8, 1983 Fonds 16, Series 1604, File 4182, Item 830923.
Construction of McCowan Yard and Carhouse to accommodate the ICTS vehicles for the Scarborough RT December 19, 1983 Fonds 16, Series 1253, File 858, Item 8, Item 9.
Scarborough RT train in Scarborough Town Centre Station. Two-car trains were operated at some times in the early years, but by the early 1990s increasing ridership required the operation of four-car trains at all times. [ca. 1985] Fonds 16, Series 1253, File 2481, Item 1.
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