Toronto’s New Light Rail Transit Lines Facing Challenges and Lessons from Kitchener-Waterloo’s Ion LRT System
Efforts are underway to resolve issues and ensure the smooth operation of two new light rail transit lines in Toronto, as transportation advocates look to the Ion LRT system in Kitchener and Waterloo for valuable insights.
Originally proposed in 2011 as a rapid transit solution for the Kitchener-Waterloo region, the Ion project was awarded to a private-sector consortium in 2014 for design, construction, and maintenance over 30 years. After construction began in the same year, the line opened to the public in mid-2019.
Spanning 19 kilometers with 19 stations, Ion serves as a crucial link between Kitchener and Waterloo, fostering residential and commercial development along its route. Despite initial challenges, the system recorded 4.9 million boardings between January and November 2025.
Connecting Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener, Ion serves various key areas including downtown districts, universities, hospitals, and city landmarks. Commuters like Allie Beldan, a member of Tri-Cities Transport Action Group, commend the system’s reliability and simplicity.
While Ion faced teething problems upon its launch, it has steadily improved in performance and efficiency over the years. Adapting to operational challenges, such as weather-related disruptions and ridership fluctuations during the pandemic, Ion has emerged as a source of pride for public transit advocates in the region.
As Toronto embarks on expanding its light rail transit network, lessons from Ion’s success story offer valuable guidance. Advocates emphasize the importance of wider stop spacing to enhance speed, along with the implementation of traffic signal priority to expedite travel times and optimize system efficiency.