A Green Highway Above Yonge Street
Some of my favourite Toronto walks start with a little history underfoot, and the Beltline Trail delivers plenty of it. In our new reel, we follow about 4 km of this car-free path along an old rail line, starting at the Beltline bridge over Yonge Street. Below you, the trains at Davisville Yard keep the city moving. Ahead of you, it’s trees, quiet and neighbours out for a stroll.
How Did a Railway Become a Trail?
A Railway Built for New Suburbs
The Toronto Belt Line Railway opened in 1892 as a commuter line meant to serve and promote new neighbourhoods north of what were then the city limits. Passenger service never turned a profit and lasted only 2 years, though freight trains used the northern part of the line from 1910 until the late 1960s.
Neighbours Saved the Route
When CN tried to sell the land for housing around 1970, local resident Esther Carin lobbied to turn it into a recreation trail. The city bought the stretch east of Allen Road in 1972, and the section from Allen Road to Mount Pleasant Road was later named the Kay Gardner Beltline Park after local councillor Kay Gardner.
The Bridge Over Yonge
The bridge where our reel begins was refurbished in 1993. From here, you look over the Davisville Subway Yard, the main yard for the Yonge subway when it opened between Union Station and Eglinton Avenue in 1954. That line was the first subway in Canada, and later subway cars were delivered to the yard by way of the old Belt Line tracks.
Look for the Lost Stations
Keep an eye out along the full trail for 3 installations, added in 2021, that mark former Belt Line stations: Yonge, Upper Canada and Eglinton. The whole Beltline Trail runs about 9 km, so there’s always more to explore on your next visit.
Your Turn: Where Does Your Beltline Walk Begin?
Do you have a favourite spot along the Beltline Trail, or a stretch you’ve never travelled? Tell us in the comments. And watch to the end of the reel, because there’s a giveaway waiting for anyone who can guess the location.
Watch the reel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DejUnsLPKPO/