All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems

by David A. Wyatt

London, Ontario

Principal System

London Street Railway horsecar London Street Railway Company (24 May 1875 - 31 December 1950)
street railway/light rail Incorporated 29 March 1873 (Ont.) Introduced electric streetcars in 1895 and buses in 1923. Discontinued electric streetcars 1940.

London Street Railway ticket (front) London Street Ry Co. streetcar 146 London Street Railway student ticket (front)

London Transportation Comm. 322 (CanCar CD44ATC) (Peter Cox 1963 Sep 19) The London Transportation Commission (01 January 1951 - mid 1974)
Municipal operation. Contracted for a time to Charterways Transportation Limited (Canadian Coach 1970). (Dawes et al. 1972, photos: Peter Cox).

London Transportation Comm. 329 (CanCar TD43) (Peter Cox 1963 Sep 19) London Transportation Comm. 3 (GM TDH4519 new look) (Peter Cox 1963 Sep 19)

London Transit Comm. 84 GM T6H-4523N new look (Brian Sullivan 1980 May 24 [Peter Cox coll.]) The London Transit Commission (mid 1974 - present)
(Canadian Coach 1974, Sotnyk 1981, CUTA 1989, CUTA 1991/2, CUTA 1992, photos: Brian Sullivan [Peter Cox collection])

London Transit Comm. 182 GM Classic (Brian Sullivan 1986 Oct 06 [Peter Cox coll.])

London Transit logo
 
system logo
Service area population290,000 (1991)
Vehicle fleet174 buses (2000)
Employees509 (1991)
Ridership19,145,634 (2009)
Data sources:CUTA 1991/2
CTHF/SSG 2000
website 2002 (logo)
CTF [Aug. 2010] (ridership)

Secondary Systems

various private jitney operators (circa 1922 - 1930)
The jitney “problem” continued longer in London than elsewhere in Canada, helped in part by an unfriendly relationship between the LSRy and municipal authorities. Insurance requirements introduced 1926 helped to eliminate many operators. It was not until the LSRy franchise of 1930 forbid bus competition that the trade was stamped out. Jitney operators mentioned in the pages of Canadian Railway and Marine World included:

(Morningstar/RFC).

Greyhound G1817 (1951 GMC TDH4509) (Jim Husing Coll./NorCalBusFans) Eastern Canadian Greyhound Lines (circa 1946 - circa 1964)
Intercity bus operator in Ontario. ECG maintained a small fleet of suburban buses and operated commuter bus service between London and St. Thomas. (Luke & Metler Old Look Buses p. 42, photo: Jim Husing Coll./NorCalBusFans).

Modes

Animal railway24 May 1875 - circa May 1896
Electric railway12 September 1895 - 27 November 1940*
Jitney (Motor buses)1922 - 1930?
Motor buses09 February 1923 - present
* Formal closing ceremonies held 30 November 1940 (RFC).

London and Lake Erie Interurban

South West Tranction Co interurbans at Lambeth (postcard) South Western Traction Company (04 June 1906 - 20 October 1909)
electric interurban Line from London, via St. Thomas to Port Stanley. Known colloquially as The Traction, a nickname that persisted through to the end of the line's history in 1918 (Cooper). Acquired the charter, franchises and assets of the unbuilt Middlesex and Elgin Inter-urban Railway Company 12 June 1903. Sold at foreclosure. (Andreae 1997 indicates the London - Lambeth segment opening in 1902). (photo: postcard/trainweb.org).

London and Lake Erie interurbans (trainweb.org) London and Lake Erie Railway and Transportation Company (20 October 1909 - 15 October 1918)
electric interurban An attempt was made to develop a bus feeder system. Interurban Motors Limited was incorporated circa April 1917 by L&LE principals and announced it would commence feeder service from Aylmer to the L&LE at St. Thomas 01 May 1917. Routes from Delaware to the L&LE at Lambeth, and from Sparta to the L&LE at Union were expected to follow immediately. By March 1918 only the Aylmer route was running and the bus company was named St. Thomas-Alymer Motor Bus Co. (with the same manager). (CR&MW April 1917, p. 152; May 1917, p. 199; April 1918, p. 165). The L&LE was unable to compete commercially with the newer and faster L&PS for through traffic between London, St. Thomas and Port Stanley. (photo: trainweb.org)

London and Port Stanley Interurban

London and Port Stanley Railway Company (01 July 1915 - 18 February 1957)
electric interurban Incorporated 1853 as a steam railway and commenced operations as such 25 September 1856 (Formal opening ceremonies 16 October 1856). Line from London, via St. Thomas to Port Stanley. Promoted as a private enterprise but the majority of stock was held by the City of London and other municipalities. The City of London leased the line and electrified it in 1914. In 1955 the old company was dissolved and ownership of the line vested directly in the City of London (under the London Railway Commission). Electric freight operation ended 31 December 1965 and the line acquired by Canadian National Railways 01 January 1966.

Port Stanley Terminal Rail, Inc. (1983 - present)
Seven mile (11 km) portion of the L&PS line operated as a diesel-hauled tourist railway.

Note

funicular An incline railway (funicular) operated in Port Stanley from 1870 to 1966. The operation was owned by the L&PS for a time, beginning in 1915.

References


Copyright ©1989-2016 David A. Wyatt. All Rights Reserved.
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The author is always interested in comments, corrections and further information. Please email to:

dawwpg@shaw.ca
This page last modified: Monday, 04-Jul-2016 21:36:37 CDT