Hamilton Street Railway
The Hamilton Street Railway commonly known as the HSR is a public transport agency in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The name is a legacy of the company's early period, when public transit in Hamilton was primarily served by streetcars. Although streetcars are no longer used in the city today, the HSR operates bus and paratransit services, with a ridership of 21 million passengers a year. The HSR uses the Presto card as its method of fare payment, allowing for connections with GO Transit and other transit systems in the Greater Toronto area.[1]
.png) | |
 New Flyer C40LF #510213 on the 5C route in Downtown Hamilton | |
| Founded | 1873 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 2200 Upper James Street, Hamilton, Ontario |
| Locale | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Service area | Hamilton and Burlington |
| Service type | Public transport |
| Routes | 34 + 2 seasonal |
| Stops | 2,253 |
| Fleet | 260 buses[1] |
| Fuel type | Diesel, CNG, Diesel-electric |
| Operator | City of Hamilton |
| Website | www.hamilton.ca/HSR/ |
History
From 1873 to 1889, the HSR was owned by Lyman Moore and operated as a private business. In 1889 HSR was sold to Hamilton Cataract Interests, later known as Dominion Power and Transmission Company. The HSR was later acquired by Ontario Hydro.
Provincial ownership ended in 1946 when HSR was bought by Canada Coach Lines. CCL was purchased by the city of Hamilton in 1960. Hamilton-Wentworth Region began ownership of CCL and HSR in 1977, and in 2001 regional amalgamation placed its ownership back to the city of Hamilton.
Other streetcar systems
- 1873–1923: Hamilton & Dundas Street Railway
- 1891–1931: Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway
- 1893–1925: Hamilton Radial Electric Railway
- 1896–1931: Brantford & Hamilton Electric Railway
- 1907–1930s: Hamilton Terminal Company
Services
Bus routes
| No. | Name | Inner Terminal | Outer Terminal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King | Eastgate Square | Hamilton GO Centre | Sunday service extends to Fiesta Mall. |
| 1A | King | Eastgate Square | University Plaza | Weekday daytime service only. |
| 2 | Barton | Hamilton GO Centre | Bell Manor Loop | |
| 3 | Cannon | Hamilton GO Centre | Reid & Dunsmure | |
| 4 | Bayfront | Downtown | Mt. Albion Loop | Limtied Weekday & Saturday trips service Ferrie Ave |
| 5 | Delaware | JONES AT KING | 52 HEAD STREET (Dundas) | Route 5 runs eastbound, Route 52 runs westbound. Buses no longer operate on Main/King Street East. 5B University Plaza route discontinued |
| 5A/C | Delaware | GREENHILL AT COCHRANE | MEADOWLANDS (Ancaster) or WEST HAMILTON LOOP | Route 5A runs eastbound, Route 5C runs westbound. Alternating trips to West Hamilton Loop or The Meadowlands. Full day service to The Meadowlands on weekends began Sept. 2, 2012.[2] |
| 5E | Delaware | QUIGLEY at GREENHILL | 52 PIRIE at GOVERNORS (Dundas) | Route 5E runs eastbound, Route 52 runs westbound. 7-Day Service to Governors began in 2014. Late Evening Service to Stoney Creek began in 2014 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | Downtown (JAMES at MAIN) | Princess Point Loop | |
| 7 | Locke | Downtown (JAMES at KING) | Hillcrest Loop | |
| 8 | York | Downtown (JAMES at KING) | Lamoreaux & Strathcona | |
| 9 | Rock Gardens | Downtown | Holy Sepulchre Cemetery | Service operates on Sundays and holidays from May through November. Travels to Burlington. |
| 10 | B-Line Express | Eastgate Square | University Plaza | Weekday and Saturday daytime & early evening express service. Most trips interlined with 55 STONEY CREEK CENTRAL whilst the rest are interlined with 58 STONEY CREEK LOCAL |
| 11 | Parkdale | Valley Park Loop | Burlington Bus Terminal | Only daily route that travels to Burlington. Does not serve Downtown. Weekday Trips service Canada Centre for Inland Waters |
| 12 | Wentworth | Wentworth & Mars | Victoria & King | Counterclockwise loop. Route only operates on weekdays, with no midday service. |
| 16 | Ancaster | Meadowlands | GARNER at WILSON | No Sunday service. Does not serve Downtown. Separate AM & PM Routing. Interlined with 43 Stone Church |
| 18 | Waterdown | Waterdown & Parkside | Aldershot GO Station | New Clockwise & Counter-Clockwise Routing. No Services the Wal-Mart & Horseshoe Crescent Plazas. Service runs Weekdays & Saturdays until 8:00pm. Does not serve Downtown. Limited Drop-Off Only trips travel to Downtown Hamilton via Plains Road & York Blvd |
| 20 | A-Line Express | Hamilton Waterfront (Pier 8) | Hamilton International Airport | Runs Weekdays from 5:00am to 7:00pm with 30 minute midday service and 20 minute peak service. Services Mohawk College & Mountain Transit Centre Park & Ride. Southbound buses service MacNab Terminal |
| 21 | Upper Kenilworth | MacNab Transit Terminal | Heritage Greene Power Centre (as of Sept. 6, 2015)[3] | |
| 22 | Upper Ottawa | MacNab Transit Terminal | Upper Ottawa & Rymal | Limited trips service Anchor & Bigwin |
| 23 | Upper Gage | MacNab Transit Terminal | Upper Gage & Rymal | |
| 24 | Upper Sherman | MacNab Transit Terminal | Upper Gage & Rymal | Routing via St Jean de Brebeuf School cancelled 2014. |
| 25 | Upper Wentworth | MacNab Transit Terminal | Lime Ridge Mall | |
| 26 | Upper Wellington | MacNab Transit Terminal via Rymal | Lime Ridge Mall via Rymal | |
| 27 | Upper James | MacNab Transit Terminal | Mountain Transit Centre Park & Ride | |
| 33 | Sanatorium | MacNab Transit Terminal | Mohawk & Scenic Loop | Routing through Chedoke Arena cancelled 2014. Serves new Mohawk College Terminal |
| 34 | Upper Paradise | Downtown (MAIN at MACNAB) | Glancaster Loop | |
| 34A | Upper Paradise | Downtown (Main & MacNab) | Upper Horning Loop | |
| 35 | College | MacNab Transit Terminal | St. Elizabeth Village Loop | Alternating routing via Garth and via Upper James. Serves new Mohawk College Terminal |
| 41 | Mohawk | Meadowlands/41A Chedoke Hospital | Gage & Industrial | Does not serve Downtown. Alternating Routing via Ottawa & Kenilworth. Services Lime Ridge Mall |
| 42 | Mohawk East | Lime Ridge Mall | Mohawk 4 Ice Centre | Does not serve Downtown. Formerly the Mohawk East Extra. Extension on trial until September 2017. Daily Service. |
| 43 | Stone Church | Meadowlands | HIGHLAND at SALTFLEET SCHOOL | 7-day a week service from 6AM–midnight began Aug. 31, 2014.[4] Does not serve Downtown. Services Lime Ridge Mall Interlined with 16 Ancaster (Weekdays & Saturdays Only) |
| 44 | Rymal | Confederation GO Station | Ancaster Business Park/Glancaster Loop (Weekends) | Does not serve Downtown. |
| 51 | University | Hamilton GO Centre via McMaster University | West Hamilton Loop via McMaster University | No Sunday or summer service. Service Monday–Saturday extended to 2:30am Route 51 Special operates during the McMaster University Orientation Week (last week of August) |
| 52A | Dundas Local | York & Watson's Loop | Pleasant & Orchard | Weekday peak hour service only. Does not serve Downtown. |
| 55 | Stoney Creek Central | Eastgate Square | Hwy 8 & Jones | Via Queenston & Barton. Does not serve Downtown. |
| 55 | Stoney Creek Central | Eastgate Square | 55A Levi Loop | Does not serve Downtown. |
| 56 | Centennial | Eastgate Square | Confederation Park via Walmart | Weekend and holiday service only. Service via Confederation Plaza (Walmart Supercentre). Also serves Confederation Park during the summer. Does not serve Downtown. |
| 58 | Stoney Creek Local | Eastgate Square | Hwy 8 & Jones | Via Centennial & King. Does not serve Downtown. |
| 99 | Waterfront Shuttle | Downtown (King opp. Summer's Lane) | Pier 8 (Discovery Drive) | Seven-day summer-only service. |
Route histories
In the early 1990s the HSR eliminated many routes by expanding current routes. The following is a list of replaced and withdrawn routes:
| HSR replaced and withdrawn routes | |
|---|---|
| 15 Sherman/Ottawa | Replaced (on Ottawa Street only) first by 4 Bayfront, then 53 Burlington, and eventually 41 Mohawk. |
| 17 Ancaster Local | Withdrawn due to low ridership. |
| 18 Waterdown | Eliminated to Aldershot GO Station due to low ridership and not replaced; reinstated September 2008. |
| 31 Fennell | Service on Fennell Avenue replaced with reroute of 21 Upper Kenilworth between West 5th and Upper Kenilworth, via James St Hill and with reroute of 33 Sanatorium between West 5th and Garth, via James St Hill. Service on Kenilworth Avenue and Ottawa Street, via Kenilworth Access replaced by 41 Mohawk reroute via Upper Ottawa. |
| 32 Garth | Replaced by 35 College (which was extended south of Mohawk College). |
| 45 Limeridge | Eliminated due to construction of Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, resulting in the breaking up of Limeridge Road, at the Upper Gage, Upper Wentworth and Upper James interchanges. |
| 53 Burlington | Replaced by 41 Mohawk (now serving Ottawa Street) and 11 Parkdale (which was extended into Burlington). |
| 57 Nash | Replaced by 4 Bayfront (now serving Nash Road and Quigley Road to Mount Albion Loop). |
| 59 Frances Ave | Four month trial route from October 2, 1989 - February 4, 1990. |
Streetcar routes
The HSR operated horsecars from 1874 to 1892 and electric streetcars from 1892 to 1951. Trolley buses replaced streetcars in Hamilton in December 1950 and 1951.
| Streetcar routes in Hamilton prior to 1951 |
|---|
|
Trolley bus routes
Trolley buses were used by the HSR from 1950 to 1992 on the routes listed in the table below. Hamilton's trolley bus system opened on 10 December 1950, and the last day of trolley bus service was 30 December 1992.[5]
| Trolley bus routes of the HSR from 1950 to 1992 |
|---|
|
Trans-Cab
Introduced in 1998 as a two-year pilot project, Trans-Cab is a shared-ride taxi service between HSR and specific local taxi providers, currently offered in portions of Glanbrook and Stoney Creek.
Accessible transportation
Accessible Transportation Services (ATS) is the section that administers a variety of accessible services on behalf of the City
- Accessible low-floor (ALF) buses provide level entry and exit to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. It is anticipated that the entire HSR fleet will be accessible by 2009.
- Disabled and Aged Regional Transportation System (DARTS) is a non profit charitable organization that is the paratransit service provider.
- Taxi Scrip program provides discounted taxi coupons for ATS registered persons who are unable to access regular transit buses.
Rapid transit
In 1981, during Bill Davis's Progressive Conservative administration, the Province of Ontario offered to finance the construction of a light rail line in Hamilton, from Lloyd D. Jackson Square to the Lime Ridge Mall.[6] The line would have used the same technology as the Scarborough RT in Toronto. The plans triggered a lot of grass-roots opposition, and Hamilton-Wentworth Council turned the proposal down. The plan called for an elevated track—one of the elements that triggered opposition, with residents being concerned commuters would be invading their privacy, by looking down on their back-yards and in their second floor windows.
When the CBC News compared the rejected 1981 plan with the 21st Century rapid transit plan, they quoted the individual who had been the planning and development manager for Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Government, Doug Lychak, who pointed out that Vancouver's introduction of the same elevated light rail technology, just four years later, is widely acknowledged to have been very successful.[6]
The 1980s light rail plans were to use the UTDC ICTS technology, but the project was scrapped and no lines were created for the HSR.
Hamilton and Metrolinx will build a provincially-funded LRT line (Hamilton LRT) in the early 2020s.[7] Land acquisition and building demolition for a 14 kilometre line from McMaster University to Eastgate Square will proceed in 2019.[8] No vehicles have been chosen, but the trains may be similar to the Flexity Freedom to be used in Waterloo Region's Ion rapid transit and Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
- The planned BLAST network routes may eventually include:[9][10]
- B-Line – Main/King corridor from McMaster University to Eastgate Square
- L-Line – Downtown to Waterdown
- A-Line – James/Upper James corridor from Downtown to John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
- S-Line – Confederation GO Station to Ancaster Business Park
- T-Line – Mohawk to Meadowlands
In December 2019, the Government of Ontario cancelled the B-line LRT project in favour of providing investment in existing transit services.[11]
Facilities
Barns/garages
- 1875 first horsebarn opens
- 1887 second horsebarn opens
- 1889 Sanford Avenue carhouse opens
- 1927–1990 Wentworth Street North carbarn/garage opens (machine shops, etc.)
- 1984–1996, 1998–present Mountain Regional Transit Centre on Upper James Street
- 1990–1998 Wentworth Street Transit Centre
Loops
| Location | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Barton & Bell Manor Loop | Bus | 2 Barton Terminus, 55A Stoney Creek Central |
| CNIB/Main West Loop | Bus | Removed |
| Hillcrest Loop | Bus | Locke Route; technically terminus for three-point-turn |
| Glancaster Road Loop | Bus | 34 Upper Paradise Terminus, 44 Rymal Terminus (weekends only) |
| Guise Loop | Streetcar | |
| Kenilworth & Barton | Trolley bus | Short turn loop |
| Kenilworth & Cannon | Trolley bus | Short turn loop |
| King & James turntable | Streetcar | |
| Lakeland Loop | Bus | 56 Centennial Terminus |
| Levi Loop | Bus | 55A Stoney Creek Central Terminus. Also a Trans-Cab Transfer Point |
| Main & London | Trolley bus | King route short turn loop |
| Princess Point Loop | Bus | 6 Aberdeen Terminus |
| Queenston Loop | Bus | No longer used (replaced with Fiesta Mall) |
| Scenic & Lavender Loop | Bus | 33 Sanatorium Terminus |
| Strathcona & Lamoreaux | Bus | 8 York Terminus |
| Strathearne Loop | Trolley bus | Strathearne & Roxborough Ave; removed |
| Titan Loop | Bus | |
| Valley Park Loop | Bus | Discontinued. Routes 11 Parkdale & 43 Stonechurch share a stop on Paramount in front of the loop |
| West Hamilton Loop | Bus | 5 Delaware-5C West Hamilton Loop Terminus (Weekdays Only) & 51 University Terminus |
| Westdale Loop | Streetcar | |
Terminals and connections
HSR routes from downtown to the Mountain (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, and 35) currently use MacNab Transit Terminal, while several lower city routes (4, 6, 7, 8 and 9) have an on-street terminal layover at the intersection of Main and James Streets. Route 34 has a layover location on Main at MacNab.
HSR connects with GO Transit at Hamilton GO Centre, which serves as the terminus for four HSR routes (1, 2, 3, and 51). The station, located at 36 Hunter Street East, a few blocks south of King and James, is the terminus of the Lakeshore West railway line and express Highway 407 and Queen Elizabeth Way GO Buses. It is also the main Greyhound Lines bus stop (mainly serving London, Ontario and those connections) in Hamilton. Canada Coach Lines, once owned by HSR, is now served by Coach Canada, formerly Trentway-Wagar, and operates routes between Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, and Niagara. It is also the former Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway (TH&B) passenger station, and there is a small museum above the public concourse. HSR routes 2 and 4 also connect with GO at Barton Street & Nash Road in East Hamilton, where a GO bus travels between there and the Burlington GO Station.
At the Mountain Transit Centre transfer point (served by route 27) and a contract with Blue Line Taxi, the HSR also connects with other areas in the northwest portion of the former Glanbrook.
In addition, the HSR is connected with Burlington Transit, as one route (11 Parkdale) travels into Burlington via Burlington Beach, 18 Waterdown connects with BT at Aldershot GO Station, and BT Route 1 enters downtown Hamilton from Plains Road West. Also '9 Rock Gardens' travels into Burlington going into the Royal Botanical Gardens during the summer months.
Other terminals and loops
| Location | Routes |
|---|---|
| Bell Manor Loop | 2, 55A |
| Eastgate Transit Terminal | 1, 10, 44, 55/55A, 56, 58 |
| Glancaster Loop | 34, 44, Redeemer University College Shuttle (limited service) |
| Lime Ridge Transit Terminal | 25, 26, 41/41A, 43, Mohawk East Extra Shuttle |
| McMaster University | 1A, 5A/5C, 51 run through or terminate at the University 5B/5E, 10, 52 pass nearby on Main Street GO Transit bus service to & from Burlington GO Station |
| MacNab Transit Terminal | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 35 |
| Meadowlands | 5A/5C, 16, 41, 43, Redeemer University College Shuttle (limited service) |
| Mohawk College Transit Terminal | 20, 21, 33, 35[12] |
| Upper Horning Loop | 34A |
| West Hamilton Loop | 5C, 51 |
Fares
| Fare Class | Single fare | Monthly pass | Annual pass | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Age group) | Cash | Ticket | Presto | Paper | Presto | Presto |
| Student (5 to 19) | $3.25 | $2.05 | $90.20 | n/a | ||
| Adult | $3.25 | $2.50 | $110.00 | n/a | ||
| Senior (65+) | $3.25 | $2.50 | $2.05 | n/a | $32.50 | $325.00 |
| Golden Age Presto Pass | ||||||
| Golden Age (80+) | Free | |||||
| Appropriate identification must be provided. Fares as of September 1, 2019[13] | ||||||
Metrolinx and HSR have partnered to operate the Presto electronic fare card. The project aims to standardize fare collection systems across transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The system is currently operational.[14]
Gallery
Two of the Hamilton Street Railway's former Flyer E800 trolley buses are preserved at the Halton County Radial Railway museum.
Hamilton Street Railway Orion V 8907 on the 34A route at the intersection of King and James Streets in downtown Hamilton.
New Flyer D40LFs like this one seen at McMaster University form much of the HSR's recent bus fleet.
In 2007, the HSR introduced articulated hybrid buses for the route 10 Beeline Express.
Route 99 - Waterfront Shuttle (2008).
Staff
Most staff at HSR are members (bus operators, mechanics and other transit workers) of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107. The local was formed in 1899 and also represents transit workers at Mississauga Transit. The local does not represent those working on city's paratransit service, Disabled and Aged Regional Transportation System (DARTS).
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hamilton Street Railway. |
- About the company
- http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/1530720E-580B-4675-B537-51C4EB0720BC/0/SE12Route5.pdf
- http://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2015-08-10/21-upper_kenilworth-effectivesept_2015.pdf
- http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB4E9539-AB8C-4FF2-8D85-3BF66047B7BC/0/SEPT14_StoneChurch.pdf
- Murray, Alan (2000). World Trolleybus Encyclopaedia. Yateley, Hampshire, UK: Trolleybooks. p. 78. ISBN 0-904235-18-1.
-
Cory Ruf (2014-05-27). "LRT and lessons to be learned from Hamilton's first flirtation with urban trains: In 1981, Council turned down elevated train line, despite province's vow to foot most of the bill". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2014-05-28.
On the night of Dec. 15, 1981, Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Council rejected a proposal to build a $111-million elevated train line from Jackson Square in the city’s core to Lime Ridge Mall, the hub for what was then the southern fringe of the Mountain’s blooming suburbs.
- Craggs, Samantha (Apr 11, 2019). "Provincial budget confirms - again - that Hamilton will get LRT". CBC News.
- Craggs, Samantha (March 28, 2019). "Metrolinx resumes buying land for Hamilton LRT after 7-month pause". CBC News.
- City of Hamilton - Rapid Transit Archived 2010-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
- Why is the City of Hamilton interested in rapid transit?
- https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/12/16/ontario-cancels-hamilton-light-rail-project-in-what-mayor-calls-a-betrayal/#:~:text=Ontario%20cancels%20Hamilton%20light%20rail,what%20mayor%20calls%20a%20'betrayal'&text=A%20light%2Drail%20project%20in,%E2%80%9Cbetrayal%E2%80%9D%20of%20the%20city.
- Mohawk College Transit Terminal
- Cash, Tickets and Passes
- http://www.metrolinx.com/mx/en/board/20101116/Metrolinx_Update_November16_v6.pdf%5B%5D
- Mills, John M. (1971). Cataract Traction:The Railways of Hamilton. Canadian Traction Series. Volume 2. Toronto: Upper Canada Railway Society & Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association. p. 116.
.svg.png){kind=small}