506 Carlton Streetcar

I like street cars, except when I’m in a hurray. I find the Dundas and Carlton car a bit more unreliable than the Spadina, St Clair or even King and Queen cars. The King and Queen cars get stuck in traffic more but come more often than the Carlton Car. I usually take the Carlton car from Landsdowne to the spadina /​Bathurst area. Any more east of there I would just take the subway. The Carlton Car goes all the way out to Main Station and one day i will take it from Main all the, but only if I have lots of time to kill.

Well it’s a TTC streetcar route, anyone that rides them will know what they’re like. The 506 is probably the best streetcar route in terms of speed and accuracy as of late. (Wasn’t the case in the summer, but it has improved noticeably.) According to a particular diver, the coordinator for the route in 2013 had quite the brick for a brain. It’s second only to Spadina, which while being dedicated still manages to seem slower? Although I think that all the drivers just all go on break after the morning rush hour at 9am or something because immediately after that, all the 506 streetcars mysteriously disappear.
Anyways, taking the route from Main St Station will bring you down through nice hilly residential neighbourhoods, then through Leslieville and (not quite gentrified) Riverdale. Once you pass De Grassi St you’re in the dilapidated East Chinatown, which is home to that building that burned down some years ago, and for some reason hasn’t been replaced with a new condo or something?
Immediately after that you get to see the oxymoronically placed Bridgepoint Health Centre, immediately beside the DVP.
Things get interesting when the route just grazes Regent Park. I was lucky enough to see someone snort cocaine on the streetcar a quiet late morning ride home. Neat stuff!
You could get off at Carleton and Parliament for a bite to eat, but there’s more fun to come!
Passing the former Allen Gardens needle exchange you’re at College park. Now you could get off now and take the subway, but it’s not like you’re in a hurry if you take this streetcar so why get off now?
Passing Bay (yay!) you’re at Queen’s Park subway station, where you get to see the Ontario Legislature Building surrounded and protected by the modern day moat, which is 6 lanes of high speed traffic!
Further past that, you’re now entering College and Spadina, home to downtown’s cluster of computer and electronics stores.
After this, you’re now approaching the Dufferin Street Area. If you didn’t already bail on the 506 or are braving through your starvation you could get off now and visit one of the many restaurants along this street. During the summer this street is quite vibrant and lively, while in the winter it just seems as depressing as Riverdale anytime of the year.
Well if you haven’t gotten off yet then you’re in for a treat. The route takes you up across another bridge and back up hills, where you’ll get a nice view of the city.
Ending this wondrous journey off you travel over gravel and grass into High Park. You’re dropped off at the quaint High Park Loop where you can do… something.
Happy Travels!

Oh the good ol’ 506…
They just can’t seem to get it right, can they? If you’re lucky you’ll catch a string of 3 – 5 streetcars in a row. Guaranteed to get a seat. If you’re unlucky, have fun waiting up to 20 minutes (during rush hour.) Seriously.

I thought the 506 was a perfectly lovely streetcar. I took it to meet a friend for brunch, over by Kensington Market, and not only was it clean and efficient, the driver was really cute.
Plus the fact that it doesn’t smell like urine really kicks it up a star in my book!

I’ve been taking this streetcar route to & from work for over 15 yrs now. You can wait for half an hour just to catch one at College/​Spadina. Yes, I do indeed think they come in 3’s. Just like bad luck. The drivers scream at people not to get on thru the back doors at Yonge, then the next time tell you over the PA to go ahead & do just that! Let’s stay consistent here please. Don’t holler at people just because you can’t keep the drivers in the loop about rules! If you can get where you’re going another way-​DO!!!

Like all bad things, the 506 comes in 3’s. On average a streetcar comes every 5 minutes or so, but only because 3 come within a minute, then 3 more come 10 to 15 minutes later. During rush hour you have to squeeze in to these things and in winter they are so full that you have to let a couple pass before you can get on.

The 506 gets my vote for Most Improved Streetcar Line of 2009. This route is a riot and in recent times I’ve never had to wait more than 15 minutes for it. They’ve definitely made some improvements to it.
I get on and off at unpopular stops so I always get a seat even though it’s a single car, and there are never any reeking groceries, SUV strollers or unruly drunks. However, if you’re heading westbound prepare to overhear lots of domestic disputes and other dialogue from Jerry Springer Show hopefuls. It’s all part of the 506 fun.
I’ve seen a driver calmly take control of a bearded, unruly, piss-​drunk hobo by putting her finger to her lips and making a «shhh» motion. The woman was embarrassed and stayed quiet for most of the trip with minimal outbursts. Another time, the driver went out of his way to help several people get on and off the streetcar via the front and rear doors. Recently, when there was a stabbing at Gerrard/​Broadview, the driver took many pains to explain the sudden detour to us and keep passengers updated on the safety situation. When I thanked him for his thorough updates, he said he loved his job and that the 506 was his favourite assignment. Do you think many TTC drivers like their jobs?
It’s faster for me to take the 506 with Queen Street as my final destination than to take the 501 outright. Things get a bit hairy between University and Yonge (as expected) but otherwise it’s a very swift ride with fewer accidents, cyclists and prick parking jobs than Queen.

Holy cow… too right. I thought the 512 St. Clair was pretty bad until I checked this one out. Yesterday I spent about 45 minutes combined waiting for 2 streetcars — this one once and Dundas once. I guess I have to give props in that normally when you get on (except rush hour) its empty or close to it. They really ought to increase service.

Ha ha I thought I was the only one who thought the 506 had lousy service! It seems every time I get off the 510 at College the 506 passes right by and I am left to clench my teeth for eons before the next one rolls along. Seriously, waiting for the 506 either way can be a bitch although the scenery can be rather nice either way-​Little India to the east or the bright lights and bustle on College to the west.
I pity the fool who is forced to rely on this streetcar.