Compiled by Jeffrey Kay

With assistance by Pete Coulman

See Also:

• 314 DUFFERIN-BATHURST BLUE NIGHT (1987-1996)
• 329 DUFFERIN NIGHT

July 1, 1954

Service begins on a new route partially replacing the BRIAR HILL bus and extending transit service further north into the Borough of York. From a loop at Wilson Avenue and Winston Park (one block west on Dufferin) buses operate via east on Wilson and south on Dufferin to Eglinton, looping via east on Livingston, south on Times and west on Eglinton to Dufferin. Buses return via reverse route. Service operates seven days a week, eighteen hours a day.

Additional service was provided north of Wilson to the Dehaviland aircraft manufacturing plant, likely during rush hours, taking over the "DeHavilland" charter service operated by Danforth Bus Lines. Buses operate weekdays only with 2 morning trips (arriving at DeHavilland at 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.) and 2 afternoon trips departing DeHavilland at 3:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.) Buses operate from Eglinton over the regular route to Wilson, then east on Wilson to Wilson Heights, north to Sheppard and west on Sheppard to the DeHavilland Aircraft and Department of Highways plants, returning via the same route

The route is operated out of Parkdale Garage.

A Note on the DeHavilland Branch

Service to the DeHavilland plant was started by the Danforth Bus Lines on July 10, 1940, but shut down the next day by the Department of Highways after they received complaints from the TTC. Danforth Bus Lines resumed this service as a charter operation on September 6, 1941, running via Wilson Heights and Sheppard.

Danforth Bus Lines operated three other services to DeHavilland, one from the bus terminal at Walton and Bay (via Bay, Davenport, Bathurst, Vaughan, Dufferin, Wilson, Wilson Heights and Sheppard), another from St. Clair and Vaughan (via Vaughan, Dufferin, Wilson, Wilson Heights and Sheppard) and a third from Yonge and Yonge Blvd (via Yonge Blvd, Wilson, Wilson Heights and Sheppard). The fare was 15 cents each.

On July 1, 1954, the TTC took over the DeHavilland Dufferin charter service along with a number of other services in East York previously operated by the Danforth Bus Lines. It is not known exactly when this branch disappeared. It is still listed in the TTC's Operators' Guidebook of January 1958, and is absent from the TTC's service summary dated April 9, 1959.

December 17, 1954

South looping revised to operate via east on Belgravia, south on Times and west on Eglinton.

Autumn 1956

Assigned route number 29.

March 26, 1962

Service extended south of Eglinton via Dufferin, Peel, Gladstone, Queen and Dufferin to the Exhibition West loop at Springfield, replacing the 73 SOUTH DUFFERIN route.

Extended service operates Mondays through Saturdays from roughly 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. During Monday to Saturday evenings and all day Sundays, buses operate between Wilson Avenue and Eglinton only, looping at Eglinton via Belgravia, Times and Eglinton.

Additional rush hour short turn service operates from the Exhibition north to Eglinton, looping via west on Bowie, south on Fairbank and east on Ramsden. Extra rush hour service was also provided between the Exhibition and Davenport Road.

Some buses on the route are now operated out of Davenport Garage, in addition to the service out of Parkdale Garage.

March 29, 1962

29B rush hour short turn service extended north to Briar Hill, looping via east on Roselawn, north on Locksley and west on Briar Hill during the morning rush hours. During the afternoon, buses loop in the opposite direction.

August 17, 1962

Evening and Sunday service extended to the Exhibition, eliminating the 29 "Eglinton" branch.

September 2, 1962

A new Saturday day time short turn service begins operation on the 29B branch between Briar Hill and Exhibition.

January 8, 1963 or earlier

The Monday to Friday peak period short turn at Briar Hill is removed and through service to Wilson is improved. This change may have occurred as early as October 1962.

October 8, 1963 or earlier

A new Monday through Friday midday short turn service begins operation on the 29B branch between Briar Hill and Exhibition. This change may have occurred as early as July 1963.

February 22, 1964

The Monday through Friday midday short turn service to Briar Hill ends on this date, and service is improved on the through service to Wilson to serve the new Yorkdale Shopping Centre that opened on the south side of Highway 401.

July 27, 1964

The Saturday day time short turn at Briar Hill is last operated on this date, and through service to Wilson is improved.

January 7, 1965

Northern loop revised with buses now operating north on Dufferin past Wilson, west on Katherine, south on Keswick and east on Regent. Buses were originally diverted this way due to sewer reconstruction, but this became official on February 23, 1965.

April 1, 1965

Northern loop revised to operate via west on Wilson, north on Maniza and east on Regent to Dufferin.

April 19, 1965

Additional service extended north from the Wilson/Dufferin intersection via east on Wilson, north on Faywood and west on Sheppard to loop on the south side of Sheppard just east of Wilson Heights. Service operates during the daytime Monday to Friday only

January 23, 1966

The buses that did operate from Parkdale are now operated from the new Queensway Garage. Some buses continue to operate from Davenport Garage.

February 26, 1966

Coincident with the opening of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY, some rush hour short turn services established around Bloor, looping via east on Shanley, south on Gladstone and west on Bloor, although buses do not enter Dufferin station as the station does not have terminal facilities.

Seven day a week service is extended north from Sheppard via Faywood and Wilmington, looping set on Overbrook, north on Dufferin and east on Finch. During all off-peak hours, buses operate south to the Exhibition. During rush hours, these buses operate just to Bloor, looping via east on Shanley, south on Gladstone and west on Bloor, with buses operating express between Lawrence and Bloor, stopping at transfer points early.

Late evening service to Wilson discontinued.

February 26, 1967

The buses that did operate from Queensway Garage are now operated from the Lansdowne Garage. Some buses continue to operate from Davenport Garage.

December 31, 1967

Finch service extended north on Wilmington, west on Finch, north on Dufferin and west on Martin Ross, looping south on Alness, then east and north on Brisbane. No change to the 29B rush hour express service.

May 11, 1968

Evening and Sunday service to Finch discontinued. A new evening and weekend branch runs north to Sheppard only, turning back in a off-street loop just east of Wilson Heights on the south side of Sheppard. The 7E BATHURST bus serves a portion of the residential area north of Sheppard instead.

The Bloor "Express" branch finally gets its own exposure, as the 29E branch.

July 22, 1968

"Finch" buses now loop north on Dufferin, west on Martin Ross, south on Alness and east on Finch. ("Martin Ross" replaces "Finch" on route signs at about this time.)

December 31, 1970

Last day of operation of the 29E Express service to Bloor.

January 3, 1971

"Finch" buses are extended north of Martin Ross to Dolomite, with buses now looping via north on Dufferin, west on Dolomite, south on Alness and east on Martin Ross. By this time, these buses operate all the way south to the Exhibition.

In addition, a new rush hour short turn service established between Bloor and Briar Hill. At the south end, buses loop via east on Shanley, south on Gladstone and west on Bloor, while at the north end buses loop via east on Briar Hill, south on Locksley and west on Castlefield.

May 22 to October 11, 1971

The annual seasonal extension bringing transit service closer to the main entrance of Ontario Place is established at this time. Between 9:30 a.m. and 1:15 a.m., seven days a week, buses are extended south on Dufferin through Dufferin Gate and onto the CNE grounds. They then proceed east and south on Saskatchewan Road, east on Princess Blvd, looping around the Sports Hall of Fame via west on Quebec and south on Ontario. On the return northbound trip, buses loop through Exhibition West loop. The same destination signs are used for this service, with the addition of a dash card that reads "ONTARIO PLACE".

The extension is operated annually from 1971, but exact dates vary to match the opening dates of Ontario Place. The extension also does not operate when the Canadian National Exhibition is on, or during other major events on the Exhibition Grounds. For exact dates, please see the list at the end of this history.

September 5, 1971

Operation of this route is now exclusively from Lansdowne Garage. Dufferin buses are no longer dispatch from Davenport garage.

September 4, 1973

The "Briar Hill" loop is expanded, now operating east on Briar Hill, south on Marlee, west on Roselawn and west on Castlefield.

June 24, 1974

Service extended north to Steeles, with buses looping via west on Martin Ross, north on Alness and east on Steeles.

March 14, 1976

All buses on Dufferin are no operated from the new Wilson Garage, replacing Lansdowne Garage as the base of operation.

March 15, 1976

29A "Wilson" buses now loop one block further north, via west on Katherine, south on Keswick and east on Regent.

Date Unknown.

During or before November 1976, Sunday service on the 29A branch to Wilson is removed, and all Sunday buses run north to Sheppard on the 29D branch.

May 23, 1976

Service is again extended to Ontario Place. Starting from 9:30 a.m. and throughout the midday, and all day Saturdays, buses on the 29 "Steeles" branch are extended to Ontario Place, with additional service provided between Wilson and Ontario Place on the 29A "Wilson" branch. During the afternoon rush hour, service to Ontario Place is provided by an extension of the 29B "Briar Hill" branch. During the evenings and all day Sundays, service to Ontario Place is provided by an extension of the 29D "Sheppard" branch. No change made to the rollsigns.

January 28, 1978

Coincident with the opening of the SPADINA SUBWAY, the route is split at Wilson Station. Service north of Wilson station is now operated by the 104 FAYWOOD and the 105 WILSON HEIGHTS routes.

South of Wilson station, the main branch operates between Exhibition West loop and Wilson station following the old route, but looping in the upper level of Wilson station's bus terminal. Additional rush hour service operates between Exhibition West loop and Briar Hill.

August 16, 1978

Briar Hill loop cut back to loop via east on Briar Hill, south on Locksley, west on Roselawn, and west on Castlefield. Service on Marlee now provided by an extension of the 109 RANEE bus to Eglinton West station.

May 1985

During the afternoon rush hour, service to Ontario Place is provided by an extension of the 29E "Briar Hill" short turn service beyond Exhibition West loop. At all other times after 9:30 a.m., service is provided by an extension of the 29 "Wilson Station" service.

April 1, 1991

29E "Briar Hill" looping on the east side of Dufferin discontinued and replaced by a new service looping through the industrial area on the west side of Dufferin. 29A buses operate from Exhibition West loop, follow the normal route north on Dufferin and loop via west on Wingold, north on Lansdowne and east on Tycos.

November 24, 1991

Articulated buses are now used, Monday through Saturday.

January 8, 1995

Sunday service provided by articulated buses.

September 3, 1995

Use of articulated buses discontinued.

May 5, 1996

Service extended to Ontario Place, but with all buses operating south of Exhibition West loop during the afternoon rush hour, rather than just the short turn 29A "Tycos" buses.

February 16, 1997

The very early and very late bus trips that run south to Bloor only now turn back at the Dufferin Mall parking lot just south of Bloor. Previously, these trips looped via east on Hallam, south on Dovercourt and west on Bloor.

June 1, 1998

Route designated an accessible service, using Orion VI low floor buses on most trips.

September 17, 1998

Accessible service removed as a result of a withdrawal of Orion VI buses.

March 21, 1999

Accessible service restored, with the route now using lift-equipped Orion V CNG buses.

September 5 to November 20, 1999

To test newly arrived Low Floor Flyers under the same conditions as Orion VI buses, this route is temporarily assigned to the Eglinton division instead of Wilson division. In exchange, buses on 11 BAYVIEW, 51 LESLIE, 103 MOUNT PLEASANT NORTH, 197 NORTH YONGE, 90 VAUGHAN and 97 YONGE are switched to operate out of Wilson Division.

May 2000 (or earlier)

The system-wide use of electronic destination signs allows Dufferin buses to advertise their seasonal extension to Ontario Place. Southbound buses now display "To Exhibition and Ontario Place".

29	D U F F E R I N TO WILSON STN		29	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION AND ONTARIO PLACE
7 days a week, 18 hours a day "To Ontario Place" used seasonally only
29A	D U F F E R I N TO TYCOS DR		29A	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
29C	D U F F E R I N TO DUFFERIN STN.		29C	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION
Extra service during special events
29E	D U F F E R I N E X P R E S S  TO DUFFERIN STN		29D	D U F F E R I N E X P R E S S  TO EXHIBITION
Extra service during special events

May 7, 2006

All runs, every day of the week, now scheduled to use Orion V lift vehicles in the 9400-9449 series. Previously, some afternoon peak and overnight trips were operated by non-accessible buses.

The seasonal extension to Ontario Place resumes on this date. Due to the construction of a new soccer stadium on the site of the Sports Hall of Fame, the route is diverted to operate via south on Dufferin, east on Saskatchewan, east on Princes' Blvd, south on Ontario, east on Princes' Blvd, north and west on Nunavut, north on Nova Scotia, west on Manitoba, west on Saskatchewan and north on Dufferin. These buses loop through Exhibition West loop on their northbound trips. During peak periods, this extension is operated by all trips starting from Tycos Drive. There is no separate branch letter for Ontario Place service, but electronic display signs are modified to read "To Exhibition and Ontario Place".

May 13, 2007

A new year-round extension into Exhibition Place is introduced. This service runs past Exhibition West loop via south on Dufferin, east on Saskatchewan, east on Manitoba and south on Canada Drive to an off-street loop on the east side of Canada Drive, north of the Princes' Gate before returning via the reverse route.

The seasonal extension to Ontario Place also resumes on this date, looping through Exhibition Place via south on Dufferin, east on Saskatchewan, east on Princes' Blvd, south on Ontario Drive, east on Princes' Blvd, north and west on Nunavut, north on Nova Scotia, west on Manitoba, west on Saskatchewan and north on Dufferin. Buses on both branches operate through the Exhibition West loop on their northbound trips.

During major events at Exhibition Place, when roads are closed, all Dufferin buses end their runs at Exhibition West loop and are signed "to Exhibition (Dufferin Gate)"

Note: To minimize the variety of branch designations as seen by the public, northbound buses typically display 29 "to Wilson Station" or 29A "to Tycos", while southbound buses display 29 "to Exhibition (Dufferin Gate)", 29B "to Exhibition (Ontario Place)" or 29D "to Exhibition (Princes' Gate)".

September 4, 2007

Following the conclusion of the 2007 CNE, all trips to Ontario Place are changed to run from Princes' Gate.

29A	D U F F E R I N TO TYCOS DR		29A	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (DUFFERIN GATE)
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
29D	D U F F E R I N TO WILSON STN.		29D	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (PRINCES' GATE)
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
29H	D U F F E R I N TO TYCOS DR		29H	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (PRINCES' GATE)
Monday to Friday, afternoon rush hours

Note: this six week period is the only use of the "29H" branch designation.

October 14, 2007

Service to Princes' Gate is reduced and alternate buses run south to Dufferin Gate only, at most times of the week. This becomes the standard operating pattern in the non-summer months as the trial service to Princes' Gate continues.

29	D U F F E R I N TO WILSON STN		29	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (DUFFERIN GATE)
Monday to Friday, midday and early evenings, Weekends late morning and all afternoon.
29A	D U F F E R I N TO TYCOS		29A	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (DUFFERIN GATE)
Monday to Friday, rush hours only
29D	D U F F E R I N TO WILSON STN.		29D	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (PRINCES' GATE)
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

May 11 to mid-August 2008

The seasonal service to Ontario Place resumes and service patterns are the same as in May 2007. When the CNE opens in mid-August all buses run south to Dufferin Gate only.

May 10 to mid-August 2009

Seasonal service to Ontario Place resumes, but service levels to both Ontario Place and Princes' Gate are reduced and alternate trips are schedule turn back at Dufferin Gate at most times during the week. Similar service is operated in the summer of 2010.

September 7, 2010

Hours of service on the extension to Princes' Gate are reduced to Monday through Friday rush hours, Saturday daytime and early evenings and Sunday daytimes. Buses run south only to Dufferin Gate at all other times. 29B service to "Ontario Place" continues to operate on a seasonal basis from early May to mid-August.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
29	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (DUFFERIN GATE)
Monday to Friday, midday and early evenings, Weekends late morning and all afternoon.
			29	D U F F E R I N TO WILSON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			29A	D U F F E R I N TO TYCOS DR
Mondays to Fridays, rush hours only
29B	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION AND ONTARIO PLACE
Daily 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., from early May to Mid August
29C	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION		29C	D U F F E R I N TO DUFFERIN STN
Extra service during special events
29D	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (PRINCES' GATE)
Monday to Friday rush hours Saturday daytime and early evenings Sunday daytime
29E	D U F F E R I N E X P R E S S TO EXHIBITION		29E	D U F F E R I N E X P R E S S TO DUFFERIN STN
Extra service during special events

November 18, 2010

The Dufferin jog at Queen eliminated. All 29 DUFFERIN and 329 DUFFERIN NIGHT buses use the new railway underpass just north of Queen, eliminating service on Peel, Gladstone and Queen.

May 8, 2011

Seasonal service begins on the annual extension to Ontario Place. Buses operating south of Dufferin Gate now alternate between 29B "To Exhibition and Ontario Place" and 29D "To Exhibition (Princes' Gate)". Service to Princes' Gate operates seven days a week, eighteen hours a day, while service to Ontario Place operates after 9 a.m. daily. This service will continue for as long as Ontario Place is open, with the exception of the two week period in late August when the Canadian Natioanl Exhibition takes place.

June 12, 2013

As a result of the Dufferin Street bridge over the Gardiner Expressway being declared unsafe and off-limits to all motor traffic, at least until a temporary bridge is opened ahead of a complete rebuild, all bus service south of Dufferin Gates loop is eliminated. All buses on the 29B and 29D branches are routed into Dufferin Gates loop instead.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
29	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION (DUFFERIN GATE)
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			29	D U F F E R I N TO WILSON STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			29A	D U F F E R I N TO TYCOS DR
29C	D U F F E R I N TO EXHIBITION		29C	D U F F E R I N TO DUFFERIN STN
29E	D U F F E R I N E X P R E S S TO EXHIBITION		29E	D U F F E R I N E X P R E S S TO DUFFERIN STN
Extra service during special events

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Dates for annual extension to Ontario Place

1971 May 22 - Oct 11 Except during CNE
1972 May 20 - Oct 9 Except during CNE
1973 May 19 - Aug 14 daily, Sept 8 - Oct 8 Sat, Sun, Hol only
1974 May 18 - Aug 13 daily, Sept 7 - Oct 14 Sat, Sun, Hol only
1975 May 17 - Aug 12 daily, Sept 6 - Oct 13 Sat, Sun, Hol only
1976 May 22 - Aug 17 daily, Sept 11 - Oct 11 Sat, Sun, Hol only
1977 May 21 - Aug 16 daily, Sept 6 - Oct 10 Sat, Sun, Hol only
1978 May 20 - Aug 16 daily, Sept 5 - Oct 9 Sat, Sun, Hol only
1979 May 17 - Sept 16 Except during CNE
1980 May 15 - Aug 12
1981 May 14 - Aug 18
1982 May 13 - Aug 17
Etc.

At some point in the 1990s the annual Canadian National Exhibition was shortened by two days. It now starts on a Friday instead of a Wednesday and runs 18 days with the last operating day on the Labour day holiday Monday, the first Monday in September.

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29 Dufferin Image Archive

	A TTC Orders and Notice, effective March 28, 1962, which discusses the rearrangement of short turn operations on 29 DUFFERIN.
	From the restored Ford bus in one of the barns at the Halton County railway museum, an authentic 1955-era DUFFERIN rollsign is shown, exposing the little-known "Dehaviland" branch. Photo courtesy Pete Coulman.
	The TTC's Operators' Guide map for the new DUFFERIN route, circa July 1954. Note the detail provided of the service's northern loop.
	The TTC Operators' Guide for the 29 DUFFERIN route, effective January 1, 1958.
	Nova LFS 1001 poses beside 7311 at Wilson Station. Photo by Allen Dicion.
	TTC Canadian Car and Foundary bus poses with a standard DUFFERIN linen, circa 1962. Image courtesy the Toronto Archives.
	TTC Orion VII bus Route 1800 pokes out from under the new Dufferin Street underpass, southbound at Queen Street in this November 2010 shot. Photo by Jeffrey Kay.
	TTC New Flyer D-40-LF bus #7341 lays over in the Dufferin Loop while operating on route 29 DUFFERIN. Photo by Brad O'Brien.
	TTC GM "New Look" Route 7528 operates on Dufferin, circa 1985. Photo courtesy Pete Coulman.
	CNG Orion V vehicle 9420 displays its new bike rack at Dufferin Loop, in service on the 29 Dufferin route. Photo by Greg Northcott.
	TTC Orion VII buses #7945 and #7949 approach Wilson Station on April 4, 2010. A heavy rain is just about to start. Photo by Roman Fomin.
	Orion bus V 9438 runs north along Dufferin Street approaching the intersection with Rogers Road. Photo by Roman Fomin on June 11, 2013.
	TTC Orion V bus Route 9438 enters the newly built Dufferin underpass north of Queen Street on its way to Wilson station in this November 2010 shot. Photo by Jeffrey Kay.
	On this sunny day of March 19, 2012, TTC Orion V 9418 runs along Dufferin Street near Yorkdale Centre to continue its short-turn trip to Queen Street West. Photo by Roman Fomin.
	TTC "Next Gen" Orion VII 8164 travels south to Princes' Gate Loop. The extended 29D branch is the only service on the route that operates at all times seven day a week. Photo by Roman Fomin on March 19, 2012.