Gray Coach

Gray Coach was a Canadian inter-city bus line based in Toronto, Ontario, from 1927 to 1992. It was founded and initially owned by the Toronto Transportation Commission, until sold to Stagecoach in 1990. In 1992 the business was sold to Greyhound Canada and the brand was retired.

Gray Coach
ParentToronto Transportation Commission 1927–1954
Toronto Transit Commission 1954–1990
Stagecoach 1990–1992
Founded1927
Defunct1992
HeadquartersToronto
LocaleOntario
Service areaSouthern & Central Ontario
Service typeintercity, commuter, local sightseeing
AllianceVoyageur to Ottawa and Montreal
Greyhound to New York City
DestinationsToronto, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Owen Sound, London, Kitchener, Guelph, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York
StationsToronto Bus Terminal
Sunnyside Bus Terminal
DepotsDavenport Garage 1927-1954
Sherbourne Garage 1954-1980
Lakeshore Garage 1980-1990

Overview and history
Gray Coach Lines bus (left) and TTC bus (right), 1936

Gray Coach Lines was a suburban bus and sightseeing tour operator founded in 1927 by the Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC). From 1927 to the 1930s, Gray Coach acquired numerous and smaller competitors in the Greater Toronto Area. The operator eventually dominated inter-urban bus service by the end of the 1930s, replacing or succeeding many Toronto and area interurban radial lines that had previously provided interurban transportation by light rail.[1]

Gray Coach Lines shield, used until 1972

Gray Coach used inter-urban coaches to link Toronto to outlying areas throughout Southern Ontario, such as Owen Sound, London, Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara Falls, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie and Hamilton. Gray Coach also offered service to Buffalo, New York and in a pooling agreement with Greyhound, to New York City. In addition, Gray Coach operated sightseeing tour service in and around Toronto, eventually in association with Gray Line tours. Gray Coach Lines also provided one-hour Motor Launch Tours of the lagoons off Toronto's harbour and of the waterfront (used Amsterdam canal style boats with large glass top now run by Toronto Harbour Tours). The main bus terminal was at the Toronto Bus Terminal on Elizabeth Street, downtown. A secondary terminal for parcel service was operated at the corner of Front and Sherbourne Streets and a secondary bus terminal, the Sunnyside Bus Terminal was located at Queen Street West and Roncesvalles in Toronto's west end.

Gray Coach was contracted to operate some GO Transit bus services when the latter was started in 1971. Eventually GO Transit took over some Gray Coach routes were, including the Hamilton, Oshawa and Port Perry runs. The contracting for GO Transit ended in 1985, when GO began to completely operate its own buses.

By the 1980s, Gray Coach faced fierce competition in the Greater Toronto Area. To strengthen its position, Gray Coach bid to acquire inter-urban operator Trentway-Wagar. However, facing budgetary pressure, the TTC decided to focus on its core urban transit service. In October 1990 the TTC sold Gray Coach Lines to Stagecoach who then sold it to Greyhound Canada and Ontario Northland Motor Coach Services in 1992.[2][3] Gray Coach's Gray Line franchised sightseeing operations were taken over by Greyhound Canada.

Livery

Livery of early buses were gray with the red crest with the words Gray Coach Lines. The crest disappeared and replaced with the full wording with blue strip. The final buses had a white base with black letters GC. A red stripe was added along the belt line on sightseeing, Airport Express, and Hostess Express premium-service buses.

Stops

Gray Coach had terminals and agencies at various locations across Toronto:

Facility details
 Terminal/Stop   Location   Notes 
(Metro) Toronto Bus Terminal Dundas Street West and Elizabeth Street

Now used by Greyhound Canada, Coach Canada and Ontario Northland - terminal owned by the TTC. The TTC managed the station directly until July 8, 2012, when it was leased to its tenants.

Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 (former) and 2 - Arrival and Departure levels Served by TTC and other private charters at Terminal 1 (new) and 3; formerly served terminal 2
Downtown hotels N/A Continued as Pacific Western Bus Line's Toronto Airport Express until 2014.
Islington subway station Islington Avenue and Bloor Street West No longer in use; TTC Airport Rocket Route 192 operating out of Kipling Station
Yorkdale Bus Terminal Yorkdale Shopping Centre Now used by Greyhound Canada, GO Transit and Ontario Northland Motor Coach Services; served by Pacific Western Bus Line's Toronto Airport Express from 1993 until 2000.
York Mills subway station York Mills Road and Yonge Street - old bus platforms terminal demolished and now served as GO Transit terminal within York Mills Centre; served by Pacific Western Bus Line's Toronto Airport Express from 1993 until 2000.
Jane Loop Jane Street and Bloor Street West Demolished, office building stands on site
Glen Echo Terminal
(North Yonge)		 Glen Echo Road and Yonge Street abandoned upon opening of York Mills, demolished now a Loblaws supermarket
Finch Bus Terminal Yonge Street and Bishop Avenue Now serving GO Transit, Viva, York Region Transit and Brampton Transit; private charters
Sunnyside Bus Terminal Queen Street West, Roncesvalles Avenue, King Street West, and The Queensway West Toronto (Roncesvalles) Pick-up and drop off location at corner of Roncesvalles Carhouse, now a McDonald's

City routes
Gray Coach Lines bus ticket from 1975

Gray Coach once operated a number of suburban and extra-fare express routes in Toronto.

Beach Coach[4]

Operated from 1947 to 1952 between downtown and the Beaches via Eastern Avenue and Queen Street East.

Hill Coach[5]

The first city coach route started running in 1925, between Forest Hill and downtown via Forest Hill Road, Poplar Plains Road, Dupont Street, St George Street, University Avenue, Osgoode and Albert Streets. In 1931 it was extended north to Glenview Avenue (later Otter Loop). Service was withdrawn in September 1954 due to opening of the new Yonge subway.

Islington[6]

In April 1929 Gray Coach Lines acquired Maple Leaf Coach Lines. MCL's ISLINGTON route (via Dundas Street from Runnymede Road to Bloor Street in the town of Islington—now Six Points) was combined with the LAMBTON route and transferred to the TTC. It was transferred to Gray Coach circa 1930. As of January 1, 1954 it was included in the new Metropolitan Toronto operation, and Gray Coaches were replaced by "red" city buses.

Kingsway Coach[7]

Inaugurated in November 1945 between Bloor Street & Royal York Road and downtown via (South) Kingsway, Lake Shore Drive, Dowling Avenue and King Street, with an early and late extension to Burnhamthorpe & Holloway Roads via Bloor, Islington and Canning. Withdrawn in April 1946 after only five months of (presumably unsuccessful) operation.

Lambton[8]

From Keele Street to Humber (Lambton Hotel) along Dundas Street. Operated initially by the TTC for York Township, it was transferred to Gray Coach circa 1930. As of January 1, 1954 it was included in the new Metropolitan Toronto operation, and Gray Coaches were replaced by "red" city buses.

Leaside[9]

From May 1, 1953 to January 1, 1954 the LEASIDE bus was operated by Gray Coach Lines.

Rosedale Coach[10]

The ROSEDALE coach ran for just under two years (November 1928 to September 1930) between Summerhill & MacLennan Avenues and downtown via Glen Road, Sherbourne Street, Isabella Street, Jarvis Street and Shuter Street to Yonge Street.

Woodbridge[11]

Gray Coach acquired the WOODBRIDGE route when the TTC bought out Roseland Bus Lines. From Lawrence and Weston via Weston Road, Albion Road, Thistletown, Woodbridge Road, Highway 7, 8th Avenue and Pine Street (Woodbridge Avenue) to Pine Grove Road, Woodbridge, with Sunday trips operating through the Thistletown Hospital (For Disturbed Children) grounds. The route was transferred to the TTC in December 1955 as Islington Bus (as 44 Islington 1956 to 1963 and now as 37 Islington).

Other Interurban Operators

A list of independent operators acquired by Gray Coach:

See also

References
  1. Flack, Derek (26 February 2014). "That time when the TTC went to Niagara Falls". blogTO. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. Acquisitions by Stagecoach, April 1987 to May 1995 Competition Commission
  3. Historical Timeline Greyhound Canada
  4. Beach Coach Route History
  5. Hill Coach Route History
  6. 44 Islington Route History
  7. Kingsway Coach Route History
  8. Lambton Route History
  9. 56 Leaside Route History
  10. Rosedale Coach Route History
  11. 93 Woodbridge Route History
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