World Cup matches drive record transit ridership in Toronto

Toronto’s FIFA World Cup matches led to a sharp rise in transit use, according to Metrolinx data released Friday. The provincial transit agency said an average of 30,000 passengers used GO Transit or UP Express on each of the city’s six match days. Metrolinx also said it added about 30% more train trips than usual during June and July to handle the higher demand. The agency said ridership during the tournament was 51% higher than during the Blue Jays’ World Series run. Toronto Transit Commission data showed a similar pattern, with routes serving BMO Field and Exhibition Place up 42% from the previous year. The busiest day was June 12, when Canada played Bosnia, and transit use on those corridors reached 202,700 rides.