The Toronto subway font is a geometric sans-serif

Sans-serif

In typography, a sans-serif, sans serif or san serif typeface is one that does not have the small projecting features called "serifs" at the end of strokes. The term comes from the French word sans, meaning "without"....

 typeface

Typeface

In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....

 designed for the original section of the Toronto Transit Commission

Toronto Transit Commission

-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...

’s Yonge subway.

Description

The font is a distinctive rectangular font composed of capital letters etched into the tiles of the Toronto subway

Toronto subway and RT

The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...

 stations opened between 1954 and 1968. It has been replaced by other fonts on the original Yonge line (from Union to Eglinton) as a result of renovations to all stations along that line except for Eglinton

Eglinton (TTC)

Eglinton is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at 2190 Yonge Street at Eglinton Avenue. It is one of the larger stations of the Toronto Transit Commission , with several shops located on the concourse level...

. A "bold" version of this font can be seen at every station along the Bloor–Danforth line from Islington to Warden, which were the termini stations from 1968 to 1980, when Kipling and Kennedy stations were built (these two stations do not have the Toronto subway font). It can also be seen at various stations along the northern part of the Yonge line, the University line, and was incorporated into the renovated Bloor and Wellesley stations. The font is used on all Sheppard line stations, as well as on all stops and stations along the 512 St. Clair streetcar line, with the exception of St. Clair West station

St. Clair West (TTC)

St. Clair West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at 370 St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The sports field of St. Michael's College School is directly above the length of the station; a...

.

Notable features:

• near-perfect circles for C, G, O, and Q;
• middle horizontal strokes along a horizontal mid-line for B, E, F and H;
• an X that is similar to a multiplication sign;
• a Futura-like S composed of two semicircles;
• strokes that tend toward straight lines (even the stem of the distinctive low-waist R) and terminate at right angles;
• sharp corners on M, N, V, and W that descend below the baseline or project above the cap height.

A commercial version of the TTC font was created by David Vereschagin in 2004.

Similar fonts

Often misidentified as Gill Sans

Gill Sans

Gill Sans is a sans-serif typeface designed by Eric Gill.The original design appeared in 1926 when Douglas Cleverdon opened a bookshop in his home town of Bristol, where Eric Gill painted the fascia over the window in sans-serif capitals that would later be known as Gill Sans...

, somewhat similar typefaces include Futura

Futura (typeface)

In typography, Futura is a geometric sans-serif typeface designed in 1927 by Paul Renner. It is based on geometric shapes that became representative visual elements of the Bauhaus design style of 1919–1933...

, Verlag, Bernhard Gothic

Bernhard Gothic

Bernhard Gothic is a family of geometric sans serif typeface designed by Lucian Bernhard in 1929 for the American Type Founders . Five variations by Bernhard were introduced over two years:* Bernhard Gothic Light...

, Metro, Neutraface

Neutraface

Neutraface is a geometric sans-serif typeface designed by Christian Schwartz for House Industries, an American type foundry. It was influenced by Richard Neutra's design principles and was developed with the assistance of Neutra's son and former partner, Dion Neutra.The general purpose versions of...

, and Eagle

Eagle (typeface)

Eagle is a font family that is based on '"Eagle Bold", introduced by American Type Founders in 1934.-History:"Eagle Bold" derives from the usage of the letters "NRA" from the font Novel Gothic in the original design of the Blue Eagle logo of the National Recovery Association...

.

See also

• Public signage typefaces
• Toronto subway and RT
  Toronto subway and RT
  The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
  
  
• Toronto Transit Commission
  Toronto Transit Commission
  -Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
  
  

External links

• Type in the Toronto subway
• Commercial Typeface: Toronto Subway
• Metro Fonts: a collection of subway station fonts