TORONTO – In a triumphant milestone for Toronto’s newest, shortest, and most-overlooked subway branch, the Sheppard Line today celebrated its 100th rider since opening its doors in 2002.

“It’s a huge moment for us,” gushed Bayview Station TTC attendant Douglas Christensen. “We’re in the big leagues now. Andy Byford’s going to have to stop referring to us as the ‘Suck-Hard Line’ in all his press releases.”

Christensen then excitedly pushed a large red button in his station attendant booth, causing dozens of mostly-deflated balloons to drop from the ceiling like stones. “Whoops – I put those up in February when we hit 95.”

The distinction of being the Sheppard Line’s “Century Rider” went to Noriko Miike, a Japanese tourist who journeyed the 3 stops from Sheppard-Yonge to Leslie to see the spot where the IKEA Monkey was photographed.

With ridership now having entered triple digits, TTC employees along the Sheppard Line are buoyed with hope that – perhaps someday – their leg of the subway will be able to justify its existence financially without having to rent out its empty, cavernous stations for all-night raves and Eyes Wide Shut-style orgies.