Subway service resumes along stretch of Line 1 after hours-long shut down during morning commute

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green explains what repairs are needed at Yorkdale station that halted service on Line 1.

The TTC is apologizing to customers this morning after emergency rail repairs halted service along a stretch of Line 1 for nearly six hours on Wednesday morning.

The TTC suspended service between Wilson and Lawrence West stations at around 6 a.m. after crews discovered that part of the power rail south of Yorkdale Station had been damaged.

“Very early this morning, a train going through that area heard some noise. When we investigated we found that there was a large piece of the power rail... missing,” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told CP24.

“It is about four or five inches of power rail that is missing.”

At around noon, the TTC confirmed that a temporary fix had been implemented to allow service to resume along the line.

“Crews spent the morning in the bitter sub-zero cold making a temporary repair that allows us to safely run service until we can go in overnight to make a permanent repair,” the TTC said in a statement posted on social media.

“We don’t know what caused this to happen at this time, but a full investigation of both the track infrastructure and any trains that passed through the area is underway.”

The shutdown came as commuters endure bitterly cold temperatures in Toronto. Environment Canada said the temperature in the city this morning was -18 C, feeling closer to -28 with the wind chill.

One commuter told CP24 that she waited 20 minutes out in the cold to catch a shuttle bus to school this morning.

“It is very hard because every day we have an issue,” she said of her usual TTC commute.

Multiple commuters told CP24 that they did not get advance notice of the service suspension before the subway train they were on stopped.

“I don’t remember hearing any notices or seeing any notices,” one commuter said.

“It’s just very inconvenient… I’m trying to be patient and understanding but (it’s) the TTC, what can you do?”

Green said “all of the communications methods” that the TTC uses were updated this morning.

“We’ve been making a lot of announcements on the system, either on the subway platforms or on the subways themselves. Our social media has been very active this morning and of course our website,” he said.

“It is possible that people didn’t hear the announcements. Maybe they had their earbuds in or something or they weren’t checking social media.”

Green said he understands the frustration of commuters who were late for work or school this morning.

“It is frustrating for them. It is just frustrating for us. Nobody wants this on any day, let alone on a freezing cold day,” he said.