Transit Toronto

Updating our earlier posts of Thursday, January 18, Monday, February 5, Monday, February 12, Thursday, February 15, Thursday, February 22, Friday, March 1, Friday, March 8, Tuesday, March 12, Thursday, March 14, Thursday, March 28, Monday, April 8 and Thursday, April 11.

TTC transit control continues to ask subway operators to reduce their speed through certain areas of the subway system as a safety precaution due to crews at track level performing ongoing maintenance on the tracks. These reduced speed zones mean that trains travel more slowly than normally in the area.

Here’s where reduced speed zones are in effect on Lines 1 and 2:

• Line 1 Yonge - University:

• Both ways between Eglinton and Davisville stations;
• Southbound between Wilson and Lawrence West stations;
• Southbound between St. Clair West and Dupont stations;
• Southbound between King and Union stations; and
• Northbound between Bloor and Rosedale stations.

• Line 2 Bloor -Danforth:

• Both ways between Keele and Dundas West stations; and
• Eastbound between Greenwood and Coxwell stations.

At reduced speeds, trains are moving at between 15 and 25 kilometres per hour (km/h), instead of normal speeds of 40 to 50 km/h.

The TTC is closing Line 1 Yonge - University subway between Sheppard - Yonge and Eglinton stations early this week. From Tuesday, April 30 until Thursday, May 2, Line 1 trains operate only between Finch and Sheppard - Yonge stations and between Eglinton and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations after 11 p.m.

Shuttle buses partially replace Line 1 subway service. The buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops near subway stations. Wheel-Trans service is also available at all stations for passengers needing accessible service. Ask any TTC staff member about Wheel-Trans service from each station.

(Or, consider a shuttle-bus alternative.)

Lawrence Station is closed. All other stations remain open so you can pay fares or connect with TTC and GO Transit buses.

The TTC says it’s closing this section of Line 1 early “due to planned station improvements.” And, while this part of Line 1 is closed, it continues its project to install accessibility features at Lawrence Station. Once it finishes construction, Lawrence Station will include two elevators connecting passengers from the station entrance to the bus-terminal and subway levels. The station will also feature new barrier-free doors throughout, accessible sliding doors and better way-finding and signs.

During construction at Lawrence Station, the TTC is temporarily closing the bus terminal and detouring the buses that usually start and end their trips there.

According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance at the conclusion of service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and state-of-good-repair work.”

Late nights after 11 p.m, Monday, April 29 until Thursday, May 2, Line 1 Yonge - University subway trains in both directions operate along the southbound tracks only between Finch West and Sheppard West stations.

During single-track operation, both south- and northbound trains alternate along the southbound tracks. The TTC is operating a subway shuttle train between Finch West and Sheppard West. The subway shuttle train operates along the southbound track, while crews maintain the northbound tracks.

You must board northbound trains on the southbound platforms at Finch West, Downsview Park and Sheppard West stations. You’ll have to change trains at Finch West and Sheppard West stations. You may also have to wait for trains longer than usually. Expect delays as much as 20 minutes for your trip.

If you require Wheel-Trans service, speak with any TTC customer service staff member for help or directions.

Regular service resumes by 6 a.m. the next morning.

In a news release, the transit agency explains that, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance at the conclusion of service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and state-of-good-repair work.”

Update — Monday, April 29, 7:49 a.m.: According to TTC Media Relations, “crews worked throughout the weekend to get full service back in time for the work week. They fully replaced / spliced more than 5,000 feet of signal and communication cable, in addition to the junction box that was destroyed in Thursday’s fire.”

Update — Sunday, April 28, 8:31 p.m.: Line 2 subway service has resumed between Kipling and Islington stations.

Update — Saturday, April 27, 8:45 p.m.: Line 2 subway service has resumed between Islington and Jane stations. Buses continue to operate between Kipling and Islington.

Article by Damian Baranowski

On Thursday, April 25th at around 4pm. A fire broke out on track level just west of islington station. The fire damaged wiring and other systems critical to subway operations such as signalling and communications. TTC Spokesperson Stuart Green said to the media, “It was a lot of cabling that was in there that was damaged and melted together and fused.”

At the time of this post, the cause is currently under investigation. Green suggested it may have started outside of the TTC property.

Shuttle buses replaced subway service between Jane and Kipling Stations and the TTC also also encouraged users to use other transit routes, such as GO Transit and UP Express. With 75 Shuttle Buses running, the TTC told the media that repairs were underway and there were hopes to cut short the closure area.

In addition the TTC cancelled a planned subway closure on line 1; another Line 2 closure was also cancelled, but that was before the incident. There is no word yet and when the issue would be fixed and there are amounting concerns among commuters that the closure could go into next week.

Sources:

• CP24: Partial subway closure on Line 2 could last ‘a few days’ after fire, TTC says
• CityNews: Police investigating arson at Islington Station, fire repairs to impact portion of subway service
• TTC Service Alerts

The TTC is cancelling its plans to close Line 1 Yonge - University subway between York Mills and Davisville stations, tomorrow, Saturday, April 26. It’s cancelling the closure to prioritize its resources for restoring service along Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway between Kipling and Jane stations. According to a TTC news release, “This move ensures that all available resources are focused on supplementing and restoring service on Line 2 as quickly as possible.”

The transit agency will reschedule its plans to perform track and tunnel work at Eglinton Station and work requiring it to close Lawrence Station to a later date.

Update — Sunday, April 28, 8:31 p.m.: Line 2 subway service has resumed between Kipling and Islington stations.

Update — Saturday, April 27, 8:45 p.m.: Line 2 subway service has resumed between Islington and Jane stations. Buses continue to operate between Kipling and Islington.

The TTCis advising passegers that it continues to suspend service along Line 2 Bloor -Danforth subway between Kipling and Jane stations after a fire at track level near Islington Station yesterday Thursday, April 25. The fire caused extensive damage to the electrical systems necessary to operate trains safely.

The transit agency expects to continue to cancel subway service between Kipling and Jane through the weekend and that that section of the subway could remain closed until early next week. It has deployed dozens of shuttle buses to provide alternate transportation and has assigned extra TTC station staff to the closure zone to help passengers.

As an alternative to shuttle buses, the TTC is advising passengers to ride GO Transit trains along the Milton or Lakeshore West lines to travel between west-end and downtown Toronto.

While the The TTC continues to investigate the cause of yesterday’s fire, in a news release it assures passengers that it has mobilized “all available resources… to expedite repairs on the complex systems affected by the incident.” It explains that “dedicated crews are working around-the-clock to address the damage and make necessary repairs to ensure the resumption of normal subway operations along the affected portion of Line 2.”

Starting 4 a.m. Monday, April 22, TTC crews are replacing expansion joints on the bridge that carries

• Queen Street East over the Don River, the Don Valley Parkway and Bayview Avenue.

In a news release, the TTC explains that “The essential maintenance work is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and reliability of TTC streetcar infrastructure. The work will involve saw cutting, breaking of concrete to expose the existing rail, replacement of the expansion joint, and laying of new concrete. Crews will be working around-the-clock until the work is complete.”

It’s detouring streetcars along these routes to accommodate the work:

• 301 Queen overnight;
• 304 King overnight;
• 501 Queen;
• 503 Kingston Rd; and
• 504 King.

Shuttle buses replace the cars between Broadview Avenue and Parliament Street. They operate along two routes:

• 301 / 501 Queen shuttle buses; and
• 304 / 504 King shuttle buses.

The construction also affects westbound service along the 508 Lake Shore route, but the TTC has not provided information about detours along that route.

Crews work only in the track area. Curb lanes remain open to traffic. Buses along the 501B Queen route operate along their regular path through the work zone.

Expansion-joint construction on Queen East and the resulting TTC detours continue until April 28.

From 11 p.m. Monday, April 22 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, April 23 and continuing overnight nightly, TTC crews are replacing streetcars with shuttle buses north of Queens Quay West along these routes:

• 310 Spadina overnight; and
• 510 Spadina.

In a report to the Toronto Transit Commission (the TTC Board), TTC staff identified inspection and maintenance of the streetcar tunnel at Spadina Station as a reason for this detour.

Nearby residents can expect noise from TTC overhead vehicles when they’re backing up the ramp that leads to the Spadina Station streetcar tunnel.

Spadina streetcar-tunnel inspection and the resulting TTC service changes continue until April 25 (4 a.m.).

The TTC and members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2 have reached a tentative agreement, averting a potential strike by the union. CUPE Local 2 represents about 650 workers who service, install and maintain safety critical components throughout the TTC system — electricians, cable and telephone technicians, relay and instrumentation technicians, communications technicians, signal technicians, overhead streetcar linespersons and power control technicians.

According to an article from CityNews by writer Lucas Casaleto, Local 2 president, Sumit Guleria called it “a significant win for members and said negotiated wages would provide much-needed relief from the rising cost of living.”

In a news release, the TTC’s chief executive officer, Rick Leary, said, “”I am extremely pleased that we’ve been able to reach a tentative agreement with CUPE Local 2 and avoid any job action and service disruptions. This is a fair deal that is affordable for the TTC and respectful of the important work the 650 members of CUPE Local 2 do every day to keep our system safe and our service reliable.”

The union membership has to ratify the agreement and the TTC board must approve it before information about the terms of the agreement is available.

Update — Sunday, April 14, 7:22 p.m.: Crews have finished track work between Warden and Woodbine stations earlier than expected. The TTC has reopened Line 2 west of Warden. It continues to close the line between Kennedy and Warden stations.

The TTC is closing Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway between Kennedy and Woodbine stations Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22. Line 2 subway train operate only between Woodbine and Kipling stations that day.

Shuttle buses partly replace subway service. The buses drop off or pick up passengers in or near the bus terminals at Kennedy and Woodbine Stations and on the streets near all other stations on the closed section of the line.

All stations remain open so you can buy fares and connect with TTC buses, streetcars or GO Transit trains. Note, however, that at Victoria Park Station, the automatic entrance / exit on Teesdale Place is closed this weekend. All other entrances / exits into and out of the station are open.

Although shuttle buses are accessible, Wheel-Trans is also available at each station on this section of Line 2. Ask TTC staff in each station for information about Wheel-Trans service from the station.

While this section of the subway is closed, TTC crews are preparing for the future re-signalling of Line 2 with automatic train control (ATC). According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance at the conclusion of service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and state-of-good-repair work.”