MARCH 24, 2015
Subway service has been suspended between Union and
Bloor-Yonge stations on Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) because of a
hazardous track-level spill at College station.
“The strong suspicion is that this is some kind of heating
fluid or some other kind of potentially flammable liquid that absolutely must
be stopped, in terms of coming in, and must be cleared up before we can resume
service,” TTC CEO Andy Byford said Tuesday morning.
He described a pungent kerosene or diesel smell in the
station, saying the mysterious liquid coming from the ceiling is “not just
dripping through – it’s pouring through.” Byford added the liquid is not
related to the subway structure.
North of College, track-level. Leak is oil-like, unsafe to
operate. Planning to grout tunnel joints. Update to follow pic.twitter.com/zC6pOuytZk
— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) March
24, 2015
TTC communications director Brad Ross tweeted photos
of an oil-like liquid leaking into the tunnel north of College. Workers have
taken samples of the substance.
Crews are attempting to plug the leak with grout along the
tunnel joints, Byford said. The track bed will then require cleaning.
Byford expected work to last another two to three hours. “We
are hopeful that we’ll have (service) up and running for the evening peak.”
Firefighters responded to reports of the spill just before
midnight Monday and trains were not running for the morning rush hour.
More tunnel pics of oil-like substance leaking into the
tunnel north of College. pic.twitter.com/oDUC1xxNDe
— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) March
24, 2015
Replacement buses are running north and south along Yonge
St. between Bloor St. and King St., and continuing west on King St. to St.
Andrew station.
Toronto police were helping keep the route clear for the 70
buses along Yonge.
“You can never replicate a subway service with shuttle
service,” said Byford. Peak ridership on a subway train is about 1,000 people,
he explained, and a bus can carry only about 60.
Buses cannot pull into Union Station because of
construction.
Passengers wanting to travel north from Union Station on the
Yonge line can take the subway one stop to St. Andrew station, where a bus will
take them to and north on Yonge St.
Riders travelling south on Yonge St. to Union can catch a
bus between Bloor St. and King St. that will transport them to St. Andrew
station, where they can then take the subway south one stop to Union.
The subway is operating as usual on the University line.
Mayor John Tory (open John Tory's policard)tweeted
that he took the subway to work Tuesday morning.
Source: http://www.thestar.com