TTC suspends service along stretch of Line 1 amid bitterly cold weather

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

The TTC says subway service along a stretch of Line 1 should be back up and running by the noon hour after emergency rail work disrupted the morning commute.

The TTC suspended service between Wilson and Lawrence West stations after crews discovered that a large piece of the power rail was missing.

Shuttle buses are running between the two stations.

“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. We obviously cannot run service through there. This is around Yorkdale Station.”

Green said crews are currently working to repair the damage.

“We expect to have this restored probably around the noon hour, maybe a little earlier,” Green said.

“We know it is a huge inconvenience for people, particularly on a cold day.”

The TTC reported brief delays between Bloor-Yonge and Union stations earlier this morning but that issue has since resolved.

The shutdown comes 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. “It is always a nightmare to go out.”

Multiple commuters told CP24 that they did not get advance notice of the service suspension before the subway 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 are “being 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 find themselves 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.

Green said it is not yet clear what caused the damage to the power rail.