Main Toronto subway line reopens


Yorkregion.com
March 24, 2015

Toronto's main subway line was back running again Tuesday after a busy portion of the system was closed for several hours due to a leak at a downtown station.

Transit officials say service resumed just after 1:30 p.m. following a morning commute that saw thousands of riders packed onto shuttle buses to bypass the closed section.

The exact cause of the leak at College Station is still not known, but Toronto Transit Commission CEO Andy Byford said the liquid had a "pungent" smell, much like kerosene or diesel.

Byford said he went down to track level himself and saw the liquid, which was "pouring through the ceiling" and pooling below.

Work crews sent to the site managed to plug the leak, which Byford said was coming through an expansion joint in the subway tunnel, likely from street level.

Dozens of buses were put into operation to shuttle passengers around the closure, leading to long delays.

Byford said the leak was noticed overnight and it was decided to put "safety first" and close the subway in the area. He said he regretted the inconvenience caused to commuters but appealed for their patience.

"We cannot risk running electric trains through a situation where there's flammable, potentially combustible material down there," he said.