The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Line 3 remains out of service following a train derailment that occurred on Monday evening that injured five people. The incident took place in the vicinity of Kennedy and Ellesmere roads when a southbound train derailed at Ellesmere station around 7 p.m.
Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop, who was present at the scene of the derailment, told local media that injuries sustained by the passengers were considered minor, and they were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for assessment.
Reports from TTC officials indicate that the derailment was caused by the rear car of the train separating from the rest of the train and coming off the tracks. As of now, the specific reason behind this separation remains unclear, prompting an internal investigation into the matter.
A total of 44 passengers were onboard the train at the time of the incident, all of whom had to be safely evacuated.
The impact of the derailment has led to the complete shutdown of Line 3 for an unspecified period. In the interim, shuttle buses will operate between McCowan and Kennedy stations to accommodate commuters. Additionally, customers at select Scarborough GO stations, including Milliken, Agincourt, and Kennedy on the Stouffville line, as well as Scarborough and Eglinton on the Lakeshore East line, will be permitted to use their TTC fare to ride GO trains.
Following the incident, transit advocacy organization TTCriders expressed deep concern over the safety of the Scarborough RT (Line 3) and called for a thorough investigation into the derailment. They emphasized the importance of adequate infrastructure maintenance and urged all levels of government to invest in ensuring a safe and reliable public transit system.
“Today’s terrifying accident reminds us of the urgent need to invest in maintaining our public transit system. The TTC created a “State of Good Repair” program for a reason: the fatal 1995 Russell Hill subway accident,” said Shelagh Pizey-Allen, director of TTCriders. “Yet the TTC recently cancelled a Request for Proposals to replace subway trains on Line 2 because it could not secure the required funding from provincial and federal governments. The TTC has a State of Good Repair backlog of $6.3 billion over the next 10 years. All levels of government must invest in maintaining a safe, reliable system.”
The TTCriders highlighted that while Line 3 is scheduled to be decommissioned in four months, the construction of the Scarborough Subway Extension is expected to continue until 2030 or later. As a temporary solution, the organization stressed the need for an increased number of replacement buses during peak hours to cater to the demand of Scarborough’s transit users.
The incident has raised concerns among commuters and transit advocates, highlighting the pressing need for maintaining a reliable and safe public transit system in the city. The TTC is expected to continue its investigation into the cause of the derailment and take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.