The TTC’s subway service is back online after a challenging morning for Toronto commuters. Line 1 service between St. Clair West and Union stations resumed shortly after noon today, following a track fire near Spadina station that brought the morning rush to a standstill.
I arrived at Dupont station around 8:30 this morning to find crowds of frustrated passengers and TTC staff directing everyone toward shuttle buses. The scene outside was barely controlled chaos – hundreds of commuters spilling onto the sidewalks, desperately trying to flag down taxis or find alternative routes.
“I’ve got a client meeting at 9:30 that I can’t miss,” said Melissa Chen, a financial advisor who normally relies on the subway to get downtown. “The shuttle buses are completely overwhelmed. I’ll have to expense a rideshare and hope for the best.”
The Toronto Fire Services responded to reports of smoke at Spadina station around 6:45 a.m., according to TTC spokesperson Stuart Green. While no injuries were reported, the incident required power to be cut to the affected section of track while emergency crews assessed the situation.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the city’s workforce. The disruption affected 15 stations along the busiest section of Line 1, which typically carries approximately 450,000 riders daily according to the TTC’s most recent ridership data.
Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the situation during an unrelated press conference, acknowledging the inconvenience to commuters. “Today’s disruption highlights the ongoing challenges with our aging transit infrastructure,” she noted. “The safety protocols worked as intended, but we understand the significant impact these incidents have on Torontonians.”
For small business owners like James Wilson, who operates a café near St. George station, the subway shutdown had unexpected consequences. “We actually saw a 30% increase in morning sales,” he told me. “People stuck waiting for shuttle buses came in for coffee and breakfast. It’s a silver lining for us, but I know it was a nightmare for commuters.”
The TTC deployed 100 shuttle buses to bridge the gap in service, but the sheer volume of displaced passengers made this alternative woefully inadequate. Many commuters reported waiting 30+ minutes for overcrowded buses, while rideshare apps showed surge pricing throughout the affected areas.
This incident comes just weeks after the TTC Board approved a $1.4 billion capital investment plan for system-wide improvements, including significant upgrades to fire safety systems throughout the network. The plan awaits final approval from City Council later this month.
As service resumed shortly after noon, TTC crews continued inspection work to ensure all systems were functioning properly. “Our priority is always passenger safety,” said TTC CEO Rick Leary in a statement. “We understand the significant inconvenience today’s disruption caused and appreciate the patience of our riders.”
For regular commuters like myself, today’s disruption serves as a stark reminder of Toronto’s transit vulnerabilities. While walking the extra kilometer to catch a shuttle bus this morning, I chatted with fellow journalist Priya Sharma, who summed up the sentiment of many: “The city keeps growing, but our transit infrastructure struggles to keep pace. We need reliable service, not just apologies after breakdowns.”
As Toronto continues pushing toward becoming a world-class city, incidents like today’s highlight the critical importance of transit resilience. With downtown office occupancy rates climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels according to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, reliable public transportation isn’t just a convenience—it’s essential infrastructure.
The TTC advises passengers to check its website or social media channels for any residual delays as service returns to normal operations throughout the afternoon.
