The presence of a mysterious gasoline or oil-like substance inside the subway tunnel near College station closed the Yonge line between Bloor-Yonge and Union at the height of rush hour this morning.
The TTC called the incident, which began around 11:00 p.m. last night, an "environmental spill." TTC CEO Andy Byford said there were concerns a spark within the tunnel could ignite the mystery substance. The line was closed and so far hasn't re-opened.
Crews from multiple agencies, including Enbridge, Toronto Hydro, Toronto Fire, and the City of Toronto, are investigating. TTC spokesman Brad Ross tweeted pictures of the tunnel walls and floor coated in a yellow-tinged slimy substance.
North of College, track-level. Leak is oil-like, unsafe to operate. Planning to grout tunnel joints. Update to follow http://ift.tt/1LSLJQe
— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) March 24, 2015 Ross said work crews are considering re-grouting the joints in the tunnel wall to stop the leak, but provided no confirmation service could be restored before the afternoon rush.
An official update is due at noon.
Despite 70 shuttle buses operating between Rosedale and St. Andrew stations and the TTC urging riders onto alternative routes, the situation bordered on the chaotic all morning. With the busiest section of the Yonge line closed at peak hour, tweets about jam-packed stations, gigantic line ups for shuttle buses, and all round misery flooded Twitter.
Here's a look at how the situation unfolded.
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: @scumm_boy/Twitter
by Chris Bateman via blogTO
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