Not only did many Torontonians have to steel themselves against temperatures dropping below -20C this frigid Monday morning, a lot of them commuting by streetcar were forced to wait out in the cold for as long as an hour.
Streetcar routes like the popular 501 Queen and 504 King were plagued by issues.
The TTC tweeting out to expect the extreme cold to affect streetcar equipment and attempting to supplement routes with shuttle buses did little to calm frustrated customers.
@TTChelps @TTCnotices this is so infuriating! -30 degrees, 9 am, over 50 people waitin for a single street car in king st corner of stratchan. Not a single st car arrived in over 20 minutes!! I don’t think #ttc cares about people of Toronto! #frustbite pic.twitter.com/jWGswvnUYr
— Yollin (@UnoYushi) January 21, 2019
No one has been able to get on a streetcar for an hour at Queen West and Gladstone. 7 short turn streetcars stopped their route here.
— Monika Kalicki (@monika_kalicki) January 21, 2019
This is unnacceptable in this weather! People depend on the TTC and in this weather condition can get seriously sick and horrible frostbite!
Spent 20 min out in -28C weather waiting for a 511 Bathurst streetcar. Now (finally) on the bus and trying to regain sensation in my pinky, my legs, and my toes. Thanks #TTC for screwing over grad students who can’t afford to drive or uber.
— Raphie (りん) (@xsakuraphie) January 21, 2019
This communication could not be more false! The delays are NOT minor! 50 mins for a #501Queen #streetcar #TTC #TOpoli
— StEvE (@socialsteve_TO) January 21, 2019
@TTChelps Your poor management of TO public #transport is renowned, but leaving people outside for 30 minutes waiting for a streetcar at peak hours and with -20° should be just illegal. #ttc #toronto #weather #poorservice
— Alessio Demartis (@alessiodemartis) January 21, 2019
This was the line this morning at Sudbury St & King trying to get in the #ttc. I waited 45 mins trying to get on a streetcar. 10 passed us before I gave up & went home. How do people do this daily?! pic.twitter.com/pmicbJ0iaj
— Kate L. Grant (@KateLGrant) January 21, 2019
Attempts by the official TTC Twitter account to respond to annoyed riders were also of little help.
Line 1: expect delays of about 15 minutes this morning. Check the @TTCnotices feed before you head out for updates. Also: dress in layers so you don’t overheat once you get on the subway, bus or streetcar! pic.twitter.com/u7wMnYptUV
— Sue Motahedin - TTC (@TTCsue) January 21, 2019
@TTChelps serious question, I need to be in Humber Bay for 6pm this evening.
— StEvE (@socialsteve_TO) January 21, 2019
What time should I catch the #501Queen #Streetcar from Queen/Spadina this afternoon ?
Or should I take a different route/service home? Thx! #TTC
Riders also complained that drivers were as ill-equipped to deal with the weather and streetcars as the TTC itself.
My streetcar was stopped for an extended time TWICE this morning, due to drivers not parking close enough to the curb, and therefore blocking the tracks #snowbanks #lateforwork #TTC
— Jon Mace (@jonmacelive) January 21, 2019
Plenty of those without the option to follow the acronym some joke TTC really stands for (Take The Car) opted to hoof it rather than stand still and get frostbite waiting.
The King streetcar was such a disaster this morning that I ended up walking to work in -21 degree weather, stopping at coffee shops along the way to stay warm. #TOpoli #Toronto #ONpoli #TTC https://t.co/pWXL2ELIWy
— April Engelberg (@AprilEngelberg) January 21, 2019
While vast improvements to the TTC may not exactly be on the horizon, hopefully this weather and these streetcar issues are short-lived.
by Amy Carlberg via blogTO
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