On Monday, July 24 at 6:45, a southbound SRT train was leaving Ellesmere Station when its rear car derailed. This was not simply a case of slipping off of the tracks, but a more complex incident in which:
- The rear car of the train broke away from the other three cars.
- The truck (or bogie, the undercarriage holding the wheels and motor) at the rear of this car was detached from the car.
- A section of the reaction rail which is part of the propulsion system broke away from the guideway.
The car came to rest with one end leaning against the guideway’s fence and a low sidewall. Fortunately, this is a location where a derailed car could not fall any distance.
Five passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The line remains closed with shuttle buses ferrying riders, and the TTC has announced that the line will remain closed for at least three weeks pending an investigation of the cause of this accident. That will take us until at least mid-August.
It is not certain if the line, which was planned to shut down permanently in mid-November, will ever re-open depending on the cause of the derailment, the amount and cost of work to remediate it, and the limited time during which this expense would have any benefit.
Updated July 27 at 10:20pm: The proposed schedule for the SRT right-of-way conversion to a busway has been added to the article to clarify that “Winter 2025” really means the end, not the beginning, of 2025.
For the convenience of readers, especially those out of town who might not have followed this event in detail, here are links to many articles which include a wealth of photos.
City TV
- TTC’s Line 3 shut down after train derailment; multiple passengers injured
- Line 3 derailment highlights TTC aging issues, transit advocacy group says
CP24
- 5 people ‘tossed’ after Scarborough RT train separates, derails taken to hospital with minor injuries
- WATCH: Crews lift mangled Scarborough RT train off tracks after derailment
- The Scarborough RT was supposed to be replaced years ago. Here is why it is still in service.
- TTC not ruling out the option of decommissioning the Scarborough RT early after derailment
- Scarborough RT derailment sparks questions about safety
Global News
- Scarborough RT train service suspended after derailment injures passengers
- Early decommission of east Toronto transit line possible after derailment: TTC
Toronto Star
- Scarborough RT train car derails, sends 5 to hospital, TTC says service won’t resume for ‘several days’
- Scarborough RT derailment raises questions about state of repair on TTC
- Cheaping out on Toronto’s public transit seems like good politics — until a train derails
Spacing
- Technical Difficulties: The Scarborough RT accident was absolutely predictable as policy-makers and riders have been aware of it’s deterioration for almost 20 years
CBC
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Steve Munro 