Derailed GO train near Union Station causes mass delays

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Crews were working late to remove a GO train from the tracks after it partially derailed near Union Station on Monday, causing heavy delays lasting through the evening, Metrolinx says.

The derailment happened at 8:16 a.m. as a train was leaving Union Station, the provincial transit agency said in a statement to CBC News.

Metrolinx said the rear of the train came off the track and made contact with a track switch. The impact caused signal issues, the agency said.

On Monday night, multiple routes were still listed as experiencing “significant delays” on GO Transit’s website.

“We are currently unable to provide exact train departure times,” the agency said. “We are running service on all lines we normally operate, but trains may not depart at their usual intervals.”

GO Transit said it was facing limited track availability Monday night, leading to signal issues and restricted train movement.

“The impacted train remains on site as track teams are working to safely remove it off the tracks,” Metrolinx said Monday night. “Safety remains a top priority for GO Transit and we appreciate the understanding of our passengers as we proceed very deliberately with recovery and resumption of service.”

Metrolinx posts service levels for Tuesday

The agency says GO trains will be running at the following service levels Tuesday morning:

Lakeshore East: 60-minute service, outside of 15 to 30-minute peak morning and evening service.
Lakeshore West: 60-minute service, outside of 15 to 30-minute peak morning and evening service.
UP Express: operating on 30-minute service.
Kitchener: 60-minute service, outside of 30-minute peak morning and evening service.
Milton: 30-minute morning and evening peak service.
Richmond Hill: 60-minute morning and evening peak service.
Stouffville: 30-minute morning and evening peak service.
Barrie: 30-minute morning and evening peak service.

WATCH | Derailed GO train caused mass delays Monday:

GO Transit delayed after train derails near Union Station

A GO train that partially derailed near Union Station Monday morning caused mass delays for commuters. CBC’s Greg Ross has the latest on what you need to know.

The derailment meant delays for commuters throughout the day into Monday night, with many routes significantly delayed on running at modified service levels.

Extra TTC busses were running alongside the 509 Harbourfront streetcar for commuters travelling to Exhibition GO and along the 505 Dundas streetcar route for those travelling between Union Station and Bloor GO, TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said in a statement Monday.

Extra trains were also running on subway Line 1 to connect Union Station and Downsview Park GO, Green said.

Repairs underway, GO Transit says

GO Transit recommended commuters travelling into Union Station Monday use TTC routes instead.

Subway service downtown had its own disruptions though, with the TTC reporting mid-morning that Line 1 was out of service between St. Andrew and Spadina stations, due to an injury on the tracks. Service on that part of the line has since resumed, according to the TTC website.

A crowded subway platform in Toronto, with commuters packed elbow to elbow — While GO Transit riders are encouraged to take TTC routes as an alternative while GO trains are delayed, subway riders on Line 1 are also dealing with disrupted service Monday morning. (Jonathan Stainton/CBC)

The UP Express train was also out of service for most of the morning, with express bus service replacing it between Union Station and Pearson airport. Pearson airport’s official X account reported just before 12:30 p.m. that UP Express service had resumed, though wait times may be longer than normal.

Train signalling systems work in a similar way to traffic signals and help rail transit run safely, according to Jeff Casello, a professor of transportation planning and engineering at the University of Waterloo.

“It prevents one train from moving into a space of the track where there might be another train. It prevents collisions,” he said.

If one train gets stuck, it can cause a block in the rail network and affect other routes, he said.

Uber surging, commute times way up

Uber prices for riders coming into the city were surging on the app Monday morning, at the same time that repairs are delaying trains.

Commuters who had to transfer to the subway to make it to Union Station told CBC Toronto their usual Monday morning trip was more than twice as long as usual.

A young man speaks into a CBC reporter's mic at Union Station — Kris Pathmanathan said he had to transfer to the subway to make it from Scarborough to Union Station Monday, nearly quintupling his commute time. (CBC)

“Great start to a Monday,” said Kris Pathmanathan, who was travelling downtown from Scarborough. He said his usual 20-minute commute became an hour-and-a-half slog.

Jenil Patel said he was returning to the office full-time this week, but only made it one stop from Agincourt GO to Kennedy Station. He said he was an hour late for work because of the delays.

“Of course that’s what happened.”

Bianca Salazar, another commuter, said the disruption made her about two hours late to work.

She said she boarded the GO train from Mount Pleasant to Union Station but, when the delays were announced at Weston Station, she shared an Uber with three strangers to Jane Station and took the TTC to work.

“It’s my first day back from mat leave after a year off,” she told CBC News. “So it’s been a really eventful day for my first day back.”