Streetcar and subway service is back up an running downtown after a major transit disruption earlier this morning, the TTC confirms.
A hydro vault fire near Richmond and Yonge streets knocked out power on several downtown streetcar routes this morning and suspended subway service on part of Line 1.
Subway trains were not operating between Bloor and Osgoode stations for several hours Tuesday morning but service was restored by 11 a.m.
The power outage also affected service on the 501 Queen, 504 King, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina and 505 Dundas streetcars but as of 10:30 a.m., all streetcars were back online.
Byford said crews were delayed in fixing the issue this morning because Toronto fire crews were having trouble extinguishing a hotspot in the hydro vault.
By about 8 a.m., TTC crews were able to get inside the vault to assess the problem.
"I appreciate our customers bearing with us," Byford said.
"It is kind of unlucky because that particular vault serves east-west streetcars as well (as the subway line)."
About 130 shuttle buses were operating this morning replace subway service along Line 1 and streetcar service along King and Queen streets.
Byford added that the city's transportation services department gave shuttle buses priority signals at intersections to speed up service.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins says the power issues did not affect GO Transit and added that customers were able to use their TTC fares on the Union Pearson Express and GO Transit this morning in light of the TTC disruption.
Toronto police also chipped in to provide additional resources to assist the TTC with facilitating shuttle service.
Stibbe said the transit issues created big traffic problems downtown.
"We’ve lost essentially 50 per cent of available roadway due to the streetcars that have come to a stop in certain areas so that is obviously impacting traffic substantially," he said Tuesday morning.
