TTC Line 2 Reliability Crisis: Oil Spills and Service Shutdowns Spark Outrage

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) CEO Mandeep Lali has ordered the immediate suspension of the agency’s work car fleet following two separate hydraulic fluid leaks on Line 2 within a single week. The decision comes as the transit agency faces criticism over service reliability after the leaks caused significant disruptions to the Bloor-Danforth subway line between April 7 and April 10, 2026.

The suspension of the maintenance vehicles will remain in effect, except in exceptional circumstances, until the completion of a full internal review. This review is tasked with determining the root causes of the failures and conducting comprehensive inspections across the entire work car fleet.

April 10 Service Disruption

The most recent incident occurred on April 10, 2026, when a work car operating during overnight maintenance leaked hydraulic fluid along the Bloor-Danforth line. The spill forced the TTC to halt subway service between Ossington and Woodbine stations.

Crews were required to inspect and clean the tracks before service could be restored. Full subway service on the affected portion of Line 2 resumed at approximately 7:20 a.m. On April 10, 2026.

April 7 Operational Failure

The previous leak occurred on April 7, 2026, originating from a maintenance vehicle near Old Mill station at approximately 2:45 a.m. This incident resulted in a more prolonged disruption, with the western portion of Line 2 remaining shut down between Jane and Islington stations for more than eight hours.

The TTC first alerted customers to the disruption between Keele and Kipling stations at approximately 6:15 a.m. On April 7, 2026. TTC spokesperson Stuart Green noted that maintenance crews had to clean the spill manually, reporting that workers were on their hands and knees with rags cleaning up.

Following the cleanup, trains in the area initially operated at reduced speeds. The TTC confirmed via social media shortly after 5 p.m. On April 7, 2026, that these speed restrictions had been lifted.

Corporate Accountability and Review Process

CEO Mandeep Lali addressed the repeated failures, stating that the agency did not meet its standards for providing safe and reliable transit at the start of the business day.

Here’s unacceptable. The TTC must provide safe, reliable service from the beginning of every day, and this week we did not meet that standard. I apologize to our customers and take full accountability.

Mandeep Lali

The internal review ordered by Lali will examine both the April 7 and April 10 incidents. As part of this process, the TTC will implement fleet-wide inspections. Any vehicles identified as being affected by similar issues will remain out of service until the agency is confident in their operational safety.

Reliability Concerns

The recurring nature of these spills has drawn attention from city officials. A City councillor has urged the TTC to urgently address the reliability of Line 2, stating that Torontonians deserve better following the repeated shutdowns.

The TTC has stated that its primary focus moving forward is to prevent a recurrence of these hydraulic leaks to ensure the reliability of the subway network.