It was fifteen years ago today (August 11) that two subway cars collided on the Yonge-University line, killing three people and injuring 140.
A small brass plaque, buried in the subway tunnel between St. Clair West and Dupont stations at the spot where the crash occurred, commemorates the lives lost. But, other than whizzing by that small marker, there’s not much to remember the worst subway crash in Canadian history. Should there be?
The events of that summer’s collision remain a black eye for both the city and the TTC – it was the first subway-related fatality since the Yonge line opened in 1954 – its importance can’t really be understated. It was the single event that lead to an overhaul of the TTC.
David Gunn, who was the new commissioner at the time of the crash, said as much in 2005: “What changed at the TTC after the accident? I’d have to say just about everything.” (He would also later say the Russell Hill subway accident was the best thing to ever happen to the TTC.)
So what changed?
First and foremost, a little switch called the Ericsson. That little bugger didn’t do its job when run 35 hurtled toward run 34 on the Yonge-University-Spadina line not far from St. Clair Station. Nearly 300 of these flawed trip arms, which were intended to halt a train if it ran a red light – were replaced.
A $60 million dollar control centre was built. And those were just a couple of items on the nearly 300 point checklist made after the accident.
This after it was revealed that there was no system in place for replacing the signal system pre-1995.
These days trip arms number over 1,000 and are tested many times a year.
Drivers were looked at too. You can’t just run reds anymore and not get punished for it – something that was common pre-1995.
But more importantly, the TTC looked at where it was overburdened and what it was ignoring. The Sheppard subway was acting as a huge drain on a system that was falling apart on the inside. The glamour of subway expansion made then mayor Mel the cock of the walk. But in pursuing that sandy castle meant ignoring the existing infrastructure.
It’s something worth remembering as mayoral hopefuls peddle dreamy-talk of Toronto subway expansion.
And as the TTC finally completes its massive 236 point checklist of post-Russell Hill change, (two were left by this time last year), let’s add one more. Put a proper plaque outside.
