What to know
- One infrastructure expert says extreme heat can make public transit less reliable by straining electrical and mechanical systems, forcing trains and buses to slow down or operate differently during heat waves.
- High temperatures can cause rail tracks to expand and buckle, increasing derailment risks and contributing to service disruptions, as seen during Ontario’s recent heat wave, according to a resident.
- Heat waves also pose health and safety risks for transit workers and passengers, prompting agencies to consider adjusted work schedules, more breaks and improved cooling measures.
- The expert says transit agencies can adapt by upgrading infrastructure for hotter conditions, protecting vulnerable equipment from direct sunlight and incorporating climate resilience into future projects.
Heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense in Ontario, and besides posing health risks, they can also lead to transit disruptions, according to one expert.
Earlier this month, Ontario was hit with an extended heat wave event, which made part of the province feel close to the 40s for multiple days.
Heat waves are also expected to become more frequent and more intense in the next few years, as climate change advances. Events like this pose risks to residents’ health, including increased cardiovascular events, respiratory conditions, and symptoms of fainting, fatigue, rashes, and more, according to experts.
Read More
But health risks are not the only side-effect of hotter days, more unreliable transit rides might also be a consequence.
Extreme heat causes infrastructure issues
Nicholas Roberts, Associate Vice President, Goods Movement, Ports and Marine at CPCS told Now Toronto heat waves may lead to issues on public transit, as some of the existing infrastructure might not be adapted to extreme heat.
Hotter days can lead the mechanical and electrical systems of buses and trains to become overloaded, as they need to be cooled down in order to support operation. This cooling down process demands energy, and systems might not be adapted for it.
In addition, maintaining a comfortable temperature inside the buses and trains also demands more work.
“If you think of the light rail systems and the subways, but then also on board transit vehicles as well…they’re equipped with air conditioning units. They need to work harder in order to maintain the internal temperatures at a comfortable level,” he explained. “If you have more hot days, it’s harder for those cooling systems to keep up.”
In fact, during the latest heat wave, the TTC notified customers that Line 1 and Line 2 subway trains would be running at reduced speeds through open areas. Meanwhile, commuters on the Line 5 and Line 6 LRTs were being asked to push the door button when boarding and exiting due to the hotter temperatures.
Another effect of hotter weather is a phenomenon called buckling, which happens when metal train tracks expand under extreme temperatures and deform outwards. This phenomenon could lead to the risk of derailments.
During the latest heat wave, one Ontario resident shared on social media that her commute trip was significantly impacted after two of her GO trains got delayed, while another one was interrupted during the trajectory, which she said happened due to derailment risks.
Workers and passengers could also feel the heat wave effects
In addition to service interruption risks due to infrastructure issues, Roberts points out that extreme heat also leads to increased health risks for those who work to keep transit running.
While transit maintenance might be required during heat waves, electrical or mechanical workers could face significant health risks when exposed to extreme heat while at work, especially if they are working during temperature peaks and under the sun.
“There [are] ways transit agencies can think about either scheduling work during periods of time after hours in the evenings and such, where it might be cooler, and also keeping top of mind [that] people take more breaks or be more aware of health risks,” he said.
“For passengers as well, making sure that our transit systems are designed so that they can be in comfortable environments when those temperatures come.”
How transit agencies can mitigate consequences
According to Roberts, there are steps transit agencies and governments can take to ensure transit systems are able to keep up with the heat.
Firstly, they can focus on hardening or protecting infrastructure, which includes both building new infrastructure that is adapted for hotter days or rehabilitating existing infrastructure.
“If you look at an LRT system that has the overhead electrical wires that provide power to the vehicles, one of the things that happens during the heat is that those power lines can sag,” he said.
“A lot of these systems now are designed with tensioning mechanisms…that are placed on the end, so as it were to sag down, those weights go down and then straighten it back up.”
Another solution is to relocate existing infrastructure or services to cool them down. For instance, pieces of equipment or electrical systems could be replaced to a shaded area or have a structure built around them to ensure they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight.
Lastly, agencies should also adjust their operations to make sure workers and passengers stay cool and safe, such as adapting working times, increasing the frequency of breaks, and informing them about risks.
“There has been funding programs that have been available in the past for cities, municipalities, transit agencies to kind of do what they call these climate vulnerability assessments…then once you know that, you can take action to adapt,” Roberts said, adding that some of these programs include Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and the Rail Climate Adaptation Program.
