Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) service resumed on Line 2 Friday morning after a second hydraulic fluid spill in four days paralyzed the city’s east-west artery. The incident occurs as the city faces intense pressure to upgrade aging infrastructure and stabilize service reliability ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Thousands of commuters faced delays as maintenance failures continue to plague the network. The transit agency confirmed that the Bloor-Danforth line is now operational following hours of track cleaning.
The spill was first detected around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026. A maintenance work vehicle leaked viscous fluid across several stations between Ossington and Woodbine. According to a report by CTV News, crews found fluid on the rails at St. George and Greenwood stations. Cleaning the tracks was difficult. Maintenance teams spent hours on their hands and knees scrubbing the rails with detergent. TTC spokesperson Susan Nguyen said power-washing cannot remove the thick fluid. Service finally resumed at 7:27 a.m. local time.
This disruption follows a major shutdown on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. A similar spill at Old Mill Station closed the western portion of Line 2 for more than eight hours that day. The recurrence of the same mechanical failure has sparked sharp criticism from transit advocates. TTC CEO Mandeep Lali addressed the situation in a formal statement issued after service resumed. “We fell short for the second time this week and for that we are truly sorry,” Lali said. He confirmed that the agency is starting an immediate and comprehensive review of its entire work car fleet. The maintenance failures occur as the transit network prepares to handle a massive influx of tourists to this part of the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The current crisis matches concerns raised in a 2024 infrastructure report. That document warned that aging maintenance equipment posed a significant risk to daily operations. While the TTC promised to upgrade its fleet, these back-to-back leaks suggest the problems are still there. Shuttle buses were used to move passengers between the affected stations throughout the morning rush. Commuters reported long wait times and crowded platforms. According to coverage from the CBC, riders are frustrated by the lack of progress on equipment reliability. The agency has not yet said when the maintenance vehicle review will be finished.
Why the TTC’s Double Maintenance Failure Threatens Toronto’s World Cup Readiness
The back-to-back shutdowns on Line 2 reveal a systemic failure in the TTC’s maintenance oversight that goes beyond simple bad luck. By having two identical mechanical failures within 72 hours, the agency has exposed a critical gap in its “State of Good Repair” protocols. This is the first time in recent memory that a single maintenance vehicle defect has caused two separate multi-hour closures in one week. The takeaway for the city is clear: the aging maintenance fleet is now a primary threat to transit reliability. This paradigm shift means the TTC must move away from reactive repairs and toward a full replacement of its work car fleet before the 2026 World Cup begins. If the system cannot survive a standard Tuesday morning, it will not survive the global spotlight of FIFA fans.