Streetcars are not running on a large section of King Street in Toronto after a truck crashed into a bridge in the Liberty Village neighbourhood. The collision pulled down overhead wiring and supporting infrastructure critical to streetcar operations.
The crash happened around 8:20 in the morning. Toronto Police say the truck hit a bridge near King West and Atlantic Avenue. Fortunately, there was no structural damage to the bridge itself, but the streetcar lines were severely impacted.
The TTC confirmed that damage to the lines was extensive and could take all day to repair. No streetcar service is available between Strachan and Roncesvalles, with buses running as replacements in the affected area.
The 504 streetcars are being diverted up to Queen Street as an alternative route. Nobody was injured in the crash, but the disruption has affected thousands of commuters and transit users along one of Toronto's busiest corridors.
TTC officials are asking anyone using the affected route to expect significant delays. Buses will continue to run until the overhead wire repairs are fully completed.
The city has positioned a rapid response team downtown in case similar incidents occur during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, when Toronto's transit system will be under enormous pressure from increased visitor numbers.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of Toronto's streetcar network to disruptions caused by vehicle collisions with overhead infrastructure. Transit advocates have long called for better protection of the wiring systems.