TTC CEO apologizes for ‘poor subway service’

TORONTO – TTC CEO Andy Byford is apologizing for the “poor subway service” throughout the TTC during Monday’s afternoon rush-hour highlighted by the doors opening while a subway train was in the tunnel.

Byford’s public apology comes in the form of a YouTube video uploaded Tuesday afternoon in which he explains what led to the numerous delays in the subway system.

“I just want to say sorry for the poor subway service we offered last night,” Byford said.

Byford went on to explain that fire alarms triggered at Eglinton Station and Keele Station at the beginning of Monday’s afternoon rush hour forced the suspension of service.

When a fire alarm is triggered at a TTC station, subway service is suspended until Toronto Fire Services have investigated and deemed it safe to continue service.

Passenger alarms and mechanical issues at the same time caused further delays.

Later in the afternoon rush hour, the doors of a subway train opened while the train was stopped in the tunnel.

Byford explained that no one was hurt during the incident and “clearly we’re looking into how that could have happened.”

Two weeks ago, the TTC launched its first customer charter in which it made dozens of commitments to Torontonians to improve service.

“Key to that improvement is increased reliability and punctuality of the service and clearly we didn’t meet that objective last night,” Byford said.