Faulty, aging equipment to blame for spike in TTC fuel spills: report
CBC
Faulty and aging equipment was to blame for nearly all of the eight hydraulic fuel spills on the TTC in the first five months of 2024, a new report finds, noting a steep increase in spills compared to previous years.
The TTC's maintenance reporting system is also failing to flag some work car components that need to be replaced, according to the report by rail industry experts from Hatch, a consulting group.
"The lack of detailed documentation for the design and maintenance of the work car fleets is highlighted as a major issue," the report said.
Maintenance and inspection intervals and criteria are unavailable for several components, it added.
The TTC commissioned the report, released on Tuesday, after a hydraulic fuel spill on May 13 shut down service on Line 2 for 12 hours. The incident was the most disruptive of a surge in spills early this year.
From 2019 to 2023, only four hydraulic leak incidents were reported on the TTC, the report said.
Hatch made several recommendations to the transit agency, including that it improve standard maintenance practices and procedures for work car maintenance tasks.
The TTC should also establish a more detailed inspection regimen for work car system components, it said.
Improved record keeping combined with a defined maintenance and inspection routine would help address frequent component failures, the report says.
The report said "misunderstandings" between the TTC and on-site personnel on May 13 kept the spill from being effectively contained.
Hatch recommended the transit agency develop comprehensive guidelines for coordination between work crews, managers and the TTC when responding to spills.
Coun. Alejandra Bravo, who represents Ward 9—Davenport, said people throughout the region use the TTC and it needs urgent support.
"[The TTC] is a spinal column for transportation," she said.
On Tuesday, the city also published a separate peer review by the American Public Transit Association (APTA) into service disruptions, including the eight leaks.
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