TORONTO — Missing screws holding track fasteners led to the derailment that disrupted GO Transit operations for a week, the CEO of provincial transit agency Metrolinx told the agency’s board at a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The CBC reports that CEO Michael Lindsay said plates holding lag screws in place, which were supposed to be held by four screws, only had two. As a result, nine of the lag screws gave way, allowing the track to shift by 3 centimeters, or slightly over an inch. That was enough to cause the derailment.
The missing screws were not noted by “numerous” inspections by Metrolinx and the Toronto Terminals Railway, Lindsay said.
The derailment on the morning of Feb. 2 blocked switches and damaged track and signal systems [see “Low-speed derailment disrupts …,” Trains.com, Feb. 2, 2026]. That prevented use of four platforms at Toronto Union Station until repairs could be completed, leading GO to reduce its schedules until Saturday, Feb. 6.
Metrolinx was criticized for its communication during the disruption, and Lindsay apologized for that, according to a Toronto Sun report.
“I think I’ve just said in the public board meeting that this incident has taught us a lot about our customer communication, and for what it’s worth, I’m probably the least important part of that … The most important thing for us to focus on that day was moving people safely, which we did, but there are absolutely lessons learned, particularly about the link between the customer service representatives that are on trains.”
Metrolinx plans to offer refunds to commuters who took trains at Union Station on Feb. 2 and 3, as well as some trains on Feb. 4. More information is available here.
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Wonder if track maintenance is outsourced to a contractor? Also what is the track maintenance headcount today vs 10 or 20 years ago. This sort of thing should never happen. Similar to the CN derailment recently reported here. Same sloppiness as the Alaska Airlines 737max door plug blowing out in flight.
Lean operations are great for the bottom line… until stuff happens.