Toronto's Union station reopened after flooding

Service has resumed on part of the Yonge Street subway line in Toronto after severe flooding forced the shutdown of a section of the system.

The subway line was closedaround 1 p.m. from Osgoode station southbound to Union and from Union station north to Yonge/Bloor Stationdue to what appeared to be either abacked-up storm sewer or aburst sewer pipe near a construction site.

TheToronto Transit Commissionannouncedthe service was restoredat around 11 p.m.,well past the evening rush-hour,aftercrews spent hours pumping out water thatflooded thetracks atUnion station, which is Canada's busiest transit hub.

Earlier in the day, waterwas seen cascadingfrom street level downinto the station and onto the concourse and platform.

"We have ahuge amount left to do," TTC CEO Andy Byford told CBC News at the time. "We've got to get this place cleaned up.We've got to finish pumping out all the water and we've got to do all of the electrical testing."

Byford was on the scene shortly afterwater poured through the station.He reported a foul smell.

He said the system runs on electric current and all systems, including signals, escalators and elevatorsmust be tested for safety.

"It was likea monsoon coming down the stairs," one TTC worker told CBC News.

About 40 people were trapped on one of the streetcars in the station'sflooded Harbourfront tunnel but were eventually rescued by Toronto firefighters. The station itself was quickly evacuated.

Byford saidno passengers were injured during the flood.

Mayor Rob Ford, who toured Union Station on Friday evening, praised the TTC'scleanup efforts.

"I have been onthe phone with [Police Chief] Blair, offering any resources we can to help Mr. Byford deal with this terrible flood that we have had," Ford said. "I can't thank the employees and Mr. Byford [enough] for his great leadership in getting this under control."

Streetcar service has alsoresumed on the 509 Harbourfront and 510 Spadina streetcar lines. Both were turned away from Union stationand rerouted to thetunnel servicing Queen's Quay station in the aftermath of the flood.

The road closure on FrontStreet at Bay Street has alsocleared. Full service on the 72 Pape bus has resumed.