Metrolinx Report Blames Visual Inspection Reliance for Union Station Derailment

A report released by Metrolinx indicates that an overreliance on routine visual inspections may have contributed to a GO Transit train derailment at Toronto's Union Station on Feb. 2, as CBC Toronto first reported. The incident disrupted commuter travel for several days.

The investigation confirmed that the derailment resulted from missing screws on a railway track located just outside the station. Specifically, the report found that screws across nine consecutive timber ties were missing, loose, or degraded, causing the rail to shift approximately 3.5 centimetres. While new standards implemented last year required four screws per plate, only two had been installed at the site.

Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay told the agency's board that the incident was the result of a "legacy infrastructure condition" that developed over time, noting that there were no mechanical deficiencies or non-compliant actions by the train crew.

The report highlighted significant limitations in the agency's inspection methods, stating that visual checks cannot reliably determine the clamping effectiveness or remaining holding strength of screws. Furthermore, the report noted that annual geometry testing intervals made it difficult to identify degradation between cycles; the Feb. 2 derailment occurred before the next scheduled geometry inspection.

Metrolinx stated it has since updated its protocols to strengthen inspections and is checking for similar conditions across the railway. No injuries were reported, and the agency announced automatic fare refunds for some affected riders.