Subway driver loses it and rants about TTC to a train full of confused passengers

Just about everyone is frustrated with TTC service and a general sense of chaos aboard public transit in Toronto. Even subway drivers.

One subway operator publicly lost his cool during an outage on Line 2 on Wednesday, addressing a train full of passengers with a rant blaming Toronto Mayor John Tory and the TTC for the regular inconveniences plaguing subway service in the city.

With TTC staff literally under attack, you can’t blame operators for making sure passengers know it’s John Tory’s fault transit service is so bad. pic.twitter.com/8w9YfyjbiI

— Adam Chaleff (@AdamCF) January 26, 2023

In a video making the rounds on social media, the subway operator can be heard addressing passengers, stating that there is "no subway service between Ossington station and Keele station."

The driver then takes aim at the people in charge, saying, "If you'd like to voice your displeasure, you should probably call the mayor's office, John Tory. He's the one who's in charge here, so you should probably call him and let him know what you think about this."

With shots fired at John Tory, the driver then lined up the TTC in his crosshairs.

"I do apologize for this inconvenience, I do apologize for the lack of communication from transit control," says the unknown driver, adding, "These guys really don't care what you guys are doing."

"So once again, folks, please voice your displeasure with the mayor's office and customer service."

The TTC responded to the circulating clip on Thursday morning, stating that it is aware of the "unauthorized subway announcement" and looking into the incident.

With respect to a video making the rounds of an unauthorized subway announcement.
The #TTC is aware of this incident and it’s being looked into.
This is not an appropriate way to advise customers of delays in service.

— TTC Media Relations 📰🚌🚋🚈 (@TTCNewsroom) January 26, 2023

A few comments on social media believe that the operator's address to passengers will likely cost him his job.

Sorry to say this but that employee will be fired by the TTC .. yes the service is bad but you don’t blame @JohnTory and @TTChelps on live broadcast

— Jonni Martinez  #QuitoRenace (@iJonniM) January 26, 2023

Others are impressed to see TTC employees speak out about unreliable service and frequent outages.

Kudos to that staff member for speaking up. Sometimes I think back to late 2018 when my councillor was elected as Tory’s “transit tsar”, ready to revolutionize transit in Toronto. What a load of lies we were fed.

— Kate (@DrKateTO) January 26, 2023

Service disruptions have become an almost everyday occurrence on the TTC, a problem that only seems more apparent with all eyes on the transit system amid an unprecedented spike in crime.