Why weren't TTC riders alerted to shutdown?

This story, from the Star, raises a good question.

I got on the subway, sat down and waited while inaudible noises came from the intercom. Certainly no one told me, or any of the riders getting on northbound at Queen, the subway wasn't moving.
I only learned of the blockage after passengers started asking why we were so slow and eventually TTC staff walking by answered a question saying a "medical emergency" had blocked the subway -- I knew "medical emergency" was a code word for jumper and nothing would run for a while. It was only later I learned what had happened.  

Why weren't TTC riders alerted to shutdown?

Tess Kalinowski      

Transportation Reporter     

 

TTC collectors faltered in telling riders about a major subway disruption, leaving many to put tokens in turnstiles only to find they couldn't get on the train or wouldn't go as far as they needed.

Collectors, who are informed of service disruptions by Transit Control, are supposed to stop customers from doing that.

In the case of a shooting or terrorist incident, TTC staff have a procedure to immediately evacuate and lock down a station. But most stations must remain open during a service disruption so riders can access buses, said TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

In such cases, it's the job of TTC staff to alert people to the disruption.
James Morton
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