Toronto was sizzling today, breaking an 11-year heat record in the city.
Temperatures reached 35C at 5 p.m. today, beating a record last set in 2005 when temperatures soared to 34.9 C.
Meanwhile, the extended bout of hot and humid weather could mean your commute will be a little slower today.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins says a “slow order” will likely be issued for GO trains between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday due to the scorching temperatures in Toronto.
Coming off of a sweltering day Tuesday, Toronto will see a high of 33 C Wednesday but the temperature will feel closer to 41 C with humidity.
Aikins says that while the transit agency can usually handle the first 30-degree day, the next two days are more difficult.
The rails, she added, often hold the heat, which can lead to trouble on the tracks.
"Steel is built for a certain temperature range and in Canada we are a country of excessive temperature," Aikins said.
"When you get over plus 30 for an extended period of time, the hot sun softens and expands the steel and it can wobble. What will happen, worst case scenario, is it would derail a train if it went over too fast so that, of course, we need to avoid."
For safety reasons, Aikins says the trains slow down during extreme heat.
"If they go over them (the rails) a little slower, then it is less likely of them bending during the heat," she added.
During a slow order, trips take an average of five to eight minutes longer and the longest trips could take 10 to 15 minutes longer.
UP Express would likely only be delayed by about two or three minutes.
A slow order was also issued last week due to the heat.
"That is really unusual," Aikins noted. "We had one last year for one day and none the year before so this is unusual. We are having a pretty hot summer."
The TTC has not yet issued a slow order but TTC spokesperson Susan Sperling says they are keeping an eye on the situation.
"We monitor the temperature of the rail and if it gets to 35 C, then we issue... a slow order to ensure that the rail doesn’t buckle in the heat," she told CP24 Wednesday morning.
The TTC is, however, dealing with another issue that is making its passengers a little grumpy.
About 20 to 25 per cent of subway cars are currently without air conditioning.
"We have a program in place to repair and replace air conditioning units. The units are 15, 20 years old, as old as the trains themselves and when they get overly stressed they can fail. Sometimes it is a quick fix that is needed, but often times it needs an extensive fix or even being replaced," Sperling said.
Taking the affected cars out of service, Sperling added, is not an option.
"During peak period… logistically it wouldn’t work. We don’t have enough cars and then we would leave customers stranded and we’re not going to do that," she said.
Sperling advised those customers who can't tolerate the heat to wait for another train.
"If you don’t have time to do that, at the next station, if it is safe to do so, you can get out and go to the next car or the car beside that one."
