Skip to content

City confirms Metrolinx as source of Barrie fuel spill

City of Barrie says 3,528 litres of diesel leaked into Kempenfelt Bay following mid-August fuel spill; 'The city will be invoicing Metrolinx for the full cost of the cleanup'

The City of Barrie maintains that Metrolinx, which operates the GO train line along the waterfront, is to blame for a fuel leak that contaminated a section of Kempenfelt Bay last month. 

The Crown agency, which operates the Allandale Waterfront GO station and layover yard at the end of the Barrie line, initially denied it had any involvement related to the mid-August diesel spill on the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay after the city said the leak occurred during the refuelling of its trains. 

On Friday, city officials told BarrieToday that more than 3,500 litres of diesel seeped into Lake Simcoe and that it did indeed come from the Allandale rail layover yard, located at 280 Lakeshore Dr., not far from where the fuel was first detected in the water

City of Barrie spokesperson Scott LaMantia told BarrieToday on Sept. 2 that, following the investigation, Metrolinx provided the city with a report on Aug. 19 that confirmed its involvement in the 3,528-litre diesel spill.

“The spill is believed to have occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Aug. 11,” LaMantia said. "The city will be invoicing Metrolinx for the full cost of the cleanup.”

While a final cleanup cost is unknown, it has previously been estimated at around $50,000.

BarrieToday emailed Metrolinx on Thursday for an update and was told by a spokesperson that no new information was available and that the Ministry of the Environment investigation report may not have been issued. The spokesperson told a BarrieToday reporter to contact the city for a possible update. 

On Friday, upon hearing from the city that Metrolinx had admitted it was at fault for the spill, BarrieToday again contacted the Crown agency and was told that “given the timing of your request (for comment), we won’t be able to meet (your deadline).”

The spill occurred more than two weeks ago. 

On Saturday, Aug. 13, BarrieToday was contacted by a local resident who was walking near the southshore duck pond and said there was a “very strong diesel smell,” as well as trucks from an environmental company as well as municipal workers cleaning along the shoreline.

City officials said on Aug. 14 that the spill had come from the train station area, but the following day (Aug. 15), Metrolinx denied the spill came from its facility, saying “the weekend’s initial investigation suggests there are no indications the diesel came from any GO Transit stations or equipment.”

At that time, a Metrolinx spokesperson said the Allandale Waterfront GO station was "equipped with special equipment to prevent, monitor and detect fuel spills. That equipment was inspected, tested and is working as intended."

On Aug. 18, LaMantia said “based on city staff’s initial investigation and in discussions with Metrolinx staff on site (Aug. 13), it was determined the diesel spill came from the Allandale GO refuelling station. Staff remain confident in this assessment.”