SkyTrain delays hit Metro Vancouver's morning rush hour
TransLink says a switch problem caused a train to time out at Waterfront Station
This morning's SkyTrain commute was hit again with frustrating delays, just days after a commuters experienced a system-wide shutdown due to a power failure and a week after riders encountered a partial shutdown due to a computer glitch.
- THURSDAY | Computer glitch shuts down Skytrain for hours
- MONDAY | SkyTrain reopens after power outage
- ANALYSIS | TransLink's SkyTrain communication breakdown
Trains were delayed on the Expo and Millennium lines between Commercial Drive and Waterfront beginning as early as 6:50 a.m. PT.
TransLink tweeted at 8:37 a.m. PT that a "timed out" train was causing problems at the downtown terminus, and that trains would have to use just one side of the station's platform.
TransLink attributed the problem to a switch problem at Waterfront Station.
Minutes later, TransLink tweeted that delays on the system would continue to affect the morning rush.
"Sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience," it said.
Some of the people getting off the SkyTrain system at Stadium-Chinatown Station just after 9 a.m. PT told CBC News that trains have been stopping and waiting just before the stations all morning.
Many frustrated commuters arriving in downtown Vancouver say they decided to get off stops early and walk instead of losing more time on the stalling trains.
At 10:15 a.m. Translink tweeted that the malfunctioning switch was back in service. By 11 a.m., regular service had been restored.
Did this morning's switch problem affect your commute? Tell CBC News in the comments below, or by tweeting @cbcnewsbc.
With files from the CBC's Tina Lovgreen