British Columbia

SkyTrain Expo Line shutdown: what you need to know

Thousands of rush hour commuters are being told to expect delays and find alternate routes Friday morning after an overnight guideway fire forced Metro Vancouver's Expo Line SkyTrain to be shut down.

All transit will be free on Friday as commuters face long delays and detours

Frustrated commuters affected by the Expo Line SkyTrain shutdown cram onto crowded buses in Surrey on May 22, 2015. (Mike McArthur / CBC)

Thousands of rush hour commuters are being told to expect delays and find alternate routes Friday morning after an overnight guideway fire forced Metro Vancouver's Expo Line SkyTrain to be shut down.

The line is expected to remain shut down until sometime between 11 a.m. PT and noon, but TransLink says it will be offering commuters free transit all day long.

A bus bridge has been put in place to replace the SkyTrain service, but heavy crowding is expected.

TransLink's Colleen Brennan says some transit passengers can expect delays of up to two hours and is advising people to find alternate routes.

TransLink suggests commuters consider the following:

  • Avoid major stations and heaviest bus routes
  • Surrey passengers should take a bus or Canada Line downtown
  • If on Expo Line, get off at Columbia & transfer to Millennium Line
  • From 22nd Street Station take a #100 bus to Canada Line
  • From Metrotown take a #49 bus to Canada Line
  • From Joyce Station take a #41 or #43 bus to Canada Line
  • From Nanaimo take a #25 to Canada Line

Commuters who need to find other alternate routes are being encouraged to use the "Trip Planner" on TransLink's website.