Commute goes off track over SkyTrain problems

SkyTrain commuters experienced major delays Friday morning because of a track issue and a problem train in Burnaby and New Westminster.

Service was disrupted between Edmonds and 22nd Street on the Expo Line from shortly before 6 a.m. until about 8:20 a.m., when service was finally restored. By then, however, the damage had been done.

For most of the morning rush, riders travelling eastbound toward King George Station were forced to transfer to shuttle buses and trains were single-tracking westbound.

Crowding was significant at stations — particularly Columbia — and it was expected to take some time for trains to get back to normal frequency and spacing.

Transit police and security staff have been added to help with crowd control.

A TransLink spokesperson said it’s doubtful the SkyTrain issues have anything to do with the snow that fell overnight across the region.

TransLink said the Millennium and Canada lines were not affected by the issues that plagued the Expo Line. However, some commuters complained of overcrowding causing delays on those trains.

“I travelled the Millennium/ Evergreen Line during this fiasco today and can say that this line was very much effected from Burquitlam west,” said Brent Caughy, a warehouse manager who works in east Vancouver.

“I have never yet in over a year of using this service, seen trains so crowded. I literally could not raise my arms standing in the car by the time it got to Brentwood.”