West Coast Express service cancelled due to protest in Maple Ridge
Posted February 24, 2020 4:27 pm.
Last Updated February 24, 2020 8:25 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – West Coast Express trains will not run Monday afternoon due to an earlier protest on the tracks near Port Haney Station in Maple Ridge.
Since the cancellation, protesters said they are taking down their blockade because of the police presence and have all cleared out.
With 2 dozen RCMP and CP cops coming down on us to break the blockade of the CP mainline in Maple Ridge, we decided to take down our blockade.
— Red Braid Alliance for Decolonial Socialism (@stopdisplacemnt) February 25, 2020
Mounties said in a tweet they had been ready to assist Canadian Pacific Railway “in moving forward with any lawful actions pertaining to their property once that has been determined.”
Update:
Ridge Meadows RCMP is fully prepared to assist CP Rail in moving forward with any lawful actions pertaining to their property once that has been determined.— Ridge Meadows RCMP (@RidgeRCMP) February 25, 2020
Earlier, West Coast Express service had been cancelled causing the first departing train to return to Waterfront Station.
Happening Now: another protest, this one on the Haney Bypass. Blocking train tracks, and the #westcoastexpress is not running as a result @NEWS1130Traffic @CityNewsVAN @JACK969van pic.twitter.com/bleCs0Ti6R
— Danger On Air (@DangerOnAir) February 25, 2020
Trains will resume Tuesday morning.
TransLink spokesperson Jill Drews says the frustration of commuters is understandable.
“[Commuters] took the West Coast Express to work and they expect to take it home. While we do have bus service to get customers home, it’s not the level of service they expect,” says Drews. “Ultimately it’s something we don’t have a lot of control over.”
TransLink isn’t able to apply for an injunction itself since Canadian Pacific Railway owns the infrastructure.
