Sparks, smoke as Canada Line train in Richmond disrupted by electrical issue
Posted December 16, 2021 12:00 pm.
Last Updated December 16, 2021 2:40 pm.
Some Canada Line commuters had a frightening experience travelling through Richmond Thursday morning.
Gary Glans was on his way to work at the airport. As the train pulled into Templeton station he says he heard a loud bang.
“It was a loud enough bang that everyone started to sort of panic and exit the train immediately, get out of the station,” he tells CityNews.
“As we were getting out we heard two more very loud bangs, louder than the first, and then we looked around at the train. The front of the train caught on fire and flames were shooting out along the outside of the train.
That lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds and then the flames subsided and there was a lot of acrid electrical smell. It was pretty frightening, it was more of a shock.”
JUST IN: A frightening situation for Canada Line riders on the way to the airport this morning. Just spoke with a man who was on board — three loud bangs — smoke, before the front cab of the first train went on fire at Templeton Station. Listen for more @CityNewsVAN
— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) December 16, 2021
Around 11 a.m. TransLink tweeted, saying service was disrupted due to a fire. The issue was resolved, and trains were running again about an hour later.
#RiderAlert #SkyTrain Due to a fire near Templeton Station, there is currently no Canada Line service between Bridgeport Station and YVR. Updates to follow. Expo Line and Millennium Line are unaffected. ^LR
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) December 16, 2021
Spokesperson Tina Lovgreen says, they have determined there was never actually a fire. An electrical issue caused “arcing,” which may have produced sparks and light.
“There were no actual flames,” she says.
“I can appreciate that some of our customers may have noticed something that is unusual, but I want to reassure them that no one was in danger. There is no risk of the trains catching fire or burning up.”
One small part, called a “collector shoe”, will need to be replaced which will cost approximately $100.
Richmond Fire Rescue Service also says they did not find a fire at the scene, adding the incident is under investigation, and no one was injured.
A spokesperson says there was “no fire at the scene,” and “witnesses could have misinterpreted the sparks from the electrical short as a fire.”
