Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

West Coast Express commuter trains resume Monday as rail staff ordered back to work

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Aug, 2024 03:32 PM
  • West Coast Express commuter trains resume Monday as rail staff ordered back to work

Metro Vancouver's transit authority says the West Coast Express commuter train service shut down last week due to the Canada-wide rail stoppage will resume operations this week.

TransLink issued a statement saying services will resume their normal schedules starting Monday, although there may be some delays "due to freight traffic backlog."

The commuter rail line linking Mission, B.C., and other Fraser Valley communities to downtown Vancouver has been shut down since Wednesday night due to the lack of rail traffic controllers on the Canadian Pacific Kansas City tracks the service uses.

On Saturday, the Canada Industrial Relations Board imposed binding arbitration in the dispute between workers and the country's two major railways, Canadian National and CPKC, ordering thousands of rail employees back to work.

The resumption comes as another TransLink service, the door-to-door HandyDART, narrowly avoided a strike. Workers suspended job action that may have resulted in a strike Monday in order for union members to vote on a final contract offer from employer Transdev Canada.

Lower Mainland communities such as Maple Ridge served by the West Coast Express train lamented last week's operational disruptions, citing residents heavy dependence on rail and other transit services to get to and from work.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. toxic drug deaths down 9% in 2024, but six people continue to die each day

B.C. toxic drug deaths down 9% in 2024, but six people continue to die each day
British Columbia's Coroners Service says the number of people who have died this year from toxic drug poisoning is down from 2023, but an average of six people are still dying every day from using illicit drugs. The service says it recorded 181 suspected drug poisoning deaths in May and 185 in June, bringing the total number of fatalities in the first half of this year to 1,158.

B.C. toxic drug deaths down 9% in 2024, but six people continue to die each day

Woman rescued off B.C. glacier calls those who braved smoky conditions 'superheroes'

Woman rescued off B.C. glacier calls those who braved smoky conditions 'superheroes'
Laurence Desjardins says the wind was loud enough to keep her awake through the night as white ash fell around the tent where she was camping with friends on a glacier in B.C.'s West Kootenay region. They knew they had to leave as quickly as possible.

Woman rescued off B.C. glacier calls those who braved smoky conditions 'superheroes'

Animals, like those in Jasper, know how to dodge wildfires, say biologists

Animals, like those in Jasper, know how to dodge wildfires, say biologists
Despite the loss of about a third of the Jasper townsite, including homes and buildings, as well as the sorrow over the destruction of a beloved piece of Canadian landscape, experts say animals know how to protect themselves in a wildfire.

Animals, like those in Jasper, know how to dodge wildfires, say biologists

Wildfire update planned in B.C. as crews battle about 350 blazes

Wildfire update planned in B.C. as crews battle about 350 blazes
British Columbia's minister of emergency management is scheduled to give an update on the wildfire situation today as some areas in the province cool off while others flare. Bowinn Ma and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston will be joined by staff from the province to give an overview of the wildfire trouble spots in B.C. 

Wildfire update planned in B.C. as crews battle about 350 blazes

Third BC United MLA set to go to B.C.'s Conservatives

Third BC United MLA set to go to B.C.'s Conservatives
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon is losing a third member of the legislature to the Conservative Party of British Columbia. BC United's director of communications Adam Wilson says in a statement that Teresa Wat, who represents the riding of Richmond North Centre, has indicated her intention to join John Rustad's B.C. Conservatives.

Third BC United MLA set to go to B.C.'s Conservatives

Parks Canada, Guilbeault defend wildfire preparation policies after Jasper blaze

Parks Canada, Guilbeault defend wildfire preparation policies after Jasper blaze
Parks Canada officials and politicians angrily denied Monday that forest management policies in Jasper National Park contributed to a catastrophic wildfire that damaged one-third of the townsite. Ron Hallman, CEO of the federal agency, said it was "ridiculous" to assert his organization puts a higher value on nature than people.

Parks Canada, Guilbeault defend wildfire preparation policies after Jasper blaze