Nasty winter weather created “significant disruptions to service” on Metro Vancouver’s transit system Friday, TransLink said.
The effects were being felt primarily on the SkyTrain system, with the Expo Line hardest hit, the transit and transportation service said in an afternoon update.
As of 5 p.m., the Expo Line was running between Waterfront and Scott Road stations, and all Surrey stations had reopened.
However, expo line passengers will have to transfer trains in both directions at Scott Road station to continue their trip. Braid and Sapperton stations remained closed.
Earlier in the afternoon, the entire line was being held while TransLink ran de-icing trains to clear the tracks.
The Millennium Line continued to experience significant delays, with no service currently between Lougheed and Burquitlam stations, TransLink said.
Full service was restored on the Canada Line Friday evening.
TransLink is re-routing buses to try and fill the gaps in SkyTrain service.
Anyone using transit should check their route by signing up for Transit Alerts, consulting the Trip Planner, or by following them on Twitter @TransLink.
TransLink previously activated its “snow plan” early Friday morning ahead of the day’s snowfall and freezing rain forecast.
The snow plan consists of many extra measures to ensure “all transit services are prepared for potential snowfall.”
Extra weather preparations include extra staff working, co-ordinating with municipalities for snow-clearing priorities, special de-icing for trolley wires, using more conventional buses for steeper routes, coupling SkyTrain cars into four-car configurations, and using a special SkyTrain to de-ice power rails.
TransLink says it has even more measures to implement if conditions worsen.
Those measures include tire socks, running SkyTrains throughout the night to keep tracks clear, and increasing staffing on HandyDARTS and other buses and SkyTrain terminals.
“With a winter storm warning in effect, customers are being asked to avoid travelling if possible. For those who have to travel, customers should expect delays and build in extra travel time,” TransLink officials said.
“Extra staff have been working overnight and will work throughout the day today to keep transit moving for customers as best as possible.”
A winter storm warning is in effect for Metro Vancouver, issued by Environment Canada.
“Heavy snow followed by freezing rain and then heavy rain; Localized strong winds giving wind chill values down to -15 (Friday) morning,” it said.
“Travel conditions will be challenging due to heavy snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, and heavy rain on snow or ice.”
Another frontal system will bring heavy rain to Metro Vancouver on Saturday. Localized flooding due to snow-blocked drains and melting snow is likely, Environment Canada said.
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