National

Rail strike would halt B.C.'s West Coast Express commuter train, says TransLink

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Aug, 2024 02:29 PM

The operator of British Columbia's commuter train that shuttles thousands of people across the Lower Mainland says it won't be able to run if a strike halts Canada's two biggest railways this week.

Metro Vancouver transport provider TransLink says the West Coast Express operates on rail owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and can't run without that company's dispatchers and railworkers.

Negotiations between Canadian National Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. and the Canada Teamsters Rail Conference have struggled, and unless agreements are reached service at both companies is slated to stop at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Thursday.

The West Coast Express operates weekdays between downtown Vancouver and Mission, making stops in communities including Pitt Meadows and Port Coquitlam.

A statement from TransLink says if the West Coast Express is unable to operate, more buses will be added to help move commuters.

A strike would trigger the first-ever simultaneous work stoppage at the country's biggest rail companies, whose trains haul a combined $1 billion worth of goods per day.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today

Canadians living in provinces where the federal carbon price is collected are expected to receive their first Climate Action Incentive rebate of the year today. The federal government says people living in provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan will receive the rebate through direct bank deposit or by cheque if they have filed their income tax and benefit returns.

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today

Snowflurries in Vancouver on Tuesday

Environment Canada says the forecast calls for snowflurries in the Metro Vancouver area by Tuesday, followed by rain later this week. Temperatures are still forecast to remain well below zero Celsius in the province's northeast and Kootenay regions.

Snowflurries in Vancouver on Tuesday

Record cold in Western Canada across B.C., Alberta

In British Columbia, rescue crews say two skiers are lucky to be alive after they became lost in the Fitzsimmons Creek area near Whistler late Thursday as wind chill dipped around -50 C. North Shore Rescue says on social media that a helicopter was used to hoist out the pair who were hypothermic with frozen feet, and it's "unlikely the skiers would have survived the night."

Record cold in Western Canada across B.C., Alberta

Phone lines not meant for refund complaints: Coquitlam RCMP

Mounties in Coquitlam are reminding the public that its emergency and non-emergency lines are not meant for complaints about things like a cold fast-food burger. Police say that was one of many calls they had to 9-1-1 that take away staff time from helping someone with a life-threatening situation.

Phone lines not meant for refund complaints: Coquitlam RCMP

Snow and cold in Metro Vancouver wreaks havoc on the roads

An abrupt snowfall in Metro Vancouver resulted in snarled traffic and set off numerous crashes on major routes. Environment Canada says the area received about 3 centimetres of snow Thursday, which combined with freezing temperatures to create icy roads throughout the region.

Snow and cold in Metro Vancouver wreaks havoc on the roads

Canadians helped plan U.S., U.K. attacks on Houthis in Yemen: Defence Department

The Defence Department says Canadian Armed Forces members provided planning support for the U.S.-led attack on Houthi positions in Yemen Thursday but no Canadian equipment was involved. Three staff officers were deployed in December to the multinational operation in the Red Sea aimed at deterring Houthi blockades of the key shipping route.