SkyTrain on the Fritz Again – So What Else Is New (Updated)
Well once again the automatic SkyTrain underwhelms.
The current trouble must be bad because Translink has made a radio announcement about the trouble.
Interesting to think, that if we had the ‘full build’ RftV/Leewood TramTrain option, with direct service to downtown Vancouver, transit customers would have another option for travel into town. But hey, just remember Translink’s transit policy; “You must use SkyTrain whether you like it or not“.
Skytrain trouble
VANCOUVER/CKNW AM980
Gord MacdonaldTrouble on Skytrain and Translink is telling Surrey commuters to get to the stations early.
Due to a mechanical issue, Skytrain is running reduced service – running single-track, alternating directions, between 22nd St Station and Metrotown.
The Millennium Line is running separately, between VCC-Clark and Columbia and turning back.
Additional trains will be put in service between Commercial-Broadway and Waterfront.
Customers — particularly those using Surrey stations — should expect major delays and should plan on leaving early.
Translink isn’t sure when technicians will get the problem fixed.
http://www.cknw.com/news/vancouver/story.aspx?ID=1767966
Cracked rail blamed for massive Skytrain delays
METRO VANCOUVER/CKNWWe now know the cause of big delays on Skytrain early this morning.
Skytrain spokesperson Jennifer Siddon says you can blame a cracked rail, just east of Metrotown station.
Technicians spotted it during routine maintenance overnight.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish the work before start of service. So we did have some single tracking in alternating directions.”
Siddon adds cracked rails are a rare problem.
“We had an incident about 10 years ago, and prior to that in 1989. Certainly, it underscores the importance of our crews performing nightly maintenance and inspections on the system.”
Just a little “local flavour” your readers might find interesting:
I happen to live less than a block from the skytrain track behind Metrotown, as I have for several years, and there has been a Clunk-CLUNK noise coming from that section of track for six months. I started to call skytrain and complain about it since late June, WHEN IT HAD GOTTEN LOUD ENOUGH TO DISTURB MY SLEEP!
FINALLY, in the first week of September, they kept a crew up there on the track all night, making noise I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy… and STILL not getting it fixed, according to your story.
“Technicians spotted it during routine maintenance overnight,” eh?? Well, maybe… but only by ignoring several months of complaint calls from me!
Zweisystem replies: If there was a driver or an attendant who regularly rode SkyTrain, maybe the problem would have been dealt with much earlier. TransLink treats the public as idiots!