Buses still being rerouted in downtown Vancouver after Thursday night accident

A number of transit detours on major commuter routes are still in place following a bus accident that happened Thursday evening in downtown Vancouver.

TransLink says there are delays clearing trolley wires because of the job action affecting buses and Seabuses.

#RiderAlert 17 Oak detour is ongoing: From Northbound Hamilton at Robson, then continue Hamilton, E Pender, Homer, Hastings, resume regular route due to trolley wires down. ^cm

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 15, 2019

#RiderAlert 20 Victoria detour from start of service: From temporary terminus on Richards & W Georgia, then continue Richards, Davie, Granville, then regular route (trolley wires down). ^cm

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 15, 2019

#RiderAlert 3 Downtown detour. Regular route to Main St & E Pender St, then E Pender St to temporary terminus on Columbia at E Pender due to trolley wires down^RR

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 15, 2019

Jill Drews, a spokesperson from TransLink, confirms that a bus brought down trolley wires on Seymour Street near Robson Street.

Emily Rumball/Daily Hive

Witnesses told Daily Hive that the bus was involved in a collision with another vehicle, which caused the wires to fall onto the street.

The street was quickly closed off to the public, with both TransLink and fire crews attending the scene.

Emily Rumball/Daily Hive

Drews says that crews ensured that the area was safe, but notes that repairs on the downed trolley wires weren’t fully completed due to the maintenance staff’s ongoing overtime ban.

It’s unclear as to when exactly the repairs will take place, although they’re expected to be done on Friday.

“Crews came and made the area safe, but did not do the full repair due to the union’s maintenance overtime ban,” she explains. “The crew will be heading back sometime today and it is a priority.”

A full list of detours can be found on the TransLink website or their Twitter.