Canada Line reopens after police incident causes commuter chaos

The Canada Line is running normally again after a seven-hour police incident interrupted service during the morning commute and caused commuter chaos.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police said officers were called to Marine Drive Station just after midnight because of a man who made his way down to the tracks while walking across the skybridge toward Bridgeport Station.

The man was in the midst of a mental health crisis, and made comments about wanting to commit suicide, Const. Amanda Steed told Daily Hive. The man lowered himself onto a cement ledge, and remained there for several hours. Steed said the entire station had to be shut down because of the proximity to the bus loop, tracks, and street below.

Eventually, the man was safely extracted from underneath the guideway. He was taken to hospital just after 7 am.

TransLink tweeted at 8:17 am that full service to the Canada Line had been restored, but travellers could still experience delays as service returns to normal.

#RiderAlert Canada Line service has been restored. Trains are now running the full system. Some delays as service returns to normal. ^MR

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) May 26, 2022

Commuters who tried to use the Canada Line while it was closed between Bridgeport and Langara stations faced huge crowds and lengthy delays.

#RiderAlert Canada Line is currently down between Bridgeport to Langara Stations due to police incident. Trains will run from Waterfront to Oakridge, Brighouse to Aberdeen and YVR to Templeton. Bus bridges from Oakridge to Aberdeen, and Templeton to Aberdeen. ^MR

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) May 26, 2022

Shuttle buses were in place, but they’ve stopped now that regular service has resumed.