UPDATE: Train service has resumed.
EARLIER:
The problems from the shutdown of the Expo and Millennium lines into downtown Vancouver west of Commercial-Broadway Station are spilling over into other areas of the regional transit system.
Long lines are being experienced on numerous bus routes in and out of the downtown peninsula. According to TransLink, a number of buses for regular routes have been diverted to the bus bridge being formed between Waterfront and Commercial-Broadway stations.
Although the Canada Line operates independently of the rest of the SkyTrain system, it is also facing congestion issues as Expo Line users are traveling to the south of Fraser by boarding the Canada Line and transferring to a bus. At Broadway-City Hall Station, the line for the eastbound 99 B-Line towards Commercial-Broadway Station stretches inside the station.
The Expo and Millennium lines began experiencing issues just after 3 p.m. this afternoon. Waterfront, Burrard, Granville, Stadium, and Main Street-Chinatown stations are all currently closed.
TransLink spokesperson Anne Drennan spoke to reporters just after 5 p.m. and said smoke was seen from a problem train just before it stopped near Main Street-Science World Station. The problem revolves around an electrical failure with the system.
Until further notice, Expo Line trains are running from King George Station to Commercial-Broadway Station while Millennium Line trains are running from VCC-Clark Station to Columbia Station.
There is no indication of when regular services will resume. Acting CEO Cathy McLay is “very optimistic” service will return to normal by morning.
More on this as it develops…
#skytrain #fail #joyce Platform is filling up going both ways. pic.twitter.com/BfebTO6Gmw
— Jess Lieu (@misosoup321) November 24, 2015
Line for 99 bus all the way to escalators inside broadway skytrain station @TransLink pic.twitter.com/swhbZyL6Tz
— Nickl (@canucknic) November 25, 2015
#Vancouver #BC #Canada #Skytrain #problems #99B #lineup well into #Cambie #Station #canadalinetranslink is #running A video posted by Charles Buchanan (@chucklessites) on
. Looking forward to several more years of #skytrain problems, causing some of longest lines I’ve ever seen. At the Cambie and Bway Canada Line, the line for the 99 B-line goes all the way inside the station to the farthest stairs by the train heading south. Direct result of folks voting “no” to expand and improve transit service? #yvr #vancouver #canadaline A photo posted by Hannah Rose (@hannahrosita) on
Major delays on Skytrain in downtown core @bcitnews pic.twitter.com/Aq1JKEzaBp — Ben Dooley (@BenTDooley) November 24, 2015
Still not as bad as the 90 min delay I got hit with on the JR Kobe Line in Japan last week… #SkyTrain pic.twitter.com/kaHx1pWrsB
— Daryl Dela Cruz (@daka_x) November 24, 2015
@TransLink now asking passengers stuck on trains not to force open doors #Skytrain — Aidan Buckley (@AidanBuckley) November 24, 2015
#skytrain stopped in front of science world with fire crews. No sign of smoke. Delays on both train lines. #CBC pic.twitter.com/IFb6hfiZaS
— Mike McArthur (@vancbcmcarthur) November 24, 2015
#Skytrain #TranslinkSucks pic.twitter.com/newTmIh3c2 — haltenberg (@haltenberg) November 25, 2015
#Skytrain is still shut down coming out of downtown at rush hour. Outside Burrard Stn: pic.twitter.com/xaUEBUV9Cx
— Jill Slattery (@JillSlattery) November 25, 2015
Crews have entrance to #Skytrain station at Burrard taped off. Probably at least 100 ppl waiting for bus here. pic.twitter.com/pPB0laXQN8 — Jill Slattery (@JillSlattery) November 25, 2015
@CBCStephenQuinn ugh. #skytrain #transit fail. Not how I hoped to spend next 1-2 hrs. #downtownvancouver @cbcnewsbc pic.twitter.com/F1Mp4h6Rnq
— sarah_from_van (@sarah_from_van) November 25, 2015
Crowds trying to get on train at Commercial @GlobalBC @BC1 #Skytrain pic.twitter.com/rYj4U28nNM — Aidan Buckley (@AidanBuckley) November 24, 2015
Still stuck after an hour. We have to move to another train. #skytrain #TranslinkIsEvil pic.twitter.com/PvIqZDaWjG
— Toffy Concepcion (@toffyconcepcion) November 24, 2015
The people stuck on this train look unimpressed as viewed thru my viewfinder. #skytrain lines down again. #CBC pic.twitter.com/NIThb4MJdT — Mike McArthur (@vancbcmcarthur) November 24, 2015
“Skytrain Bus” packed. Great teamwork. Commuters talking to each other, figuring out best route to destination. pic.twitter.com/Zv62Bwyx8D
— Kamil Karamali (@CBCKamil) November 24, 2015
Finally moving. Translink just cost my buddy his job in a movie. #TranslinkIsEvil #skytrain #translink @TransLink pic.twitter.com/nWrMZBKaMo — Toffy Concepcion (@toffyconcepcion) November 24, 2015
Pictures from along the #SkyTrain line today — huge delays. No service between Waterfront and Commercial/Bway. pic.twitter.com/uVLdwCgBPs
— Sheila Scott (@Sheila_Scott) November 24, 2015
Skytrain stopping at each station for approx 5 minutes. Doors left open. Delays due to “electrical problem.” pic.twitter.com/JKAPW0TUZJ — Kamil Karamali (@CBCKamil) November 24, 2015
Waiting for Skytrain to be back up. Thanks @translink. We’ll send you the bill. https://t.co/YAbB6aeL7e
— Brock Macdonald (@brockmacdonald) November 25, 2015
Anyone thinking of getting on at Columbia… #SkyTrain pic.twitter.com/1Dsn4pM3x8 — Nathan Osman (@nathanosman_dev) November 24, 2015
@TransLink if skytrain is down between Broadway and waterfront where are all the extra busses? pic.twitter.com/dGNtJXtl2d
— James Yee (@Jimmy_Lately) November 25, 2015
Waiting and waiting with hundreds of others #bcpoli #Skytrain pic.twitter.com/bbaFXzF8qF — Susan Croll (@susanccroll) November 25, 2015
Huge line ups blocks long at #Waterfront Station. #Skytrain still not working. @NEWS1130 @TransLink @GlobalBC pic.twitter.com/y7Xiu7Z6b6
— Ryan Butt (@ryanbutt) November 25, 2015
After a good Dailies day at line of especial bus, just because @skytrain is off again pic.twitter.com/QY8hTeijLF — Seyedmostafa Raziei (@SMRaziei) November 25, 2015
Skytrain passengers trying to get busses after power system failure. pic.twitter.com/rEpLhk3FRJ
— Jill Bennett (@jillreports) November 24, 2015
2 women in wheelchairs being passed by busses taking stranded Skytrain users. Aren’t busses accessible? pic.twitter.com/zInjV9PB7i — Jill Bennett (@jillreports) November 25, 2015
@BC1 but on the flip side of things while waiting… Was able to appreciate this view. Thanks #skytrain bestest pic.twitter.com/TtnrWhsjQe
— Tequila (@Poutinefox) November 25, 2015
It’s been another 20 minutes. They won’t even open the door #TranslinkIsEvil #skytrain @TransLink pic.twitter.com/y0Vwi6McKT — Toffy Concepcion (@toffyconcepcion) November 24, 2015
Hordes of people crowding the 99 B-Line, trying to make it to downtown. Skytrain not running west of Burrard. pic.twitter.com/RO8JERRTlr
— Kamil Karamali (@CBCKamil) November 24, 2015
This special bus being used as substitute for Skytrain. “Think of this as the Skytrain,” yells driver. @cbcnewsbc pic.twitter.com/w4Ol4oS3E1 — Kamil Karamali (@CBCKamil) November 24, 2015
Relevant for today’s #Vancouver #skytrain commuters? It hasn’t even been a week since last issue. pic.twitter.com/6YvXFrqbDD
— Wet Coast Life (@wetcoastlife) November 24, 2015
Passengers moved from stuck #skytrain. System shut down between broadway and waterfront. Live report #ctvnews5 pic.twitter.com/inJRPgd3GC — Mi-Jung Lee (@ctvmijunglee) November 24, 2015
May be downtown a while cuz a #skytrain blew up pic.twitter.com/mO0GoYiXSZ
— Bernadette Rooney (@MissBDeath) November 24, 2015
Just a heads up for anyone planning on Skytraining downtown. #translink #skytrain pic.twitter.com/B0SGyqOSZX — Lindsay Wu (@lindssayswhat) November 24, 2015
Long-ass line-up for buses outside waterfront station because #skytrain down #translink pic.twitter.com/EXyCWQbmYH
— Bernadette Rooney (@MissBDeath) November 24, 2015
Long line of people trying to get home on Granville & Pender. #skytrain @TransLink pic.twitter.com/vpCQfl3kKp — Jill Slattery (@JillSlattery) November 24, 2015
Long lineup outside Waterfront Stn as power issue knocks out Skytrain service in Van. @yvrnewsphotog #Chopper9 pic.twitter.com/VzZS9cWKKr
— Carly Yoshida (@CTVcarlyyoshida) November 24, 2015