Western Railroad Discussion > CP derailment just east of downtown Vancouver BC

12 cars of a CP westbound grain train derailed at 02:00 this morning causing cancellation of the Westcoast Express commuter trains this morning. The derailment occurred just east of the Second Narrows Bridge on the east end of the Vancouver Harbour. At this point, not known if any of the cars went into the ocean. No injuries or environmental impact. This is complicated by a heavy snowstorm overnight which is causing havoc for commuters who use the Express each day and CP crews getting to the scene of the derailment. Trains are annulled at Coquitlem westbound and busses are transferring passengers to the Skytrain to get them downtown. Approximately 10,000 people take these trains each day. It is not known if the wreckage will be cleared in time for the afternoon Express departures from downtown Vancouver but at this point looks very doubtful.

Where do these trains go(end points)?

Mission BC about 50 miles east.

Commuters should brace for delays due to derailment
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 | 9:32 AM ET
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/01/29/derail-chaos.html


Metro Vancouver commuters who depend on the West Coast Express train to get them to work may have to make other plans today — and the problem has nothing to do with a morning snowstorm.

Twelve cars of a westbound CP Rail grain train derailed just east of the Iron Workers Memorial bridge shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday.

No one was hurt in the derailment, but the mess means commuter trains bound for the Vancouver core will stop at Coquitlam station and passengers will have to transfer to buses for a connection to Skytrain.

However, TransLink is warning that there won't be enough buses to carry all the morning commuter train passengers to Skytrain — and once they get there, the already busy Skytrain service will be taxed to the limit.

Officials are warning passengers to dress warmly because they may have to wait outside for some time.

A TransLink release also said officials don't know yet whether the derailment will be cleared in time for the afternoon rush.

The afternoon Westcoast Express trains have been cancelled for this afternoon also. And apparently only 3 grain cars derailed . . . cause not known at this time.