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All afternoon West Coast Express trains cancelled due to rail blockade

British Columbia·UpdatedA blockade on the Pitt River rail bridge has forced the cancellation of all eastbound trains.A blockade on the Pitt River rail bridge has forced the cancellation of all eastbound trainsCBC News · Posted: Feb 13, 2020 3:28 PM PT | Last Updated: February 14All afternoon West Coast Express trains have been cancelled. (Glen…

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Published on February 14, 2020

British Columbia·Updated

A blockade on the Pitt River rail bridge has forced the cancellation of all eastbound trains.

A blockade on the Pitt River rail bridge has forced the cancellation of all eastbound trains

CBC News · Posted: Feb 13, 2020 3:28 PM PT | Last Updated: February 14

All afternoon West Coast Express trains have been cancelled. (Glen Kugelstadt/CBC)

All West Coast Express trains travelling east from Vancouver's Waterfront Station to Mission have been cancelled this afternoon due to a blockade at the Canadian Pacific tracks on the Pitt River rail bridge.

Supporters of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and their opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project erected the blockade Thursday afternoon.

“Our land defence action is part of the movement to #ShutCanadaDown in defence of Wet'suwet'en sovereignty, and also backs up, stands with, and celebrates the exercise of sovereignty and land defence at Tyendinega, Treaty 1, and Gitxsan territories,” according to a news release from the Red Braid Alliance for Decolonial Socialism.

According to the group, the blockade is at the southeast end of the Port Coquitlam CP rail yard, near Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill Bypass.

Protesters on the overpass blocking CP railroad right now. I guess less than a dozen folks. pic.twitter.com/EUJlGusII4

—@Meerakati

West Coast Express customers are advised to use SkyTrain and buses instead.

TransLink provided the following recommendations for customers who normally travel on the West Coast Express east of Coquitlam:

Take SkyTrain to Coquitlam Central Station.
Take either the 701 or the R3 RapidBus from Coquitlam Central Station
There is limited 701 service from Haney Place to Mission City, but capacity and frequency are not high. Please TransLink's trip planner to find the schedule for 701 trips to Mission City.