West Coast Express to resume normal service starting Monday

The West Coast Express (WCE) is expected to be back up and running starting Monday.

In an email to 1130 News Radio, TransLink says the WCE will resume its normal schedule this week, but there may be delays as a result of backlogged freight traffic.

Last week, TransLink said the WCE would be out of service as a result of a nationwide labour dispute at Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), noting it “cannot operate without CPKC’s dispatchers and rail workers.”

On Saturday, the federal labour board ordered workers with Teamsters Canada to return to the job starting Monday.

The resumption comes as another TransLink service, the door-to-door HandyDART, narrowly avoided a strike. Workers suspended job action that may have resulted in a strike Monday in order for union members to vote on a final contract offer from employer Transdev Canada.

Lower Mainland communities such as Maple Ridge served by the West Coast Express train lamented last week’s operational disruptions, citing residents heavy dependence on rail and other transit services to get to and from work.

The union said it was disappointed with the decision and plans to appeal the ruling in federal court.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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