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TransLink is again alerting West Coast Express (WCE) commuters about a potential strike by unionized CP Rail workers, who are due to walk off the job tonight (Tuesday).
The regional transit agency, which runs WCE on CP Rail tracks, is advising passengers — as it did last month, when bargaining broke down — about the possible job action that may slow their commute.
The Calgary-based company has told TransLink it will have “qualified managers” to maintain the signals and tracks; however, should that fail, TransLink has a dedicated bus ready for the Port Coquitlam station that will transport WCE riders to the Evergreen Extension in Coquitlam, spokesperson Chris Bryan said.
“We won’t leave them in a lurch as far as transportation goes though it may be a slower trip,” he said.
(The Tri-Cities each has a WCE station, of which Coquitlam and Port Moody’s are tied to the Evergreen line.)
Over the weekend, the unions representing train operators and signalling workers — the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — gave CP Rail notice they are to strike as of 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday.
