Edmonton LRT shut down for 4+ hours after train hits, kills pedestrian
- Commuter Chaos
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- September 19, 2018
COMMUTER CHAOS: A portion of Edmonton’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system was shut down for more than 4 hours due to a fatal collision between a train and a pedestrian at an at-grade crossing.
According to Global News Edmonton and the Edmonton Journal, the pedestrian – who was hit shortly after 7:00 PM Mountain Time – was trapped by the train, sustaining life-threatening injuries. Edmonton Transit System was been forced to suspend light rail service through the area and run shuttle buses until it was able to restore regular service on the LRT at approximately 11:30 PM Mountain Time.
This is the second instance of a light rail shutdown caused by an accident today in a Canadian city. Earlier today, a Toronto streetcar was derailed in a collision with an ambulance, causing a two-hour shutdown of service.
Collisions could happen frequently on future Surrey LRT
Once again, this incident highlights a major, fundamental flaw of the proposed street-running light rail system endorsed by TransLink, the Regional Mayors’ Council, and the City of Surrey. The proposed Surrey Light Rail Transit system will run at street level on segments of 104th Avenue, King George Boulevard and Fraser Highway.
Incidents like this, where LRT trains are involved in collisions with vehicles or pedestrians, can prove fatal for those who are hit and generally necessitate complete shutdowns of that segment of the LRT system.
#Breaking: Person struck by the LRT near 82st and 113 ave. Major Collisions is on scene. 82 st is blocked off. #yeg #yegtraffic @GlobalEdmonton pic.twitter.com/gXZ4XwoXyu
— Eric Beck (@GlobalBeck) September 20, 2018
82st closed between 112ave & 114ave for what @edmontonpolice describe as a “collision between an LRT train and a pedestrian”. A male was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The EPS does not mention a driver of the LRT. @ctvedmonton #yeg pic.twitter.com/LdZvP4nAbT
— Sean Amato (@JSJamato) September 20, 2018
Pictured in header: Scene from Edmonton LRT crash site — September 19, 2018
Commuter Chaos
SkyTrain for Surrey is a BC-based community organization that has advocated for the expansion of the Vancouver SkyTrain system, including our successful advocacy for the under-construction Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension.
Commuter Chaos stories are our documentation of the inevitable outcome of choosing an LRT system, especially when it is chosen in place of a SkyTrain or a grade-separated metro.
Media Contact: Daryl Dela Cruz – Founder, SkyTrain for Surrey ・ Phone: +1 604 329 3529, [email protected]
