A fault on the Canada Line in Richmond Thursday morning caused “arcing,” producing smoke and an “electrical smell.”
That’s according to TransLink, which had to halt the service on Sea Island between Bridgeport and YVR for 90 minutes or so, after reports of an electrical smell on one of the trains.
There had been claims on social media of “bangs,” “smoke” and a “fire,” on a train near Templeton Station.
But a spokesperson for Richmond’s fire department said it was called out after reports of an “electrical smell” and there was no evidence of a fire and no signs of smoke.
TransLink later told the Richmond News that the Canada Line in the area had “experienced an electrical issue that caused arcing under the train at Templeton station.”
A TransLink spokesperson said this “resulted in some smoke on the guideway.
“Canada Line staff shut down power to the train, Richmond Fire Department were called and quickly cleared the guideway and approved service to resume. Canada Line is now investigating to determine the cause of the arcing.”
According to WorkSafeBC, “arc flashes” occur when an electrical fault causes electricity to jump through the air, often causing serious burns or even death.
Richmond firefighters also checked the area using thermal imaging equipment. There were no reported injuries.
