CTV News Montreal

Updated: Tue Feb. 02 2010 7:53:46 AM

ctvmontreal.ca

Metro service is back up and running Tuesday after an electrical problem shut down parts of the network during the Monday evening rush hour.

The STM shut down a stretch of the orange line in the afternoon after smoke was seen in a tunnel between the Sauve and Henri Bourassa stations.

Reporting live from the corner of Berri and De Maisonneuve, CTV Montreal reporter Annie DeMelt said the STM originally believed a small fire had caused the smoke, but later concluded they were dealing with a different problem.

"There was actually sparks on one of the wires and so they had to have it checked out by firefighters," DeMelt said.

Service on stretches of both the yellow and blue lines was disrupted by the incident, but it was restored shortly after 5 p.m.

The orange line was back up by 9:00.

The STM arranged for shuttle buses to transport passengers affected by the temporary shutdown of the orange line.

DeMelt said a sea of frustrated transit users had lined up in the cold near the Berri-UQAM station, waiting to board the packed buses.

"They're lining up around the block," she said, adding that some had already been waiting for half an hour.

One woman told DeMelt she anticipated having to wait for a few hours before finally getting home.

"I hope there's not too much traffic on the way. I'm expecting to be home around 9:00," she said.

Comments are now closed for this story

no need
i lived in hong kong for years and never once was there a problem with the metro but here there are always problems

Chris
of course they just raised the fairs again.... how else would they be able to pay for those new flat screen tv's and projectors

Domenic
They want to promote public transportation. The STM has no plan of action.After being forced out at Berri-UQam was told to proceed on St.Catherine street where buses would be taking the passengers North towards henri-bourassa.When I stepped outside only to see a 2 block line up of passengers waiting for buses that where not even present to pick us up.I went back to metro to go to St.laurent exit to take the 55 to take me North.
This is 6pm only regular sheduled buses where running on the 55 route.
The STM had a situation.They should have taken the neccessary steps to put more buses heading in the North direction.I had to wait outside for 1 hour until I was able to board a bus.I almost had frost bite on my fingers.
Thank you for your service.

frustrated user
this is exactly why i prefer driving a POLLUTING car instead of using an enviroment-friendly way of moving around the city. I HATE THE STM.

Frank from Beaconsfield
At 8:15 last night, over a dozen buses were lined up at Cremazie metro - from Lajeunesse to St-Hubert St.

voulam
If the STM and City of Montreal/Laval wants to encourage public transit instead of taking the car then the should get their act together

JROC
When are they going to put some money into this dinosaur of a metro system

Chris
Yesterday's incident was unfortunate but this is life. Yes they were unprepared as usual. But i prefer that they stop running it than take a chance for something that could become worst.

The announcement were loud and clear but they should have warning signs or electronic boards to warn people before they enter the metro and pay to use it.

Dison Misere
This is typical of a parasitic transportation organization charging a small fortune per user for merely going about the city that can be walked or bicycled thru even in wintertime.
Real caveat of those tourism bike in Montreal is that they only have 3 gears and doing an uphill with it would close to a cardiac level disaster if not done right or walked thru instead. To realistically go uphill without much fanfare is one with ultra low gears for a 6, 12, 18, 24 and up gears with 1 to 3 front gearing as an example. Try yourself and recommend the the best type for any conditions in Montreal including the Mount Royal mountaintop in which is very odd and insulting to the ultra poor and youth sex crazed at night.

Kat
Maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but tonight's delays were terrible. We got zero information about what was going on (as per usual), no indication as to how long it was going to last, and we all got forced to evacuate at Berri. There were no shuttle buses in sight, and no one to give us even the slightest direction as to where to go. Just a mob of extremely unhappy people. It took me over 3 hours to get to Montmorency and I had to get creative with my bus routes to get to Laval. Not the best day to promote public transportation.

Alex Dms
Astonishing, one thing after another, tax payer’s money at work!

Hey didn't they just raise the fares January, right, this is what we are paying for.

**Nods Head**

What a disappointment!!!!

Michael Samson
I laugh at Annie's comment 'STM provided shuttle buses'. At 5:30, I walked from Berri to Laurier metro on St.Denis and saw a total of 3 buses drive by which were packed like a scene from India. The STM is totally unprepared (again) for this type of disruption of service. Where is my credit on my monthly pass? No service provided, then give me my money back!!