No charges after SkyTrain ‘track intrusion’ that caused delays Saturday, police say

Video shared with CTV News shows several police officers on the SkyTrain guideway near Scott Road station Saturday morning after a track intrusion.

SkyTrain users experienced delays on the Expo Line Saturday morning after a track intrusion alarm went off at Scott Road Station in Surrey.

The incident began around 9:15 a.m., according to social media posts from TransLink.

Video shared with CTV News shows a person standing on the SkyTrain guideway. Several police officers can be seen a few metres away, eventually approaching and taking the trespasser into custody.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police confirmed in an email to CTV News that a man had been arrested on the SkyBridge that carries trains over the Fraser River between Surrey and New Westminster.

He was taken to hospital and released from police custody, said Sgt. Dustin Szakacs of the MVTP in an email to CTV News. Szakacs added that the incident was “mental health related.”

“In a situation like this, a person can face criminal charges of mischief, or receive various provincial violation tickets under the Transit Conduct and Safety Regulations, which include fines such as illegally enter(ing the) guideway,” he said.

In this case, because the incident was not “protracted” and was strictly a mental health episode, no charges or violation tickets have been issued, Szakacs added.

Around 9:45 a.m., TransLink set up bus bridges for transit users seeking to travel between New Westminster and Gateway stations, as well as between New Westminster and Sapperton stations.

About an hour later, the transit service posted that Expo Line service had resumed.