B.C.'s West Coast Express commuter train remains suspended

Riders of the West Coast Express in British Columbia's Lower Mainland must continue using alternatives after the first-ever simultaneous work stoppage on Canada's two major railways halted service on the commuter line.

Ottawa has asked for binding arbitration in the dispute involving the rail workers' union, Canadian National Railway Co., and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd.

CN has since ended its lockout of workers and trains began moving this morning, but the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has now issued a 72-hour strike notice to the company, pushing back against the federal government's move.

"Please find this letter as official notice to the company of our intention to withdraw the services of our combined membership of approximately 6,500 members," reads the notice sent to CN on Friday morning by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

The notice says the union does not believe any of the ongoing issues between the railway and the Teamsters to be "insurmountable" and that it remains open to negotiating with the company in order to prevent any "further work stoppage."

CPKC has meanwhile said it was preparing to resume operations, but an advisory from TransLink, Metro Vancouver's transit authority, says the West Coast Express remains suspended until the rail company, which owns the tracks, gives the green light.

The commuter train between Vancouver and Mission, B.C., has been unable to operate since Wednesday night without rail traffic controllers.

In an email sent to CBC News, TransLink said a replacement bus service will operate on Friday, leaving eastbound from Coquitlam Central Station at 4:50, 5:20, 5:50, 6:30 and 7:20 p.m. 

The labour dispute has affected more than 30,000 commuters in Toronto, Montreal and B.C., including about 3,000 who use the West Coast Express each weekday.