An ice storm beginning Thursday night shuttered Grand River Transit (GRT) ION service for a day and a half as train services ground to a halt for the second time in two months.
By Friday morning, Environment Canada said two to four millimetres had built up on cars, signs and tree branches, with GRT announcing Friday morning buses and ION trains were experiencing delays due to the weather.
Less than an hour later the transit service announced ION services had stopped, remaining closed for commuters until just after 3 p.m. on Saturday.
An update from GRT on Friday at 2:50 p.m. said work was ongoing to restore the service as soon as possible, noting shuttle buses are running every 15 minutes, leaving Conestoga and Fairway Stations.
Commuters on Saturday morning were faced with continued shutdowns as service had not resumed.
“I understood yesterday it was freezing and there was ice everywhere however today's a little warmer, and I was really relying on the train today,” said Filiz Fenton, who commutes via GRT.
The shuttle buses ran every 15 minutes leaving Conestoga and Fairway Stations, GRT said on Friday afternoon.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to get anywhere, and I don't know where the shuttle buses are supposed to be,” said Fenton.
Others could be seen calling Ubers, walking to their destination and some even cancelling their plans altogether.
“I was thinking of going to get my weekly vegetables from the Kitchener market, but if it doesn’t go all the way to Fairview between Grand River Hospital. I’m not doing that anymore,” one person told CTV News on Saturday.
In an email, GRT said empty trains are running to scrape ice off the wires, and they’re working to restore service as quickly as possible.
Residents were upset that a better option was not in place.
“We’re in Canada. I don’t think it should be a surprise when things get icy,” Waterloo resident Louis Pfeifer said.
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said this process did not work due to the amount of moisture.
“The process that was put in place was a system where four vehicles were scrappers would run up and down the line keeping the ice from solidifying on the lines that process was not successful based on the amount of rain and how quick it was freezing,” Vrbanovic said.
Vrbanovic said the region will be working with its operating partner Keolis to make sure there’s a more reliable service in the future.
The icy weather also cancelled school buses Friday in Waterloo region and Wellington, Dufferin and Oxford counties.
Public and Catholic schools remained open, but for some riders not used to taking GRT there was confusion.
“I still don't know if it's my bus though because as I said, I usually take an ION,” one rider told CTV News.
