It was a morning of detours and backed up traffic in the northern part of downtown London on Thursday.
A train was stopped on the tracks for well over an hour, blocking Richmond St. near Piccadilly St. and crossings to the east as far as William St. The train came to a stop a little after 7am and didn't move until after 8am.
A CP official says the train stopped because of a "routine mechanical issue."
Spokesperson Salem Woodrow says the lengthy delay in getting the train moving again was the result of the following of procedure.
“It is part of safety procedures to ensure that any potential person or vehicle is clear of the train before it does resume," she says.
While there are no promises coming from CP Rail that we won't see this kind of delay again, the company is apologetic.
“CP regrets the inconvenience this may have caused motorists this morning.” Woodrow says, “I do understand that it was about an hour and a half that the train was blocking the crossing, and CP crews were immediately dispatched to help expedite the clearing of the crossing.”
