Blockades cause rush-hour chaos, GO Train disruptions – Toronto Sun

Protesters unleashed rush-hour mayhem on thousands of commuters after blockades halted Go Transit trains across the GTA Tuesday.

The latest disruptions to train service were in support of a group of hereditary Wet’suwet’en chiefs fighting a controversial natural gas pipeline in British Columbia that has been grinding on for weeks.

A similar blockade held in solidarity in Tyendinaga, east of Belleville, was taken down early Monday by the OPP.

Protesters went to work between Hamilton and Aldershot stations around 5:30 p.m. Monday grinding rail traffic to a halt. It was erected by a local anarchist affiliated group called Wet’suwet’en Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity.

At various times, there were between 10 and 15 protesters blocking the tracks.

They “peacefully” left the area around 5 p.m., Hamilton cops said.

“We encouraged protesters to abide by an injunction submitted by CN rail,” Hamilton Police spokeswoman Jackie Penman told CBC News. “We’re just happy the blockade is clear and they left peacefully.”

GO Transit’s Lakeshore East line between Union and Pickering was briefly suspended at the height of rush hour due to a what it called a “safety incident.”

Protesters were seen near Guildwood station on the Lakeshore East GO Transit line, CityNews reported.

Service on the Lakeshore East line resumed about an hour later with Go Transit tweeting: “Customers are advised to expect delays and cancellations as service returns to normal. Thank you for your patience.” 

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The blockade was removed by police in time for packed rush-hour trains taking commuters home.

Service was also disrupted on the commuter railway’s Milton line.

Near Caledonia, busy Hwy. 6 was also blocked by Six Nations protesters in solidarity with Tyendinaga and the Wet’suwet’en.

Most on both sides of the divide told the Toronto Sun they are angry at the government’s dawdling in bringing the dispute to a fair resolution.

“I’m all for the blockades but the prime minister needs to take some decisive action on this,” commuter Dan Brennan of Watertown told the Sun. “He seems to be twiddling his thumbs too much.”

At the blockade in Caledonia, outside Hamilton, Cayuga Nation member Rhonda Martin agreed.

A heavy OPP presence hovered in the area all day with at least 20 vehciles in the vicinity and a helicopter hovering overhead.

“When we get word from them, we’ll go home … not before,” Martin told reporters. “Hello Canada, wake up. We’re not going away. I don’t know why the Government of Canada can’t see that. We’re not going away, so deal with us.”

All day at the Aldershot Go station shuttle buses hurtled Via, Amtrak and Go passengers around the blocked segment of the route.

For laid-off railway worker Jason Guay it isn’t the current crisis he’s worried about so much as what comes next.

“How much work will there be in the future because of this?” he wondered, adding that he’s “trying to look at both sides.”

“The truth as always is somewhere in the middle.”

Phil Barnhardt of Hamilton describes himself as a “concerned Native citizen”.

He also points the finger at the government and worries things may turn violent.

“I’m totally disappointed in Justin Trudeau’s government. He will never fill his father’s shoes; he’s too busy travelling the world,” Barnhardt said. “He should sit down and talk to the people.”

In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Metrolinx said: “Safety is our top priority and central to everything we do. We’re bringing in additional resources and are doing the absolute best we can given the situation. We know how inconvenient this is and we ask for everyone’s patience.”

At the barricade in Caledonia, one supporter who didn’t want to be named, said the dispute never should have gone on so long.

“Successful mediation is a win-win situation,” he said. “Neither side should walk away from the table feeling shame or humiliation. By the way, you guys are too hard on the Leafs. They’re still a young team.”

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun