West Coast Express trains have been suspended amid the gridlock

The much-dreaded shutdown of Canada’s two major railways is now underway.

Canadian National Railway released a statement saying it locked out workers at 9:01 p.m. Wednesday, saying the union had not responded to a new offer.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City released its own statement to the same effect.

“This is a major test for Canada as far as how much we want to empower corporations in this country,” Teamsters spokesman Christopher Monette told CTV News shortly after negotiations broke down .

“Both companies demand concessions from workers, even though they are extremely profitable.”

It comes after politicians, including the prime minister, called on the two sides to find out earlier in the day.

“My message is very simple,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday. “It is in the interest of both parties to continue to work around the table to find a negotiated resolution.”

West Coast Express

Locally, thousands of West Coast Express users will have to find alternative plans during peak weekday times.

A bulletin from TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation network, says service on the West Coast Express is suspended because of the stoppage, which follows a breakdown in union talks.

The line serves the communities between Vancouver and Mission, approximately 67 kilometers to the east, with stops in the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Coquitlam areas.

Greater Vancouver Board of Trade president Bridgitte Anderson says thousands of workers who rely on the West Coast Express every day have been forced to find alternative transportation, adding to congestion in the region.

She issued a statement saying that each day of the shutdown “deals another blow to people’s wallets,” putting the livelihoods of business owners and employees at risk.

Fiona Famulak, president of the BC Chamber of Commerce, similarly says the group is “extremely disappointed” that the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

She says a prolonged shutdown is “unsustainable” and would further damage BC’s reputation as a reliable trading partner after the industrial action in western ports last year.

The standoff affects more than 32,000 commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, whose lines run on tracks owned by CPKC.

Passenger trains cannot run along these tracks without blocked traffic controllers to dispatch them.

The dispute is also expected to cause major problems for the availability of certain items in grocery stores.

With files from The Canadian Press