Riders on the Union Pearson Express (UPX) had their travel plans interrupted Thursday afternoon when a broken switch disrupted service on the air-rail link for more than an hour, stranding about 120 passengers on two stalled trains.

Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency that operates the UPX, said a switch between Pearson airport and Weston station failed at around 1:15 p.m. Two trains, one headed for Pearson and the other bound for Union, were unable to proceed while crews worked to fix the problem.

Many more passengers were unable to board as service along the whole line was temporarily suspended.

The Pearson-bound train, which was carrying 66 people, was eventually able to reverse to Weston and unload its passengers.

The other train, which had just left the airport was carrying 57 passengers.

Nora Loreto, who was on the Union-bound train, estimated it was stuck on the tracks for close to 90 minutes. She said passengers weren’t given much information about the cause of the delay or when it would end.

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