MONTREAL - Metro service on the Orange line ground to a halt Wednesday morning when a ladder fell on the tracks.

Urgences Sante said that around 8:00 a.m. a service ladder, normally attached to the wall of the tunnel, came loose and fell on the tracks between the Snowdon and Cote Ste. Catherine stations. The STM would only say that an object was on the tracks.

The driver had to brake hard and several passengers on the train fell down.

All were evacuated from the tunnel and the station without incident and there are no reports that anyone was hurt badly enough to need medical attention.

The STM was quick to say the stoppage was not related to mischief or any sort of protest.

Around 9:15 a.m. service between the Cote Vertu and Lionel Groulx stations resumed.

In an unrelated matter, service on the Blue line was delayed from 8:30 to 9 a.m. with trains unable to function between the Snowdon and Park stations.