Réseau express métropolitain

Rapid transit system in Greater Montreal, Canada

Réseau express métropolitain

A REM train at Brossard station

Overview
Owner| CDPQ Infra
Locale| Greater Montreal
Transit type| Light metro
Number of lines| 1 (3 branches)
Number of stations| 5 (20 under construction)
Daily ridership| 190,000 (projected)[1]
Website| rem.info/en
Operation
Began operation| 31 July 2023; 17 months ago (2023-07-31)
Operator(s)| SNC-Lavalin–Alstom
Number of vehicles| 212 Alstom Metropolis Saint-Laurent[2]
Train length| 2 or 4 cars[3]
Technical
System length|

* 16.6 km (10.3 mi) (first phase)[4]
* 67 km (42 mi)[5]

Track gauge| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification| Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Average speed| 51 km/h (32 mph)
Top speed| 100 km/h (62 mph)
| System map

Show static map

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Deux-Montagnes

|
|
|
|

Anse-à-l'Orme |  |

|  | Grand-Moulin
Kirkland |  |

|  |

Rivière des Mille-Îles

Fairview–Pointe-Claire |  |

|  | Sainte-Dorothée
Des Sources |  |

|  |

Rivière des Prairies

|  |

|  | Île-Bigras

| YUL–Montréal–

Trudeau Airport

|  |

Rivière des Prairies

Marie-Curie |  |

|  | Pierrefonds-Roxboro
|  |

|  | Sunnybrooke
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Bois-Franc
Du Ruisseau |  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Montpellier

| Côte-de-Liesse |  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Ville-de-Mont-Royal
Canora |  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

Mount Royal Tunnel

| Édouard-Montpetit |  |

|  |
|  |

|  | McGill |

| Central

Station

|  |
|  |

|  |  | Griffintown–

Bernard-Landry

Lachine Canal

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

St. Lawrence River

Île-des-Soeurs |  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

| Champlain Bridge over

St. Lawrence River

Panama |  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Du Quartier
Brossard |  |

|  |

* * *

All stations are accessible
|  |  |  |  |  |

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

Show diagram map

The Réseau express métropolitain (REM; lit. 'Metropolitan Express Network') is a light metro rapid transit system in Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It consists of five stations and connects Downtown Montreal with the suburb of Brossard.[6] Extensions to the West Island and the western Montreal suburbs will open in 2025 and a further extension to the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport will open in 2027.[7][8] A portion of the route was taken over from the Exo commuter rail Deux-Montagnes line and is being converted to light metro standards.

The 67-kilometre (42 mi) light metro rail system is projected to cost CA$7.95 billion.[9] It is independent of, but connects to and hence complements, the existing Montreal Metro, operated by the STM. Trains on the network are fully automated and driverless,[10] and the stations are completely enclosed and climate controlled, featuring platform screen doors.[11]

The line has been built by CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, an institutional investor that manages various public and para-public pension plans and insurance programs in Quebec. The first section of the REM opened on 31 July 2023.

## History

[edit]

On 13 January 2015, Quebec premier Philippe Couillard and Michael Sabia, CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), agreed to a partnership in which the Crown corporation could assume financing for major transportation projects in the province, with CA$7.4 billion planned to be spent on infrastructure from 2014 to 2024.[12] Two of these projects were the South Shore Line and the Train de l'Ouest toward the West Island, which eventually merged to become the core of the REM project.[13]

On 22 April 2016, Sabia and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre unveiled the project, then known as the Réseau électrique métropolitain, to the media.[14] The estimated completion date for the first portion of the system was December 2020.[14] On 22 June 2016, CDPQ Infra published two requests for qualification: one for the engineering, procurement, and construction contract and the other for the rolling stock, systems, operation, and maintenance. The estimated values of the two contracts are $4 billion and $1.5 billion respectively.[15]

On 25 November 2016, CDPQ Infra announced the addition of three new stations to the project. These new stations—Central Station, McGill, and Édouard-Montpetit—would improve downtown Montreal service by integrating the REM with the Metro system through connections to the Orange, Green and Blue Lines. Included with news of the three new stations was an increased price tag of $5.9 billion for the entire project.[16][17]

On 15 June 2017, the Government of Canada pledged $1.28 billion to finance the project,[18] completing the financing of the project. Construction on the project was announced as starting at the end of 2017.

On 1 December 2017, the CDPQ extended the tender process on the project to the end of January 2018, citing a need for additional discussions with the bidders.[19]

### Procurement

[edit]

On 28 June 2016, CDPQ Infra launched two public tenders in parallel: one for "Engineering, Procurement and Construction" (EPC, or "Ingénierie, Approvisionnement et Construction des infrastructures" (IAC) in French), and a second, for "Rolling Stock, Systems and Operation and Maintenance Services" (RSSOM, or "Fourniture du Matériel Roulant, de Systèmes de conduite automatique et de Services d'Exploitation et de Maintenance" (MRSEM) in French).[20][21] Following a prequalification phase, the Caisse's subsidiary announced, on 10 November 2016, the qualified candidates that would be allowed to submit a bid:

* For the EPC contract, the competitors were:
* (1) the Groupe NouvLR consortium, composed of SNC-Lavalin Grands Projets, Dragados, Aecon, Pomerleau, EPC, and AECOM
* (2) the Kiewit-Eurovia consortium, formed by Kiewit Corporation, Eurovia, WSP Global, and Parsons Corporation[22][23]
* For the RSSOM contract, three companies and consortia were in competition:
* (1) Bombardier Transportation alone
* (2) Alliance Montréal Mobilité, composed of Parsons Corporation, Hyundai Rotem, RATP Dev, and Thales Canada
* (3) the Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilité des Montréalais, composed of Alstom and SNC-Lavalin O&M[22]

Ansaldo STS-Hitachi and China Railway International were not allowed to bid.[22]

According to La Presse, final bids were submitted to CDPQ Infra on 27 October 2017.[24] On 10 November 2017, the date of the planned announcement of the selected contractors, the procurement process was "postponed indefinitely" to provide more time for analysis and evaluation of the bids received.[25] On 8 February 2018, CDPQ Infra finally announced its selection: the Groupe NouvLR consortium for the EPC contract (SNC-Lavalin Grands Projets, Dragados, Aecon, Pomerleau, EBC, and AECOM) and the Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilité des Montréalais for the RSSOM contract (Alstom and SNC-Lavalin O&M).[23][26] The contracts' total value is estimated to be around $6.3 billion, of which approximately 80% is for the EPC contract.[27]

### Construction

[edit]

Preparatory work began in late March 2018.[28] On 12 April 2018, the project officially broke ground.[29]

In December 2019, CDPQ revised the capital cost of the project to $6.5 billion, an increase of $230 million.[30][31]

In October 2020, the tunnel boring machine "Alice" (named after Canadian geologist Alice Wilson) started the tunnelling process.[32]

In November 2020, a disruption from an "unexpected" explosion during the renovation of the Mount Royal Tunnel, likely caused by leftover century-old explosives, delayed the opening of the central section of the REM from 2022 to 2023.[33]

In June 2021, CDPQ updated the project cost to $6.9 billion, an increase of $350 million, citing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal.[34][35] In June 2022, CDPQ Infra acknowledged that construction issues with the Mount Royal Tunnel,[36] labour shortages, and material supply issues would postpone the opening of most REM stations to 2024. The delay had also resulted in higher costs for the project overall, exceeding the previously projected budget of $6.9 billion.[37] No new estimate of the project cost was provided.

### Operational history

[edit]

Network opening ceremony

The first five stations on the network, between Central Station and Brossard, opened for full service on 31 July 2023.[38][39] An opening ceremony was held on 28 July 2023, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier of Quebec François Legault, Mayor of Montreal Valérie Plante, president and CEO of CDPQ Charlies Emond, and president and CEO of CDPQ Infra Jean-Marc Arbaud inaugurating the line.[40]

On the weekend of 29 and 30 July 2023, free service was available to the public.[41][42] On the first day of public access, over 20,000 people rode the REM in the morning, prompting staff to turn away new riders.[43]

Within the first three days of revenue operation, the new line suffered a number of service disruptions caused by stuck railway switches and computer issues. A spokesperson remarked that "there's always some adjustments to be made" with a new system on the scale of the REM.[44][45][46][47]

As of 11 September 2023,[update] the system had carried more than 1 million passengers, with daily ridership of more than 30,000 for the month following its opening.[48] In April 2024, CDPQ announced that weekday ridership had increased again, with "up to 36,000 daily riders".[3] In September 2024, average weekday ridership had risen to 37,000 daily passengers, with Tuesdays being the busiest day (42,000 passengers).[49]

In the third quarter of 2025, the REM will be shutdown for a period of four to six weeks to enable testing of the central section of the line which is scheduled to open by the end of the year.[50]

### Future sections

[edit]

Further sections of the line are planned to open in stages, with eighteen stations opening in the fourth quarter of 2025.[8] Testing on the north and west branches of the line began in mid-2024.[51] A further extension to Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is planned to open in 2027.[52] In August 2024, La Presse reported that CDPQ Infra refused to confirm that Griffintown–Bernard-Landry station would be completed by 2027, but that construction could take place while the REM is in operation.[53]

## Route

[edit]

A train travels between Du Quartier and Brossard

The primary route follows the Mount Royal Tunnel, where new underground stations have been built to connect with the existing McGill and Édouard-Montpetit Metro stations. A new connection to the Mascouche commuter rail line was built near the A-40 at the Côte-de-Liesse station to allow this line, which previously used the tunnel, to have access to downtown.

Southeast from Central Station, the line follows existing rail lines until Marc-Cantin Street, where it transitions to an elevated guideway and crosses to Nuns' Island, and then uses a rail deck constructed on the new Champlain Bridge to cross the St. Lawrence River. Three stations in Brossard on the South Shore have been built: Panama, connecting to the existing bus terminal; Du Quartier, directly connected to the DIX30 commercial district; and Brossard, the site of a bus terminal built along with the station, along with the line's maintenance depot.

The northwest branch is a conversion of the Deux-Montagnes line, with a second track added beyond Bois-Franc station and all at-grade crossings eliminated. On the West Island, a new airport branch will separate from the main line near the A-13, with a stop at Technoparc Montreal, before terminating at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. The main West Island branch follows an existing freight rail spur through Pointe-Claire, then crosses and follows the A-40 just east of St-Jean Boulevard and continues through Kirkland before ending in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. These lines are mostly elevated to avoid at-grade crossings.

In the city centre, Central Station connects with the Orange Line at Bonaventure, McGill with the Green Line[17] and Édouard-Montpetit with the Blue Line.[17]

## Stations

[edit]

Map of the proposed REM network Passengers prepare to board at Brossard station

The REM will consist of 26 stations on three branches. Twelve of these stations are on the former suburban Deux-Montagnes line and became part of the REM after being converted to rapid transit standards. Several have received new names since the project's inception.[54] All stations on the REM will be accessible, and Metro interchange stations at McGill and Édouard-Montpetit have been retrofitted for accessibility.[55]

### Main line

[edit]

All stations on the main line of the Réseau express métropolitain are projected to have a train frequency of 2.5 minutes during rush hour and 5 minutes at other times, both toward Brossard station and toward the three different branches.[56]

Station  | Opening for REM[52] | Opened  | Parking spaces[54] | Bike racks  | Connections  | Location

|
|
|
|
|
|

Brossard | 31 July 2023[38] | 2,950  | 50  |  Terminus Brossard  | Brossard
Du Quartier | —  | 74  |  RTL
Panama | 700  | 200  |  Terminus Panama
Île-des-Sœurs | —  | 20  |  STM | Verdun
Griffintown–Bernard-Landry[57] | 2027[58][53] | —  | —  |  STM  | Le Sud-Ouest
Central Station | 31 July 2023[38] | 1943  | —  | —  |

* Via Rail
* Amtrak
* Mont-Saint-Hilaire line
* Mascouche line[59]
* at Bonaventure
* STM[60]
* Terminus Centre-Ville
* RÉSO underground city

| Ville-Marie
McGill | Q4 2025[8] | 1966  | —  | —  |

* at McGill
* STM
* RÉSO underground city

Édouard-Montpetit | 1988  | —  | 30  |

* at Édouard-Montpetit
* STM

| Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Canora | 1918  | —  | 100  |  STM
Ville-de-Mont-Royal | 1918  | —  | 60  |  STM  | Mont Royal
Côte-de-Liesse | Q4 2025[8] | —  | 35  |

* Mascouche line
* STM

| Saint-Laurent
Montpellier | 1918  | —  | 60  |  STM
Du Ruisseau | 1994  | 1,060  | 45  |  STM
Bois-Franc | 1994  | 740  | 120  |  STM

### Deux-Montagnes branch

[edit]

Trains on the Deux-Montagnes branch are projected to run every five minutes during rush hour and every fifteen minutes at other times.

Station  | Opening for REM[52] | Opened  | Parking spots  | Bike racks  | Connections  | Location

|
|
|
|
|
|

Sunnybrooke | Q4 2025[8] | 1994  | 400  | 40  |  STM  | Pierrefonds-Roxboro
Pierrefonds-Roxboro | 1944  | 1,140  | 80  |  STM
Île-Bigras | 1995  | 45  | 20  | None  | Laval
Sainte-Dorothée | 1995  | 975  | 45  |  STL
Grand-Moulin | 1925[61] | 304[62] | 44  |  Exo  | Deux-Montagnes
Deux-Montagnes | 1995  | 1,256[63] | 247  |  Exo

### Anse-à-l'Orme branch

[edit]

Trains on the Anse-à-l'Orme (formerly Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue) branch of the Réseau express métropolitain are projected to run every ten minutes during rush hour and every fifteen minutes at other times.

Station  | Planned opening[52] | Parking spots  | Bike racks  | Connections  | Location

|
|
|
|
|

Des Sources | Q4 2025[8] | 500  | 20  |  STM  | Pointe-Claire
Fairview–Pointe-Claire | 700  | 50  |  Terminus Fairview
Kirkland | 2,500  | 30  |  STM  | Kirkland
Anse-à-l'Orme | 200  | 20  |

* STM
* Exo

| Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

### YUL–Montréal–Trudeau Airport branch

[edit]

Trains on the Airport branch of the Réseau express métropolitain are projected to run every ten minutes during rush hour and every fifteen minutes at other times.

Station  | Planned opening[52][64] | Parking spots  | Bike racks  | Connections  | Location

|
|
|
|
|

Marie-Curie | 2027[65] | —  |  |  STM  | Saint-Laurent
YUL–Montréal–Trudeau Airport | —  | —  |

* Montréal–Trudeau International Airport
* STM

| Dorval

## Rolling stock

[edit]

Main article: Alstom Metropolis Saint-Laurent

Alstom Metropolis Saint-Laurent

The Alstom Metropolis Saint-Laurent[66] is a type of light metro train built by Alstom for the Réseau express métropolitain, using the Alstom Metropolis platform. Trains run as a single two-car train at quieter times and as paired four-car trainsets during rush hour.[67] The trains are fully automated (GoA4), with no driver or attendant on board.[67]

In April 2018, a $2.8-billion contract was awarded to Alstom and SNC-Lavalin to deliver a driverless light metro, including rolling stock and automatic signalling, and to operate and maintain the line.[68] This contract included 212 Alstom Metropolis cars, forming 106 two-car trains.[68] Built at Alstom's Sri City plant in India, the trains were delivered to Montreal by ship.[69]

Each two-car train seats 64 passengers

Each two-car train seats 64 passengers, with standing capacity for around 300. A four-car trainset can carry a maximum of 780 people at rush hour.[67][70] The livery is white, grey, and bright green, matching the REM logo.[67] The trains have large front windows, allowing passengers to take in views from the front of the train.[71] A dedicated space for wheelchair users is available, and the trains feature Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and heated floors.[71] CDPQ Infra indicated it is "confident that the trains ... will be able to withstand ... winter conditions", with the trains featuring double glazing, ice-scraping pantographs, and heated automatic couplings.[72] The front lights of the trains are inspired by the Champlain Bridge.[67]

Compared to the Azur trains used on the Montreal Metro, the REM trains use steel wheels rather than rubber tires, are 17% wider, are faster (with a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) on the Champlain Bridge), and are fully automated.[70][71] However, the REM trains are shorter and can carry fewer passengers per trainset, although the REM has the ability to increase capacity to meet demand.[70][71] The REM trains are also exposed to the weather, unlike the fully underground metro system.

## Artwork

[edit]

Across the REM, 12 pieces of permanent artwork will be installed at a cost of $7.3 million, as part of Quebec's percent for art programme.[73][74] An additional $500,000 will fund temporary artworks, created by students of four Montreal universities (Concordia, McGill, Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal).[73] The first works were unveiled in the fourth quarter of 2024 at Brossard and Panama stations.[74]

## Controversies

[edit]

In a report prepared by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement [fr] (BAPE), released on 20 January 2017, CDPQ Infra was criticized for failing to provide crucial information on the project's financial model, environmental impact, and impact on ridership levels on existing public transit systems across Greater Montreal. Without such information, the BAPE declared that it was "premature to authorize the approval of this project".[75] The BAPE also stated that CDPQ Infra had not met its obligations with regard to transparency, as it had failed to provide information in a timely fashion on the ridership levels of the REM's three branches.[75] CDPQ Infra was also reproached for not studying the impact of the REM on existing public transit authorities.[75] CDPQ Infra was criticized for not being able to answer questions like how much tickets would cost, whether municipalities served by the REM would have to pay for the necessary infrastructure for access to it, and whether municipalities would have to contribute to the REM's operation.[75]

A lawsuit filed by Coalition Climat further alleged that the REM project violated federalism for a lack of federal assessment of the potential harm to citizens' environmental rights by its potential contribution to noise pollution and urban heat islands. The lawsuit was dismissed by the Quebec Superior Court on 13 December 2017.[76]

Another controversy occurred in November 2019, when Montreal mayor Valerie Plante proposed naming Griffintown's REM station after former Quebec premier Bernard Landry, who was part of the Parti Québécois. This sparked a backlash from the city's Irish community.[77] As a compromise, the station was named Griffintown–Bernard-Landry, which still proved controversial.[78] Local politicians and transit advocates also noted their annoyance that the station was not opened with the other REM stations in August 2023,[79] and that a construction staging yard was preventing the construction of a park in the neighbourhood.[53]

## Financial model

[edit]

As agreed in 2018, the financial model underpinning the project requires the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) to pay CDPQ Infra $0.72 for each kilometre traveled by a passenger following the project's opening. This amount will increase with inflation.[80][81] CDPQ expects a rate of return of around 8 or 9 percent over the 99-year period.[81]

Although fare revenues will not fund other transit projects or agencies (such as the Société de transport de Montréal), CDPQ argued that the REM will provide long-term income for pensions, stating, "when a user takes the REM, they are helping to finance their future retirement".[82] CDPQ also argued that the project risk lies with itself and not the provincial government or municipalities.[81]

The project's $6.5-billion construction cost is financed through funding from CDPQ ($3.2 billion), the Government of Quebec ($1.283 billion), the Government of Canada ($1.283 billion), and Hydro-Québec ($295 million).[83]

## Proposed lines, stations, and extensions

[edit]

On 20 May 2019, the Quebec government announced that it had requested CDPQ Infra to study two REM extensions. One route would extend nearly 20 kilometres (12 mi) north to Carrefour Laval and the other nearly 30 kilometres (19 mi) south to Chambly and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.[84] The government also made a request to determine the best electrified transit system to be put in place for the East Island, with the possibility of it being a new REM project.[84] The proposal became the REM de l'Est project.

### Dorval station

[edit]

The federal government had requested that the Canada Infrastructure Bank study a possible extension of the REM to Dorval Exo railway station and Dorval Via Rail station to connect with Exo and Via Rail trains.[85] This station would have been about a 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) extension from the Airport station. The STM bus station is located south of the CP and CN tracks and west of the Via Rail station.

### Bridge–Bonaventure station

[edit]

The city of Montreal requested two stations instead of one at Bassin Peel.[86] The second station would be added between Île-des-Soeurs and Griffintown–Bernard-Landry stations.[87][88] In August 2024, CDPQ Infra noted that the station was technically feasible.[53]

### REM de l'Est

[edit]

Main article: REM de l'Est

The REM de l'Est was a proposed second REM line that would have been 32 km (20 mi) long and included 23 stations. Announced in 2020,[89][90] it would have used the same technology as the REM but would not be connected directly to the first section of the network.

Beginning a few blocks east of Robert-Bourassa Boulevard (and therefore from Central Station), the line would have run east on an elevated guideway along René-Lévesque Boulevard and Notre-Dame Street until St-Clément Street, where it would have turned north and split into two branches:

* One running elevated along Sherbrooke Street to Pointe-aux-Trembles
* One diving into a tunnel and running north to Cégep Marie-Victorin via Lacordaire

In May 2022, the project was abandoned,[91] and as of mid-2023, nothing has been announced about its eventual replacement, which is under study, except that it is to be named Projet structurant de l’Est (PSE) instead of REM.[92]

### South Shore "REM 2.0" along Taschereau Boulevard axis

[edit]

In partnership with the City of Longueuil and the Municipality of Brossard, the Quebec government announced a proposed extension of the REM through the South Shore of Montreal. This branch was originally referred to as REM 2.0, but was also commonly called the Taschereau REM, and was planned to connect the existing REM line at Terminus Panama to the Montreal metro at Terminus Longueuil.[93] REM 2.0 would follow Taschereau Boulevard for much of its length, superseding earlier proposals for an electric tramway, the East–West Electric Line (Lien électrique est–ouest, or LÉEO),[94] to connect these transit hubs. The government of Quebec suggested that this REM line could ultimately continue in either direction to the municipalities of Châteauguay and Boucherville respectively.[95]

The planned route of the Réseau Express Métropolitain, with the Taschereau REM added. Firmly announced destinations (Terminus Longueuil, Panama station, CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit) are marked with a solid line, and potential destinations are marked with a dotted line (Châteauguay, Boucherville).

Longueuil mayor Catherine Fournier was present at the REM's inauguration and first rides. During the ride, Fournier made clarifying remarks about REM 2.0, confirming the future of the project. Fournier added that the segments of REM 2.0 along Taschereau Boulevard would be elevated, while the portions along the Quebec Route 132 would be at ground level to service Old Longueuil and beyond.[96][97]

Following the REM's inauguration, Fournier held an interview with La Presse where she indicated that she had taken part in continued conversation with Quebec's Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, who reiterated the province's interest in the project and stated that the extension was under study. CDPQ Infra responded to the interview, confirming that the project was still planned, with ongoing discussions involving the provincial authorities.[97]

Following this interview, in late 2023, Mayor of Brossard Doreen Assaad announced a plan to construct a new, pedestrianized downtown for Brossard, centred on Panama station, to be completed by 2040.[98][99] The announcement indicated that Brossard would aim to implement a double-track, street-level electric tram along Taschereau Boulevard. In follow-up interviews, Brossard's city administration opposed the construction of an elevated REM extension along the Taschereau corridor, indicating that it was not compatible with its vision for Brossard's new downtown.[100]

Assaad then elaborated on this statement in a press release about road safety on Taschereau Boulevard, stating that the citizens and mayor's office did not see a return on investment for an elevated REM along Taschereau but would defer to the Government of Quebec as Taschereau Boulevard is a Quebec Route and under provincial jurisdiction.[101] The mayor indicated that the city was designing its future downtown with a lighter mode of public transit to test the feasibility of the REM model and sought to keep the municipality's voice in the conversation.

In an early 2024 press release, CDPQ Infra said that it would be releasing the results of its analysis of the Taschereau REM branch, as well as holding meetings with municipal officials and other relevant parties to inform them of the direction of its upcoming public transit projects.[102] In response to this announcement, Fournier commented that she was supportive of the Taschereau REM project but that Longueuil had not received an update from CDPQ Infra for over a year and a half.

On January 29, 2024, CDPQ Infra announced that it was withdrawing from the proposed extension, leaving local mayors to coordinate any future development of Taschereau Boulevard with the soon-to-be-created provincial government agency for large public transit projects.[103]

## See also

[edit]

* Railways portal
* Urban rail transit in Canada
* Réseau express métropolitain

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sommaire des previsions d'achalandage du REM" (PDF). www.cdpqinfra.com. CDPQ Infra Inc. February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
2. ^ Codère, Jean-François (12 April 2018). "Les trains du REM seront construits en Inde". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2018.
3. ^ a b "Shorter REM trains running on weekends and holidays as of Sunday". CBC. 20 April 2024.
4. ^ "REM light rail on South Shore could launch 'within 30 to 45 days'". Montreal. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
5. ^ Magder, Jason (22 April 2016). "Electric light-rail train network spearheaded by Caisse de dépôt to span Montreal by 2020". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
6. ^ "Montreal's new light-rail line launches at the end of the month". CTV News Montreal. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
7. ^ "Work Schedule 2024". REM. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
8. ^ a b c d e f "Montreal's REM light-rail project delayed again, with no end in sight". CBC News. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
9. ^ Nerestant, Antoni (13 September 2023). "Montreal's REM cost rises 26% to $7.95B". CBC News. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
10. ^ "Réseau électrique métropolitain". cdpqinfra.com. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
11. ^ "Travel FAQ".
12. ^ Magder, Jason. "The Caisse's first two mass transit projects in brief – Montreal Gazette". Montreal Gazette.
13. ^ Delean, Paul. "Caisse revs up for new role as infrastructure provider". Montreal Gazette.
14. ^ a b "Ambitious light rail project for Montreal proposed by Caisse de dépôt". CBC News. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
15. ^ Briginshaw, David (30 June 2016). "Tendering starts for Montreal rail project". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
16. ^ Magder, Jason (25 November 2016). "Three REM train stations added to proposed route through downtown Montreal". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
17. ^ a b c Wanek-Libman, Mischa (28 November 2016). "Proposed Montréal REM project grows by three stations and CA$400M". Railway Track & Structures. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016.
18. ^ "The Government of Canada confirms a $1.28-billion investment in the Réseau électrique métropolitain". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
19. ^ "Citing 'value for money', Caisse extends bidding for REM electric-train project". Montreal Gazette. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
20. ^ "Ingénierie, Approvisionnement et Construction des infrastructures du Réseau Électrique Métropolitain de Montréal" (PDF) (in French). 28 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
21. ^ "Fourniture du Matériel Roulant, de Systèmes et de Services d'Exploitation et de Maintenance du Réseau Électrique Métropolitain de Montréal" (PDF) (in French). 28 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
22. ^ a b c "Appel de qualification : résultats" (PDF) (in French). 10 November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.;
23. ^ a b "Main partners". REM.info. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
24. ^ "REM: les offres finales des soumissionnaires déposées aujourd'hui" (in French). 27 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
25. ^ "REM: le choix des consortiums reporté". 11 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
26. ^ "REM: les offres finales des soumissionnaires déposées aujourd'hui" (in French). 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
27. ^ "CDPQ Infra awards contracts for Montreal REM". 8 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
28. ^ "South Shore preparatory work gets underway | REM". rem.info. 15 March 2018.
29. ^ "Construction of the Réseau express métropolitain has officially started". CDPQ. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
30. ^ "Montreal REM cost revised up to $6.5 billion – constructconnect.com". Daily Commercial News. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.+billion+–+constructconnect.com&rft.date=2020-01-09&rft_id=https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/infrastructure/2020/01/montreal-rem-cost-revised-up-to-6-5-billion&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Réseau+express+métropolitain" class="Z3988">
31. ^ Boshra, Basem (17 December 2019). "Closing of Mount Royal Tunnel postponed, cost of REM project jumps by $230 million". Montreal. Retrieved 5 June 2021.+million&rft.date=2019-12-17&rft.aulast=Boshra&rft.aufirst=Basem&rft_id=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/closing-of-mount-royal-tunnel-postponed-cost-of-rem-project-jumps-by-230-million-1.4734027&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Réseau+express+métropolitain" class="Z3988">
32. ^ Gobert, Céline (16 October 2020). "REM: le tunnelier "Alice" a commencé à creuser". Journal Métro (in French). Retrieved 26 March 2024.
33. ^ "Opening of REM delayed after COVID-19 work stoppages and an 'unexpected' explosion". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 November 2020.
34. ^ "REM construction moving forward in Greater Montreal but problems remain". Global News. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
35. ^ "REM light rail project price tag rises due to pandemic complications". Montreal. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
36. ^ "Century-old Mount Royal tunnel gets shored up for REM's McGill station". montrealgazette. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
37. ^ "Tunnel problems and labour shortage delay opening of most REM stations". montrealgazette. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
38. ^ a b c "Le REM ouvert au public le 31 juillet". La Presse (in French). 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
39. ^ Magder, Jason (28 July 2023). "And they're off: REM starts shuttling people across Montreal area". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
40. ^ "Official opening of the first 5 REM stations". rem.info. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
41. ^ Nerestant, Antoni (28 July 2023). "Riders set to test out new REM service, mark new era in Montreal public transit". CBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
42. ^ "Ride the new REM for free July 29 and 30". CityNews. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023. "You could take the new REM for free July 29 and 30 [at the Open House] – during the light rail network's inaugural weekend. Trips between central station in downtown Montreal and Brossard will be free 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., tweeted the Quebec government. The REM is set to be inaugurated on July 28, before officially opening for its regular runs July 31."
43. ^ "Some Montrealers turned away as REM reaches capacity limit during opening weekend". 29 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
44. ^ Nerestant, Antoni (31 July 2023). "Stuck railway switch on Montreal's new REM to blame for morning — and evening — delays on 1st official day". CBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
45. ^ "Montreal's new REM back up and running after 3rd service disruption in as many days". CBC News. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
46. ^ Bannerjee, Sidhartha (2 August 2023). "Mission Impossible: Montreal's new light-rail train traps users in railway garage". Global News.
47. ^ "REM trains are rolling after one-hour interruption on Day 3". Montreal Gazette. 2 August 2023.
48. ^ REM – Réseau express métropolitain [@REMgrandmtl] (11 September 2023). "Ce matin, vers 8h, nous avons dépassé le cap du millionième déplacement à bord du REM! En moyenne, il y a plus de 30 000 passages quotidiens depuis l'inauguration en juillet dernier. #REMmtl" (Tweet) (in French). Retrieved 14 October 2023 - via Twitter.
49. ^ "Transport collectif : l'achalandage bientôt à 90 % du niveau pré-COVID". Radio Canada (in French). 26 October 2024.
50. ^ Shingler, Benjamin (14 November 2024). "Completion of Montreal's new light-rail lines pushed to fall 2025". CBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
51. ^ Ouellette-Vézina, Henri (3 September 2024). "Ouest de l'île: Les tests du REM lancés sur l'antenne Anse-à-l'Orme". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
52. ^ a b c d e "Commissioning schedule". Réseau express métropolitain. January 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
53. ^ a b c d Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe (28 August 2024). "Près du centre-ville de Montréal: Feu vert technique pour deux nouvelles stations du REM". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
54. ^ a b "Stations". REM. Réseau express métropolitain. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
55. ^ "A REM for all". REM. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
56. ^ "Network stations". Réseau express métropolitain. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
57. ^ "Griffintown–Bernard-Landry station unveiled". Réseau express métropolitain. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
58. ^ Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe (10 August 2023). "Station Griffintown–Bernard-Landry: CDPQ Infra reporte son échéance à 2027". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
59. ^ Thomas, Katelyn (11 May 2020). "Here's how to get around the Mount Royal tunnel closure". CTV News Montreal. Retrieved 23 August 2023. "Construction on the Mount Royal tunnel set to begin on Monday following delays will be ongoing until 2022, causing detours for off-island commuters who rely on it daily. ... Transit users who relied on the tunnel to enter the city from Mascouche can take note that three trains departing in the morning and afternoon will take a different route to reach the central station downtown. Other trains will stop at the Ahuntsic station – from there, users can take a number of express buses to the metro network. They can also transfer at the Sauvé train station to get to the metro, but it may be busy, according to the Societe de transport de Montreal (STM)."
60. ^ "Maps". stm.info. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
61. ^ "Transit History of the Banlieues de Montreal, Quebec". Retrieved 8 February 2018.
62. ^ "Grand-Moulin station". Exo. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020.
63. ^ RTM. "Gare Deux-Montagnes". Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
64. ^ Tomesco, Frédéric (20 May 2022). "Opening of REM's airport section delayed until at least 2025". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
65. ^ "Montréal-Trudeau Airport".
66. ^ Stang, Ron (10 August 2021). "Montreal REM light rail system moves toward summer 2022 debut". Trains.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023. "The REM's Saint-Laurent equipment is based on Alstom's Metropolis platform"
67. ^ a b c d e "Rolling stock". REM. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
68. ^ a b "Alstom-led consortium to provide complete driverless light metro system for Montreal". Alstom. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
69. ^ "Arrival of the first REM cars | October 2020 | REM". rem.info. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
70. ^ a b c Riga, Andy (21 March 2023). "Montreal's much-delayed REM almost ready to roll, officials say". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
71. ^ a b c d "Five things to keep in mind regarding REM cars | REM". rem.info. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
72. ^ "REM trains will withstand Montreal winters, planners promise". Montreal Gazette. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2023. ""We're very confident that the trains we ordered will be able to withstand our winter conditions," said Mack Tall, the president and chief executive officer for CDPQ Infra, which is managing the project."
73. ^ a b "Programme d'art UNIR". REM (in French). 1 August 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
74. ^ a b "Deux œuvres d'art à admirer dès maintenant aux stations Brossard et Panama". rem.info (in French). 4 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
75. ^ a b c d Bisson, Bruno (21 January 2017). "Train électrique: un projet prématuré, selon le BAPE – Bruno Bisson – Montréal". La Presse. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
76. ^ "Challenge of Caisse de dépôt's REM train project rejected by Superior Court". montrealgazette.ca. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
77. ^ "OTL Blog » Blog Archive » An Open Letter from a City of Montreal Ambassador to Mayor Valerie Plante RE: Griffintown REM Proposal and Negative International Reaction". Retrieved 14 February 2020.
78. ^ Luft, Amy (22 June 2020). "Montreal's Irish community disappointed new REM station in Griffintown will be named after former premier Bernard Landry". Montreal.
79. ^ Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe (10 August 2023). "Station Griffintown–Bernard-Landry: CDPQ Infra reporte son échéance à 2027". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
80. ^ Saint-Arnaud, Pierre (12 July 2023). "REM hikes per-passenger payment from ARTM even before it starts running". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
81. ^ a b c Stutts, Jordan (26 September 2019). "CDPQ's big light-rail bet". Infrastructure Investor. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
82. ^ "Understanding the model". CDPQ Infra | Un modèle novateur pour les projets d’infrastructures. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
83. ^ "Main partners". REM. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
84. ^ a b "Plante fumes as Quebec considers possible expansion of REM | Montreal Gazette". 7 May 2019.
85. ^ "Un prolongement du REM pourrait relier la gare de Dorval à l'aéroport". Le Devoir. 19 July 2019.
86. ^ Dubuc, André (31 October 2019). "Bassin Peel: la Ville demande deux stations du REM". La Presse.
87. ^ Dubuc, André (2 June 2022). "Montréal veut une station du REM dans Bridge-Bonaventure". La Presse. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
88. ^ Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe; Ouellette-Vézina, Henri (23 January 2024). "REM: À l'unanimité, Montréal exige deux nouvelles stations". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
89. ^ Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe; Ouellette-Vézina, Henri (15 December 2020). "Un train toutes les deux minutes pour le nord et l'est de Montréal" [A train every two minutes for north and east of Montreal]. La Presse (in French). Retrieved 15 December 2020.
90. ^ Olson, Issac (15 December 2020). "Montreal's east end to get its own $10B light-rail network". CBC News. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
91. ^ Radio-Canada (2 May 2022). "Québec retire le REM de l'Est des mains de CDPQ Infra". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
92. ^ Le Devoir (3 July 2023). "La facture du futur REM de l'Est fait sursauter". ledevoir.com (in Canadian French). Retrieved 3 July 2023.
93. ^ Colpron, Suzanne (14 February 2022). "Legault promet un 'très beau' prolongement du REM sur la Rive-Sud". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
94. ^ "Longueuil mayor proposes plan for electric tramway linking east and west". CBC News. 28 February 2020.
95. ^ Lapointe, Diane (21 February 2022). "Le REM 2.0 de la Rive-Sud sera blanc, sans filiage, d'est en ouest, sur Taschereau et bientôt annoncé par la CDPQ!". La Relève (in Canadian French). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
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97. ^ a b Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe (3 August 2023). "Prolongement du REM: Aérien sur Taschereau, au sol près du Vieux-Longueuil". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 3 August 2023.
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## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Réseau express métropolitain.

* Official website
* Presentation of the project on the CDPQ Infra website

* v
* t
* e

Réseau express métropolitain

Stations|

* Brossard
* Du Quartier
* Panama
* Île-des-Soeurs
* Central Station

Under construction|

|  Main line|

* Griffintown–Bernard-Landry
* McGill
* Édouard-Montpetit
* Canora
* Ville-de-Mont-Royal
* Côte-de-Liesse
* Montpellier
* Du Ruisseau
* Bois-Franc

|

Airport branch|

* Marie-Curie
* YUL–Montréal–Trudeau Airport

Anse-à-l'Orme
branch|

* Des Sources
* Fairview–Pointe-Claire
* Kirkland
* Anse-à-l'Orme

Deux-Montagnes
branch|

* Sunnybrooke
* Pierrefonds-Roxboro
* Île-Bigras
* Sainte-Dorothée
* Grand-Moulin
* Deux-Montagnes

Proposed lines|

* REM de l'Est (cancelled)

Rolling stock|

* Alstom Metropolis Saint-Laurent

* v
* t
* e

Passenger railways of Canada

Intercity|

* Via Rail
* Amtrak
* Cascades
* Maple Leaf
* Adirondack
* Keewatin Railway
* Ontario Northland Railway
* Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
* Kaoham Shuttle

Sightseeing|

* Agawa Canyon Tour Train
* Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions
* Port Stanley Terminal Rail
* Rocky Mountaineer
* Royal Canadian Pacific
* White Pass and Yukon Route

Commuter rail|

* GO Transit
* Greater Toronto
* Union Pearson Express
* Greater Toronto
* Exo
* Greater Montreal
* West Coast Express
* Greater Vancouver

Urban rail|

* CTrain
* Calgary
* Edmonton LRT
* Ion
* Waterloo Region
* Montreal Metro
* O-Train
* Ottawa
* Réseau express métropolitain
* Montreal
* SkyTrain
* Greater Vancouver
* Toronto subway

| Under construction|

* Broadway extension
* Vancouver
* Green Line
* Calgary
* Hurontario LRT
* Peel Region
* Line 5 Eglinton
* Toronto
* Line 6 Finch West
* Toronto
* Ontario Line
* Toronto
* O-Train Stage 2
* Ottawa
* REM Stage 2
* Montreal
* Surrey–Langley extension
* Greater Vancouver
* Valley Line West
* Edmonton

|

Planned|

* Blue line extension
* Montreal
* Gatineau LRT
* Gatineau
* Ion Stage 2
* Waterloo Region – Cambridge
* Hamilton LRT
* Hamilton
* Pink Line
* Montreal
* Quebec City Tramway
* Quebec City

Cancelled or closed|

* Expo Express
* Montreal
* Scarborough RT
* Toronto
* Sheppard East LRT
* Toronto
* Surrey LRT
* REM de l'Est
* Montreal

Streetcar|

* Toronto streetcar system

People mover|

* Terminal Link
* Toronto

Heritage tramways|

* High Level Bridge Streetcar
* Edmonton
* Nelson Electric Tramway
* Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley

See also|

* Urban rail transit in Canada
* Streetcars in North America
* Heritage railways in Canada
* Canada railways template
* Canada short line railways template

*[lit.]: literal translation
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template