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Montréal Transit Developments

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When is the extension going to be open to the public? I'll probably plan a trip to Montreal later this year to check it out.

It'll be nice to have Western Montreal better connected to downtown.
 
Bojaxs said:
When is the extension going to be open to the public? I'll probably plan a trip to Montreal later this year to check it out.

It'll be nice to have Western Montreal better connected to downtown.
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Supposedly in October, although the finalized date is dependent on how testing goes.
 
Thaboss said:

"The airport authority also plans to build a new building that will connect the terminal to the future light-rail station, expected to be operational by 2027."


Seems like we can expect this "light rail" lol expansion to be completed in 2 - 4 years.
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2027 is still the target operational date.

The 3.5 km tunnel is already done along with station excavation (there’s currently a giant 35 meter deep pit in front of the main YUL terminal).

According to CDPQi and ADM updates they are currently working on station structural work, track and catenary installation. Dynamic tearing and station interior work will start in 2026. This is part of the much larger $10 billion YUL project to expand terminal capacity, access road reconfiguration, etc.

lol yea - “light rail” - really don’t know how the media comes up with these terminologies.
 
REM is a full Metro..........electrified grade separated transit meant for local use. The technology has nothing to do with it. Eglinton and Finch use light rail but aren't ev Metros while this very much is.
 
ssiguy2 said:
REM is a full Metro..........electrified grade separated transit meant for local use. The technology has nothing to do with it. Eglinton and Finch use light rail but aren't ev Metros while this very much is.
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It doesn't really matter what technical names the transit fans come up with. The media uses the names that are local branding.

The Washington Metro, Toronto Subway, and London Underground (or Tube) lines like the District and Metropolitan lines are all relatively similar. But the media won't call the Montreal system a subway, the Toronto system an underground. Or the London system a subway (though a lot of underground stations include subways for pedestrians).

Similarly the media wouldn't call London's Elizabeth Line an "Underground" or "Tube", even though it's effectively the same - simply because it's not branded that way.
 
nfitz said:
It doesn't really matter what technical names the transit fans come up with. The media uses the names that are local branding.

The Washington Metro, Toronto Subway, and London Underground (or Tube) lines like the District and Metropolitan lines are all relatively similar. But the media won't call the Montreal system a subway, the Toronto system an underground. Or the London system a subway (though a lot of underground stations include subways for pedestrians).

Similarly the media wouldn't call London's Elizabeth Line an "Underground" or "Tube", even though it's effectively the same - simply because it's not branded that way.
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I feel like there's also a political reason to call it "light rail". It makes it sound cheaper, easier and more palatable to taxpayers than "subway" or "metro", even when the lines are quite blurry on a technology front
 
SFO-YYZ said:
2027 is still the target operational date.

The 3.5 km tunnel is already done along with station excavation (there’s currently a giant 35 meter deep pit in front of the main YUL terminal).

According to CDPQi and ADM updates they are currently working on station structural work, track and catenary installation. Dynamic tearing and station interior work will start in 2026. This is part of the much larger $10 billion YUL project to expand terminal capacity, access road reconfiguration, etc.

lol yea - “light rail” - really don’t know how the media comes up with these terminologies.
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Is there any plan, even conceptual, to continue that line to Dorval rail station? Seems like a huge mistake to not connect to that station.
 
robmausser said:
Is there any plan, even conceptual, to continue that line to Dorval rail station? Seems like a huge mistake to not connect to that station.
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It seems like an obvious connection to make but it would be expensive. Consider the following factors:
  • There’s an existing shuttle service between Dorval - Airport to handle the volume of travellers here.
  • Gare-Centrale - Airport on REM is meant to be 25 minutes vs. 22 minutes for Gare-Centrale - Dorval on Via (there are sufficient alternate routes for most).
  • Completing the connection would require an extra kilometre of tunnel and a pretty deep station (the airport one is 35m deep).
 
robmausser said:
Is there any plan, even conceptual, to continue that line to Dorval rail station? Seems like a huge mistake to not connect to that station.
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The Dorval mayor has pleaded for it, but it's very expensive. Also, with Alto maybe it's irrelevant in the future anyway. If Alto doesn't stop there, people would probably trek from Gare Centrale anyway
 
Kyle Campbell said:
The Dorval mayor has pleaded for it, but it's very expensive. Also, with Alto maybe it's irrelevant in the future anyway. If Alto doesn't stop there, people would probably trek from Gare Centrale anyway
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Exactly. I’m sure the decision will be dependent on ALTO’s phase 2 design and implementation. Of course, there’s always been a plan in place to connect to Dorval since day 1 but it’s really a matter of funding - about $500 mil to $1 billion for this 1 km tunnel plus possible reconstruction of the Dorval station.

It’ll be far more useful to build a REM branch to wherever new ALTO station will be (if not at gare centrale).

And tbh, currently it’ll take 20-25 min at most on REM to go directly from YUL terminal to Gare Centrale (the REM station at Gare Centrale is located literally next to the VIA rail platforms), so that’s already a pretty seamless and easy connection for most.
 
nfitz said:
It doesn't really matter what technical names the transit fans come up with. The media uses the names that are local branding.

The Washington Metro, Toronto Subway, and London Underground (or Tube) lines like the District and Metropolitan lines are all relatively similar. But the media won't call the Montreal system a subway, the Toronto system an underground. Or the London system a subway (though a lot of underground stations include subways for pedestrians).

Similarly the media wouldn't call London's Elizabeth Line an "Underground" or "Tube", even though it's effectively the same - simply because it's not branded that way.
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REM is branded as REM - and almost all Montreal locals literally call it that these days - just “le REM” or “the REM” (not R-E-M or light rail). A lot of my friends take it for work daily and I don’t know any one of them who calls it “light rail”, just “le REM”. Most local radio stations both Franco and Anglo also refer to it as Le REM on their daily morning and evening rush hour traffic reports.
 
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