Réseau express métropolitain

Réseau express métropolitain. It is an automated rapid transit system serving the Greater Montreal region in Quebec, Canada. The network represents one of the largest public transport infrastructure projects in the country since the completion of the Montreal Metro in the 1960s. Owned and operated by CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, it integrates with existing transit networks like the Exo commuter rail and the Société de transport de Montréal.

History

The project was first announced in April 2016 by Philippe Couillard's provincial government and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Its development was driven by the need to modernize the aging Deux-Montagnes line and improve connectivity to the growing West Island and South Shore areas. Key construction milestones included the start of major work in 2018 and the closure of the original Deux-Montagnes line in 2020 to allow for complete reconstruction. The first segment, linking Gare Centrale to Brossard on the South Shore, opened for passenger service on 31 July 2023.

Network and stations

The initial operational segment runs from Gare Centrale under Mount Royal to the Terminus Panama in Brossard. This section includes five stations, with key interchanges at Gare Centrale for the Montreal Metro and Exo networks, and at Île-des-Sœurs station. The full planned network will span 67 kilometres with 26 stations, extending to Deux-Montagnes, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montréad–Trudeau Airport, and Pointe-aux-Trembles. Major structures include the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge crossing and the renovated Mount Royal Tunnel.

Rolling stock and technology

The system uses a fleet of Alstom Metropolis electric multiple-unit trains, which are fully automated and operate without onboard drivers. These trains are powered by a 1,500 V DC overhead catenary system and run on standard gauge track. The core technology is based on the communications-based train control system used on the Singapore MRT and the Copenhagen Metro, enabling high-frequency service. The trains are currently operating in two-car configurations but are designed to be coupled into four-car sets to meet future demand.

Operations and service

Service is operated around the clock, with frequencies as high as every 2.5 minutes during peak periods on the central trunk. The system is fully integrated with the existing ARTM fare system, allowing seamless transfers to the Montreal Metro and Exo buses. Operations are monitored and controlled from a centralised facility in Brossard. The design allows for a theoretical capacity of up to 40,000 passengers per direction per hour, significantly augmenting the region's public transport capacity.

Impact and reception

The project has been praised for its ambition and potential to reshape Greater Montreal's transit landscape, reducing reliance on the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Tunnel and other congested corridors. However, it has also faced criticism over its cost, which exceeds $7 billion, and its disruptive construction phase, particularly the prolonged closure of the Deux-Montagnes line. Urban planners anticipate it will spur significant transit-oriented development around its stations, while environmental assessments highlight its role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by shifting trips from private automobiles.

Category:Rapid transit in Canada Category:Transport in Montreal Category:2023 establishments in Quebec