MONTREAL — The Réseau express métropolitain light rail line between downtown Montreal and the North Shore community of Brossard, Que., has begun a six-week shutdown today (Saturday, July 5) for testing in preparation of opening of most of the rest of the system later this year.
Service on the 10.3-mile first phase between Central Station and Brossard began in July 2023; the full 42-mile (67-kilometer), 25-station system is now expected to open in October, save for a short spur serving Montreal’s Trudeau Airport. The shutdown had been announced earlier this year [see “Most of Montreal light rail system …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 14, 2025].
The CBC reports plans to mitigate the closure of the system includes a series of free shuttle buses and increased service on some Exo commuter rail routes. The REM is also scheduled to be free from its return on Aug. 18 through Aug. 31. More information is available here.
Brossard is SOUTH Shore. !
That’s right… The blooming city of Brossard is located in the southern suburbs of Montreal.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Bonnes vacances cher REM!/Enjoy your vacation dear REM!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
It looks like a mandatory 6-week ‘summer break’… Well, this is still bad news for commuters and tourists, of course.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Is the train control system getting a once over causing what seems to be a long shut down otherwise?
Shutdown for “texting”??? I assume shutdown was for “testing”.