REM, Demonstration on Future Transport

Quiet, Automatic and Spacious: Finally we were able to test the Metropolitan Express Network (REM) train in the Rive-Sud section, which will be introduced into service next year.

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On the boarding platform of the Brosard REM station, the first thing you notice when a train arrives is that you can almost lose it if you close your eyes.

REM office spokesman Jean-Vincent Lacroix explained that the project was designed to make the train as low noise as possible.

“One of the big advantages is that thanks to electrification, the train is almost there [complètement] Quietly, ”he explained.

As soon as you cross the door, the ends of the train immediately catch your attention. REM is fully automated, no driver.

The location of the cockpit is usually perfectly clear and allows you to see the train heating itself up. We can not wait to see on the river: for now, the train is only doing test trips near Brosard station.

South Shore Division

The rive-sud section, which connects Brozard with downtown Montreal, is set to open in the spring or summer of 2022.

The highest speed for this section reaches the Samuel-de Champlain Bridge, which is 100 km per hour. The train passes through El-des-Saures, where Jean-Vincent Lacroix promises a “spectacular view of downtown Montreal”, before heading to Central Station via Griffintown.

“Departs every two and a half minutes and takes 15 minutes for a trip to Central Station. It’s very competitive. Right now, people are stressed because they often make the same trip for 1 hour, sometimes 1 hour and 30 minutes,” he explained.

What is REM?

REM has more branches in the Montreal area and is more like a metro than a commuter train. It departs 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, every two and a half minutes during rush hour and every 5 minutes outside rush hour in crowded stations such as the city center or Brosard.

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At less busy stations, departure times vary between 5 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during quiet times.

This is going to make a big difference for suburban residents who have a habit of running in line with the small passenger train schedule.

A modern project

In addition to being automated, the wagons are air conditioned in the summer and have a WiFi network connection, as well as door sills and heated floors for the winter.

With an average speed of 51 km per hour and peaks of 100 km per hour, it is possible to reach Central Station in less than 35 minutes from most stations.

The project, led by CDPQ Infra, a branch of Kaisse de Depot at Placement du Quebec, aims to make the city center, in particular, accessible to workers, tourists and citizens who can afford traffic in general. Hour, reaching the city center during rush hour.

A project in several stages

REM is put into service in several stages:

• The Rivsud branch, which connects Brosardసార్ to the lower town via L’Île-des-Soeurs, is scheduled to open in the spring or summer of 2022.
• The Rive-Nord branch, which connects Duke-Montagnes to downtown over the Laval, will be in service between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024, respectively.
• The neighborhood service division in the West Island is expected to come into service in the spring of 2024.
• The section arriving at the airport is scheduled for the end of 2024.

Details for the two eastern branches (which go to Point-Ox-Trembles and Montreal-North) are less clear, but the year 2029 is currently coming to a close. Planned to grow a branch in the heart of downtown Montreal, some fear the project will distort the boulevard Rene-Lowesque.

The first four phases will cover 26 stations over a distance of 67 km.

To the east, there are 23 stations over 32 kilometers.

In total, the cost of REM is estimated to exceed $ 10 billion.