On July 31, 2023, the first phase of the REM opened between Gare Centrale and Brossard. Now, you can experience the Réseau Express Métropolitain from home! Enjoy these front and rear view perspectives of the ride as we travel between Gare Centrale and Brossard. 

The REM operates using Alstom Metropolis trainsets that are fully-automated (GoA4), allowing for frequent service. This also allows for large windows all around the vehicle, including the front, where all can enjoy the incomparable views offered by the REM. By the end of 2024, the remaining segments of the REM to Anse à l'Orme and Deux-Montagnes will extend the network further North and West, with the Airport branch due to open in 2027. Once completed, the REM will extend over 67km and serve 26 stations.

Join us on an exciting journey as we dive into the heart of Montreal's new state-of-the-art transit system, the REM (Réseau Express Métropolitain). The REM is a revolutionary transit project, designed to transform the way people move around the metropolitan area. Stretching across multiple lines and stations, this fully automated light rail network promises faster travel times, increased capacity, and improved accessibility for countless commuters. 

In this video, we'll be taking you on a visually stunning tour of the REM's first five stations, showcasing the cutting-edge design, modern amenities, and seamless connectivity that make this transportation network a game-changer for the region of Montréal. One of the most striking features of the REM is its complete automation, where driver-less trains glide smoothly and efficiently through the system, ensuring precise and timely arrivals and departures. 

The REM sets a new standard for environmental sustainability as well. Operating solely on electric power, these trains significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making them an eco-friendly choice for urban mobility. Step onto the platform, and you'll experience the convenience and safety of platform screen doors. These doors not only provide an extra layer of security but also prevent debris from entering the tracks, keeping the system running smoothly. 

Prepare to be amazed as we reveal the unique open views from both the front and back of the REM trains. The sleek design incorporates panoramic windows, allowing passengers to enjoy breathtaking vistas of Montreal's urban landscape during their commute. It's a truly immersive and unforgettable travel experience, connecting riders with the city like never before.

Today, with the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. François Legault, Premier of Québec and Ms. Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal in attendance, CDPQ and its subsidiary, CDPQ Infra, inaugurated the first branch of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), connecting Brossard to Gare Centrale.

Dignitaries and members of the public took part in the first official trip on the 16.6-km route connecting downtown Montréal to Brossard in 18 minutes.

This major step marks the start of a new network that is efficient, reliable and will facilitate the daily travel of over 30,000 people as they go to work, school, leisure activities, appointments or to visit friends and family.

Once completed, the fully automated and electric REM will reduce GHG emissions by 100,000 tonnes per year. In addition, with an overall network of 67 kilometres, it will be the longest automated metro in the world.

The public is invited to experience the new light metro for free over the weekend of July 29–30. Activities will also be scheduled on Esplanade PVM at Place Ville Marie during the weekend to highlight this historic milestone. Regular service on the South Shore Branch will begin Monday, July 31.

Users can learn more details about the new service starting today by visiting the Travel section of the REM.info website.

Quotes

"The REM will transform the way people get around the Greater Montréal area. It is the largest public transportation project undertaken in Québec in the last 50 years, and will ensure that Montrealers and all Canadians benefit from a transportation service to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport that is both efficient and clean. We are a major partner in this major project."
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

"The REM will improve mobility in the Greater Montréal area. It's a fine example of our efforts to provide Quebecers with fast, environmentally-friendly and practical public transportation infrastructure. Serving citizens living in the suburbs, outside the city centres, is a major challenge, and this is precisely what the REM will make possible. I'm confident that we're heading in the right direction, and that if we provide Quebecers with modern, fast and efficient public transportation, more and more people will use it."
François Legault, Premier of Québec

"A major milestone has just been reached in the realization of this brand new transportation system. It will have an impact on the daily lives of thousands of people in the Greater Montréal area, and we're very proud of it. The REM speaks to our dual mandate, as it will generate significant economic benefits for Québec and each time passengers step on board, they will contribute to financing their retirement. It's truly a signature project that will deliver tangible benefits starting today and for future generations."
Charles Emond, President and Chief Executive Officer, CDPQ

"Taking an idea and bringing it to fruition is quite an accomplishment for the thousands of people who've worked tirelessly for 5 years now on building this major project for the greater metropolitan region. I'd like to personally thank all these REM artisans whose collective effort is now giving thousands of citizens access to a brand-new, sustainable, frequent and efficient mobility service."
Jean-Marc Arbaud, President and Chief Executive Officer, CDPQ Infra

"The inauguration of the first segment of the REM marks an important milestone in the history of the metropolitan area, and the start into a new era of mobility in Montréal. This new structural link is one of the keys to ensuring the vitality of our downtown and, eventually, to redeveloping and densifying the Bridge-Bonaventure area. This ambitious project is part of our vision for a more accessible and resilient metropolitan area for future generations."
Valérie Plante, Mayor of the Ville de Montréal

"The opening of the REM is a historic moment, a true revolution in the way we get around collectively and in how we think about the future of our cities. In Brossard, the three REM stations are major development hubs and living environments that will quickly become prime locations. Imagine leaving the Brossard terminal, crossing the deck of the new Samuel-De Champlain Bridge and arriving at Montréal's Gare Centrale Station, all in just a few minutes. Brossard is very proud to have this innovative public transit project within its city limits. It's a source of pride to us all!"
Doreen Assaad, Mayor of Brossard

"The commissioning of this first segment of the REM marks the beginning of a new era in mobility. This unprecedented mode of transportation, which will be integrated into the various existing networks, will change how we travel in the Greater Montréal area. CDPQ Infra and its partners have every reason to be proud of the work they have accomplished. I encourage members of the public to come aboard and discover for themselves the many benefits of this project."
Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Premier of Québec, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility

"The arrival of the REM, the largest public transportation project in Québec since the opening of the metro in 1966, will bring lasting changes to the mobility of citizens travelling between the South Shore and Montréal. It's the culmination of a colossal effort by the metropolitan region's partners – exo, RTL and STM – which have revised their bus networks to ensure fully integrated services. Our teams are ready to welcome users so that they'll have the best experience possible and to encourage them to adopt this modern, 100% electric mode of transportation."
Benoit Gendron, Director General of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)

"We are proud and pleased to launch the REM with the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. What a joy it is to develop Alstom's latest driverless metro technologies in Québec and to support the City of Montréal in its effort to decarbonize mobility to make our world and cities easier to live in, greener and more environmentally friendly. We deeply thank CDPQ for their continuous support here in Montréal and beyond as Alstom main shareholder."
Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chairman and CEO of Alstom

"Building the REM is much more than construction or engineering; it represents an opportunity to build the future. To this end, we brought together more than 4,000 men and women of 59 different nationalities. I'd like to extend my warmest thanks to them and their families, without whom none of our efforts would have been possible. We are very grateful for the collaboration of GPMM and the support received from our partners (SNC-Lavalin, Dragados, Aecon, Pomerleau and EBC) and, above all, for the exceptional leadership and resilience of CDPQ Infra."
Jaime Freyre, Project Manager, NouvLR consortium

"We are proud of our investment in the REM, one of Canada's most important transit infrastructure projects, whose initial opening will relieve congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Montréal. Initial operations of our first and largest investment demonstrate the impact of our work. This is one of nearly 30 investments by the Canada Infrastructure Bank that are under construction or in development across the country."
Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank

"The launch of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) clearly shows how the electrification of transportation is not only about individual electric vehicles. Electric public transportation is an essential pillar of a low-carbon economy, and Hydro-Québec is honoured to have played a crucial role in this project."
Claudine Bouchard, Executive Vice President, Chief Infrastructure and Energy System Officer at Hydro-Québec

The REM's South Shore Branch at a glance:

• 16.6 km of double track
• Thirteen four-car trains
• Five new stations
• Operating 20 hours per day
• Brossard to downtown Montréal in 18 minutes
• Frequency varies from every 3 minutes 45 seconds during peak hours to every 7 minutes 30 seconds outside of peak hours
• Integration of a sustainable and structuring transportation system on the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge
• Two new bridges (l'Île-des-Sœurs channel and Lachine Canal)
• A maintenance centre and control centre using cutting-edge technology

Join us for an unforgettable experience as we bring you exclusive LIVE coverage of the highly anticipated opening of Montreal's Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM)! 

Be part of history as we witness the Inauguration Ceremony and embark on the FIRST ride of this cutting-edge rail transit system. 

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• 00:00:00 Start of Stream and Intro 
• 00:12:00 Ceremony Start 
• 01:07:00 Politicians and Dignitaries shake hands with REM builders 
• 01:21:37 Ribbon Cutting 
• 01:30:50 Departure of the First Ride from Brossard to Gare Centrale 
• 01:48:00 Signing of the Plaque 
• 02:21:10 Forward Facing View from Gare Centrale to Brossard 
• 02:42:00 Exploring Brossard station 
• 03:02:00 Signing off and end of Stream 

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🎊 Get ready to travel with us as we board the REM train at Brossard Station, on the South Shore, and journey all the way to downtown Montréal, arriving at the iconic Gare Centrale! 🎊 

Located in the heart of Montreal's downtown core, the REM's Gare Centrale station is connected to the metro's orange line and will be one of three stations in the Mount Royal tunnel. Built underneath the Gare Centrale itself, it was created by repurposing and converting some of the train tracks and platforms. 

When commissioned, the station located 3.1 meters below the Gare Centrale's Salle des pas perdus, will be accessible via the existing station, as well as the RESO underground city network, between the Queen Elizabeth hotel and the Place Bonaventure, as well through a separate access from the parking of the Gare Centrale. The REM station will connect the borough of Ville-Marie and downtown to destinations north such as Outremont via Edouard-Montpetit station, Deux-Montagnes and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to the west, and south to Brossard and the south shore. Finally, the station will offer fast connections in minutes between the Metro's orange, green and blue lines through the Mount Royal tunnel. 

The architects of this station wished to preserve several of the original Gare Centrale platform-level elements. The iconic cross and curved arch supports, as well as a unique floor tile colour scheme to where the previous rail tracks and platforms were located before the arrival of the REM. Final destination: opening end of 2022! 

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In this video, we take you through a guided tour offered to content creators in August 2022 of the station under its final stages of construction. Journey deep underground, down to the Mont-Royal rail tunnel, now more than 100 years old, and the future route of the REM.

Located in the heart of Montreal's downtown core, the REM's McGill station is connected to the metro's green line, will be one of three stations located in the Mount Royal tunnel, and one of two stations that did not previously exist on the exo Deux-Montagnes line. Built underneath Avenue McGill College, special engineering and construction techniques were required to not cause damage or disturb the surrounding buildings, such as Place Montréal Trust, Centre Eaton Montréal and the Banana Republic, to name a few. 

When commissioned, the station located 10 meters underground will be accessible via the existing underground corridor connecting Place Montréal Trust to the Centre Eaton Montréal, as well through a separate access from McGill metro station. The REM station will connect the borough of Ville-Marie and downtown to destinations north such as Outremont via Edouard-Montpetit station, Deux-Montagnes and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to the west, and south to Brossard and the south shore. Finally, the station will offer fast connections in minutes between the Metro's green, orange and blue lines through the Mount Royal tunnel. 

The construction of this station posed many technical challenges, especially since it is located underneath existing buildings and skyscrapers. To dig this station, the existing tunnel needed to be enlarged, and new accesses from the station cavern created, elements that did not previously exist. Steel and concrete supports were created to reinforce and further support the surrounding buildings. Final destination: commissioning in 2024! 

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In this video, we take you through a guided tour offered to content creators in August 2022 of the station under construction. Journey deep underground, down to the Mont-Royal rail tunnel, now more than 100 years old, and the future route of the REM.

Découvrez le nouveau métro léger de Montréal, le Réseau Express Métropolitain. Cette nouvelle ligne comportera 26 stations, sur une longueur de 67 km. Ce qui le rend unique dans la région, c'est qu'elle sera entièrement automatisée. Offrant un service de transport en commun de Brossard sur la Rive-Sud, à Laval et Deux Montagnes au Nord, à Anse-a-l'Orme à l'ouest, et avec une connexion à l'aéroport de Montréal, le REM est positionné pour véritablement transformer et agrandir le réseau de transport en commun. 

Dans cette vidéo avec le porte-parole du REM, Jean-Vincent Lacroix, apprenez-en plus sur ce nouveau système, dont l'ouverture du premier segment est prévue en 2022. 

Crédits photos et images : Réseau Express Métropolitain (www.rem.info) 

Our Interactive System Map allows you to learn and discover the route of the REM. The map shows the location of the stations, platforms and tracks, including the switches and cross-overs, in addition to the yards, maintenance and storage facilities.

By clicking a station point on the map, it is possible to see the REM system's features more closely, such as station shapes and platforms, tracks and switches. You can also click on the station to open its corresponding information page.

System Map developed by Derek Ellis for Rail Fans. 

Full Screen view available by clicking here.

The source code is available on GitHub. Contributions are welcome.

Located in the heart of Mont-Royal, the REM's Édouard-Montpetit station is connected to the blue metro line and serves the Université de Montréal campus. It will be the deepest subway station in Canada and one of the deepest in the world (72 metres). Its architectural treatment will highlight the rock through which the station was excavated. 

When commissioned, the station located 70 meters underground will be accessible via five high-speed elevators that will travel the equivalent of a 20-story building in less than 30 seconds! The REM station will connect the borough of Outremont and downtown in only 3 minutes while offering a fast connection to the green line (via McGill station) and the orange line (via Bonaventure station). 

The construction of this station posed many technical challenges, especially since it is located near residential areas and schools. In order to dig so deep into the ground and in such hard rock, controlled blasting was used to build the station's main shaft and mezzanines. This represents 30,000 cubic meters of high-quality excavated rock that was reused as ballast on the Deux-Montagnes branch. The excavation work was completed in 2019 and the teams then work on the construction of the station. This means that after digging a 20-story building, it had to be built. Today, the steel structure of the station is clearly visible and the wooden ceiling can also be seen. In the coming months, the teams will be busy completing the station's exterior shell and will begin work on the interior. Final destination: commissioning in fall 2023! 

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In this video, we take you through a guided tour offered to the media in November 2021 of the station under construction. Journey deep underground, down to the Mont-Royal rail tunnel, now more than 100 years old, and the future route of the REM.

Située au cœur du Mont-Royal, la station Édouard-Montpetit du REM est connectée à la ligne bleue du métro et dessert le campus universitaire de l'Université de Montréal. Ce sera la station de métro la plus profonde au Canada et l'une des plus profondes dans le monde (72 mètres). Son traitement architectural mettra en valeur le roc à travers lequel la station a été creusée.

Lors de sa mise en service, la station située à 70 mètres sous terre sera accessible par cinq ascenseurs à grande vitesse qui permettront de parcourir l'équivalent d'un immeuble de 20 étages en moins de 30 secondes ! La station REM reliera l'arrondissement d'Outremont et le centre-ville en seulement 3 minutes, tout en offrant une connexion rapide à la ligne verte (via la station McGill) et à la ligne orange (via la station Bonaventure).

La construction de cette station a posé de nombreux défis techniques, d'autant plus qu'elle est située à proximité de zones résidentielles et d'écoles. Afin de creuser aussi profondément dans le sol et dans une roche aussi dure, un dynamitage contrôlé a été utilisé pour construire le puits principal et les mezzanines de la station. Cela représente 30 000 mètres cubes de roches excavées de haute qualité qui ont été réutilisées comme ballast sur la branche Deux-Montagnes. Les travaux d'excavation ont été achevés en 2019 et les équipes s'attellent ensuite à la construction de la station. Cela signifie qu'après avoir creusé un bâtiment de 20 étages, il fallait le construire. Aujourd'hui, la structure en acier de la station est bien visible et on peut également apercevoir le plafond en bois. Dans les mois à venir, les équipes s'occuperont de terminer la coque extérieure de la station et commenceront à travailler sur l'intérieur. Destination finale : la mise en service à l'automne 2023 !

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Dans cette vidéo, on découvre la nouvelle station en construction à Edouard-Montpetit. Voyagez profondément sous terre jusqu'au tunnel ferroviaire du Mont-Royal, vieux de plus de 100 ans, et futur emplacement du REM. 

The Réseau Express Métropolitain in Montreal will transform commuting and transit in the city over the next 10 years. With 26 stations and 67 km of track, and even more announced in the near future, this project has really gathered much excitement and generated lots of anticipation.

In this video discussion with transit and rail enthusiast David Bellerive, we talk about the REM and several of the more interesting and exciting points about the project. 

The currently under construction Réseau express métropolitain, will be Montreal's newest transit system. Featuring 26 stations and a length of 67 kilometres, and stretching from the south shore to Deux-Montagnes in the north and Anse-à-l'Orme in the west, it is poised to transform rapid-transit in the Greater Montreal Region in the coming years.

Featuring exciting new underground stations in downtown Montreal, and passing underneath the imposing Mount Royal, it is sure an exciting time for the city.

In this video discussion with Jean-Vincent Lacroix, spokesperson for the REM, we discuss the system currently being built, the next steps and the organization behind this massive infrastructure project (CPDQ Infra).

Learn more about the REM on their official website here : www.rem.info