REM Montréal extension has entered passenger service, extending the line into the western part of Montréal. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

REM Montréal extension opens West Island section
REM Montréal extension opens West Island section

As reported by Railway Pro, the section was inaugurated by Benoit Charette, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Québec; Charles Emond, President and CEO of La Caisse; Daniel Farina, President and CEO of CDPQ Infra; Benoit Gendron, Chief Executive Officer of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM); and Claudine Bouchard, President and CEO of Hydro-Québec.

The newly opened part of the Réseau express métropolitain covers 14 km. It connects the network with Anse-à-l’Orme in the west of Montréal Island. It also adds four stations to the system, serving Pointe-Claire, Kirkland and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

“The commissioning of the Anse-à-l’Orme section marks an important step forward for sustainable mobility in Montréal’s West Island. By providing frequent, reliable and integrated public transport, the REM addresses the real needs of citizens while helping to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions from transport. This is a transformative project fully aligned with Québec’s vision for sustainable mobility,” said  the Minister of Transport.

REM Montréal extension adds West Island links

The extension will give almost ten more municipalities and boroughs access to the metropolitan transport network. Also, it complements STM and exo bus services. Those services have been reorganised to provide efficient links with the REM and improve intermodality in the western part of the city.

Passenger use of the REM has continued to rise since the Deux-Montagnes section opened in November 2025. The network now averages 78,000 journeys on weekdays. In addition, it has recorded a daily peak of 104,000 trips and maintains a service availability rate above 99%.

Railway Supply has covered Alstom’s contribution to the project, which includes 212 Metropolis cars. The package also includes the Urbalis signalling system for GoA4 automated operation, cybersecurity solutions, the HealthHub digital platform and onboard Wi-Fi. Separately, Pulsar, the operator formed by AtkinsRéalis and Alstom, is responsible for operating and maintaining the system for 30 years.

Final section of Montréal’s automated metro to open in 2027

Following the launch of the new REM Montréal section, the automated metro network now covers 64 km. It also includes 23 stations. Once complete, it will reach 67 km. It will become the first high-capacity, high-frequency metropolitan transit system serving Montréal’s West Island. The network will provide thousands of daily passengers with a fast, reliable and integrated alternative to travelling by car.

CDPQ Infra and Pulsar will begin testing in the coming weeks on the final section of the network. That section will connect the REM with Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. The first REM train ran on this route in December last year.

According to CDPQ Infra, the airport section is scheduled to enter service in 2027, subject to the completion of the planned technical milestones. The YUL airport station is being built by Aéroports de Montréal.

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