Montreal: Alstom Celebrates Launch of New Northern Branch of REM Network

The northern branch of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) in Montreal, Canada, is opening on 17 November.

The extension, delivered by La Caisse and CDPQ Infra, adds 33 kilometres of track and 14 stations, connecting downtown Montreal to the municipality of Deux-Montagnes on the North Shore.

This addition complements the South Shore branch, which opened in 2023, linking Brossard to Central Station. Together, the expanded network now provides a continuous connection between Montreal’s North and South Shores and downtown. The new line also includes two interchanges with the city’s underground metro system.

The northern branch is equipped with a fully automated, driverless metro system. It uses 212 Metropolis cars operating in 106 two-car trainsets, signalling systems, and depot facilities at both ends of the line. The system also features platform screen doors, onboard Wi-Fi, and a control centre for train operations. Maintenance is supported through a digital platform that monitors the condition of trains and infrastructure in real time.

When the REM is fully completed, the network will cover 67 kilometres, serving 26 stations and linking downtown Montreal with the South Shore, North Shore, West Island, and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. The extension is expected to reduce travel times across Mount Royal to under three minutes, offering a more frequent and predictable service for commuters.

Alstom, which supplied rolling stock and signalling, participates in the operation and maintenance of the system through the joint venture Pulsar.

Michael Keroullé, President and CEO of Alstom in the Americas, said:

We are very proud of the work accomplished by our talented employees, in collaboration with our partners, to commission this new branch of the REM. This new section, which offers a state-of-the-art, fully electric, automated, and high-frequency metro system, will transform the lives of thousands of residents of Montreal and its North Shore who travel daily, enabling them to do so efficiently, comfortably, and safely. More specifically, this extension will allow them to cross Mount Royal in less than three minutes – a first! With the REM, Alstom is showcasing its full range of urban technologies, highlighting both its local and global expertise in sustainable and smart mobility.