François Legault stands alongside Mark Carney. La Presse
Premier François Legault stood before a large crowd at the Deux-Montagnes station on Friday with a wide smile. He said the opening of the new REM branch showed that Quebec can still complete major projects. “Sometimes we find that it takes a long time and there are all kinds of blockages, but look at today: we are capable,” he said.
Leaders Celebrate a Long-Awaited Expansion
Legault stood beside Premier Mark Carney, who also praised the project. Carney said the new REM line shows the ambition needed across Montreal, Quebec, and the rest of Canada. He called it the most important public transit project in Quebec in fifty years. “It’s the kind of project of national importance that improves our cities, that transforms our country,” he said.
Legault and Carney rode the REM earlier in the day from McGill station. Montreal’s new mayor, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, joined them, along with several ministers and local officials.
A Major New Route for Commuters
The Deux-Montagnes branch opens to the public on Monday. Riders will gain access to 14 new stations and three metro connections under Mount Royal. The line now stretches 50 kilometres, up from its original 17.
Loïc Cordelle, CEO of the REM operator Pulsar, called the opening “a historic step for mobility in Quebec.” He said the network learned from last winter’s breakdowns on the South Shore. Crews improved the braking system, prepared equipment for severe cold, and expanded switch heaters.
Charles Émond, head of La Caisse, said he feels “very confident about the future.” He noted that all new systems need a break-in period but added that the network sits in a stronger position now. He said he expects fewer outages and better communication when problems occur.
Nearly Six Years of Waiting
Commuters have waited since 2020 for this section to return, after the old commuter rail line shut down. The branch also plays a key role in the wider network because it houses a major train garage.
Denis Martin, mayor of Deux-Montagnes, said his residents waited through “many trials” but now see a major moment in the city’s history.
Montrealers will be able to try the new line for free on Saturday and Sunday. Tens of thousands are expected to visit. A trip from Deux-Montagnes to Central Station takes just over 35 minutes.
A Boost for the Region
Mayor Martinez Ferrada called the opening a “great boom” for the city. She said she now wants rapid progress on the East End Structuring Project. “We greatly need transportation to unlock all of our populations,” she said.
Jean-Marc Arbaud, head of CDPQ Infra, said the REM forms only the first step. He told the crowd more projects will follow. Arbaud, who will retire at the end of the year, received loud applause.
What Riders Should Expect
The Deux-Montagnes branch begins service Monday at 5:30 a.m. Trains will run every 5 to 7 minutes during peak hours. Outside peak times, service will run every 10 minutes until 1:30 a.m. between Brossard and Côte-de-Liesse, and until 9:30 p.m. between Côte-de-Liesse and Deux-Montagnes.
After 9:30 p.m., buses will replace trains between Côte-de-Liesse and Deux-Montagnes to allow testing on the Anse-à-l’Orme branch, scheduled to open next spring. The airport branch remains set for 2027.
The REM carries a $9.4-billion price tag, up $2.4 billion from its 2018 estimate. Émond said the project still costs roughly half the price of similar systems elsewhere.
