Project Profile: Réseau express métropolitain (REM)

The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is a 67 km automated light metro network designed to transform public transit in the Greater Montréal area. As one of North America’s most significant public transport projects, it integrates fully automated Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) technology to connect downtown Montréal with its South Shore, West Island, and North Shore suburbs, as well as Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL).

Technical Specifications

The REM operates with a fleet of 212 Alstom Metropolis Saint-Laurent electric multiple units, configured as 106 two-car trainsets. The system employs Urbalis 400 Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) to achieve GoA4 Unattended Train Operation (UTO), enabling high-frequency service without onboard drivers. The network is powered by a 1500 V DC overhead line system supplied by Hydro-Québec. A key engineering challenge involved converting the existing Deux-Montagnes commuter line, including the historic 5 km Mount Royal Tunnel, for automated light metro operation, which required extensive structural upgrades and the installation of new track, power, and signaling infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Innovative P3 Model: The REM is delivered through a unique public-private partnership model led by CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of a major Canadian pension fund, which assumes a significant portion of the project’s financial risk and long-term operation.
• Advanced Automation: As one of the world’s longest fully automated transit networks, the REM serves as a benchmark for implementing GoA4 technology on a large scale in a demanding North American climate with significant winter operations.
• Strategic Regional Integration: The project fundamentally reconfigures regional mobility by creating a unified, high-frequency system that directly links key economic hubs, residential suburbs, and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport for the first time via a dedicated rail link.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the full REM network be open?

The REM is opening in phases. The first segment, connecting Brossard on the South Shore to Central Station in downtown Montréal, became operational in July 2023. Subsequent branches connecting the West Island and North Shore are scheduled to open through 2025, with the YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport station anticipated to be operational by 2027.

Who is building the REM?

The REM is an initiative of CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which is the project owner and operator. The design and construction are managed by the Groupe PMM consortium, which includes Alstom for rolling stock and systems, and a construction partnership between SNC-Lavalin, Dragados Canada, Aecon, and Pomerleau-EBC.