Alstom has announced the successful commissioning of the newly completed northern extension of Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain (REM), delivered in partnership with La Caisse and CDPQ Infra. The new section stretches from Central Station to Deux-Montagnes on the North Shore, significantly expanding the reach of the automated rail network.
The new branch, opening to passengers on 17 November, adds 33 kilometres of track, 14 stations and two interchanges with the city’s metro system. With this addition, the REM now spans 50 kilometres and links both the North and South Shores directly to the city centre. The South Shore segment—connecting Brossard to Central Station—entered service in 2023.
The northern extension promises a fast, dependable, and high-frequency travel option for commuters across Montreal and neighbouring communities. The route crosses Mount Royal in under three minutes, offering a major improvement in travel time for daily riders.
Alstom supplied the REM with a fully automated, driverless transit system, providing the rolling stock, signalling technologies, and operational systems. The company is also involved in operating and maintaining the full 67-kilometre network for three decades through Pulsar, a joint venture with AtkinsRéalis.
The network incorporates 212 Alstom Metropolis rail cars (configured as 106 two-car trainsets), the Urbalis GoA4 driverless automation system—the highest automation level currently available—alongside CBTC-based train control, the Urbalis Vision operations centre platform, platform screen doors, on-board Wi-Fi, and cybersecurity protections. Alstom also supplied equipment for two depots and two train-washing centres. Maintenance operations rely on Alstom’s HealthHub digital platform, which uses AI-driven analytics for predictive monitoring of trains and infrastructure.
Once fully completed, the REM will stand among the world’s most advanced automated transit systems, operating 26 stations across 67 kilometres and linking downtown Montreal with the North Shore, South Shore, West Island, and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
Michael Keroullé, President and CEO of Alstom in the Americas, said “We are extremely proud of what our teams and partners have achieved in delivering this new section of the REM. This fully electric, high-frequency and automated metro system will transform mobility for thousands of people travelling between Montreal and the North Shore. The ability to cross Mount Royal in under three minutes is truly groundbreaking. The REM demonstrates the breadth of Alstom’s technology and our long-standing expertise in sustainable, modern mobility.” The REM’s Metropolis trains are designed to reflect Montreal’s identity, drawing inspiration from the city’s natural surroundings and history, giving passengers a sense of connection to their urban environment.
Alstom employs over 2,000 people in Quebec and maintains its Americas headquarters in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. As Canada’s only rail manufacturer, the company delivers rolling stock, signalling solutions, turnkey systems, and operations and maintenance services for the REM, the Société de transport de Montréal, exo, and other major Canadian rail networks.
