Canadian PM Carney opens REM's second phase

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other government and transportation officials were on hand last week to mark the opening of the next phase of the REM light-rail network in Montreal. 

Stretching from downtown Montreal to Deux-Montagnes, the new 19-mile extension adds 14 stations to the network, expanding REM service to nearly 31 miles and a total of 19 stations. The fully electric system now links the northern and southern shores to downtown Montreal, with stations on the island's western side.

The REM is the largest public transit project undertaken in Quebec in half a century. Once fully completed, the network will extend nearly 42 miles across 26 stations, including from downtown Montreal to the international airport. It will accommodate up to 170,000 users per day, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 100,000 metric tons annually – the equivalent of removing 30,000 cars from the road each day – and make it possible to reach the airport from downtown by train in just 25 minutes, according to a press release issued by the prime minister's office.

The project is also generating significant economic benefits for the greater Montreal area, including 34,000 jobs during construction, 1,000 permanent jobs and over C$2 billion in wages once the network is fully operational.