Quebec's transport minister calling for solutions in wake of REM service disruptions

Quebec's transport minister is demanding solutions in the wake of ongoing service disruptions on Montreal's light-rail network.

Those disruptions have led to growing dissatisfaction among Réseau express métropolitain (REM) riders, and Geneviève Guilbault is calling for better planning and communication.

She organized an emergency meeting with project partners Tuesday afternoon, including Alstom, the Caisse de dépôt, REM officials and Montreal's transportation authority, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).

Alstom designed the REM's trains, part of a massive public transit project funded by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ). The ARTM is responsible for integrating the REM into the region's transit network, including fare co-ordination, service schedules and transfer points.

After the meeting, Guilbault posted to the social media platform X, saying she has asked each partner to take their share of responsibility, and collectively, for the partners to find and implement solutions to resolve the breakdowns.

"The priority for everyone must be service to the users. In case of problems, this must include, among other things, a solid backup plan, and above all, clear, quick, and effective communications," she wrote.

"We understand that this is new technology and there are still improvements to be made, but we agreed that users have the right to expect an efficient and reliable service."

In a news scrum, she said this is the second winter of the REM, and weather is complicating operations. She said it remains a good project, "but solutions must be implemented to avoid losing the trust of users."

Since its launch in July 2023, the REM has been plagued by frequent service interruptions, and February has been particularly challenging for the light-rail system. Early in the month, a power outage shut down service for several hours. The next day, a switch malfunction disrupted transit during morning rush hour.

The recent snowstorm has also put the network to the test. On Monday, trains ran only every 20 minutes. By Tuesday morning, service was still slowed, with shuttle buses supplementing service.

While the REM is still in its early operational phase, it could be doing better, according to Pierre Barrieau, a lecturer at the Université de Montréal and a transportation planning specialist.

"Major failures must be avoided. If we can't sell the service to people, they'll give up on it, and it'll take a generation to win them back," said Barrieau, speaking on Radio-Canada's Tout un matin.

Barrieau, however, acknowledged that the number and duration of breakdowns have been decreasing, as noted by CDPQ Infra.

"There is progress, but we're not yet at an acceptable level of reliability," he said.