REM service interrupted twice in last 24 hours due to technical problems

Service on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) was interrupted twice in the last 24 hours due to technical issues.

During Tuesday morning’s rush hour, a technical problem halted service in both directions of the rail line — going to and from Montreal and the South Shore.

The interruption ran from 5:30 a.m. to 6:55 a.m. Trains were gradually added back on the network around 7 a.m., but it was still slower service than usual.

Francis Labbé, media relations director with the REM, says shuttle buses were provided to help commuters.

“We were not able to operate the switch, so we had to bring operators in the trains to get the trains out of the garage and get them on the network to offer the service,” Labbé said.

Normal service resumed around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, during evening rush hour, there was a power outage near Panama Station, shutting service down from around 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Shuttle buses were once again provided.

“It’s unfortunate for our users and we know that buses are not the equivalent of a REM — a REM can transport 700 people, and a bus, maybe 40 to 50,” said Labbé.

He added that the two technical problems are unrelated, but that both are under investigation.

“What we’ll try to do is to find out what exactly happened, so it does not happen again,” he said.

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