REM free this week, decrease in services

REM is offering a week free of charge from Feb. 24 to 28 and they are reducing services. The goal is to give the light-rail network’s teams time to remedy the many problems the network has faced over the past while.

Service will only be offered during the mornings 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and evenings 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The network will be closed outside of these time slots and a shuttle services will be offered.

“Due to the inability of our operator, formed by Alstom and AtkinsRéalis, to maintain quality of service for our users, measures modifying schedules and fares will be implemented starting Monday, to offer more predictability to REM users. In recent weeks, users have not received the level of service they are entitled to expect,” said the REM in a statement.

Teams will be deployed on the field – present in greater numbers in REM stations and the light-rail network’s cars to facilitate communication in case of interruption or slowdowns. Teams will also be active on the network during closures, where they will perform maintenance on cars and installations to stabilize the service.

“Our priority will always be to provide quality service to our users. Robust interventions are necessary, and CDPQ Infra will do everything possible to rectify the situation.”

Free travel applies to the REM and shuttles 720, 721, 722 and 568. Users with a current monthly pass could receive a credit for their April renewal. Details will be shared by the Metropolitan Regional Transportation Authority (ARTM) by mid-March.

“But how am I going to prove that I bought like the full fare of the month?” wondered Jason, a Montrealer. “Like if they have a way to scan the card and know who paid for the full monthly fee, probably if they give me like half a month or I don’t know a month for free, will be like, OK, minimum.”

“I don’t know how they’re going to do it, but it’s a bit disappointing.”

Last week, Quebec Transportation Minister Geneviève Guilbault held an emergency meeting with REM authorities and stakeholders – calling the shutdowns and slowdowns unacceptable – and saying the problems needed to be solved and solutions found – as well as backup plans ready.

For the past week, service have been interrupted daily due to switching issues.

In addition to these switch problems, REM cars also require more maintenance due to issues with winter conditions.

“I had to make arrangements with my husband to pick up my children on time,” one woman at Central Station told CityNews. “I contacted my own parents as a backup measure knowing that the REM would be delayed. This was after the snowstorm and this was after waiting for plus 30 minutes in the freezing cold, waiting for buses that were insufficient. Insufficient capacity, insufficient information, and that’s one of the worst factors. There’s such a lack of information that it’s appalling.

“It’s supposed to be a reliable service. We paid a lot of money, taxes. And this is what we get.”

“I have quite flexible hours, and I can adapt to these situations in a way that helps me avoid getting caught up in the common problems we face everywhere now,” another Montrealer said.

“I’m at the school right now,” added a woman at the Île-des-Sœurs REM station. “I’m starting right now and it’s difficult to me to go to work after school because of the problem in the schedule, in the train. And it’s really impacting negative right now.”

The free service will be reviewed on a weekly basis and could be extended.

At a press conference on snow-removal operations, Mayor Valérie Plante, was asked about the REM. “Well, you were talking earlier about growing pains, right? So I think right now the CDPQ is probably taking a lot of notes. And I think that they need to consider while they’re experimenting like new lines, which we’re definitely like excited about, should it be more like another bus network available at all times – just to make sure that people don’t get disappointed.”

“We’re building those infrastructure for people so people can rely on them, but it has to, they have to be proven right.”