REM: Special shuttle bus service returns amid repeated interruptions

In the wake of repeated service disruptions and slowdowns on the REM, additional shuttle buses have, once again, been added to help facilitate travel between Montreal and the South Shore.

As of Wednesday, this special shuttle service will be provided for an indefinite period and offered continuously from 5:30 a.m. to 8:20 p.m., to Central Station, and will run parallel to the REM, regardless of the REM’s service status.

“Providing predictability to customers is critical in a context where service slowdowns and unplanned disruptions remain an issue,” the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) said in a press release.

On Tuesday, the network posted on social media that a “technical issue” was causing service interruptions between Gare Centrale in downtown Montreal and the Panama station in Brossard on the South Shore.

A technical problem with a switch at Central Station appeared to be the problem, according to a post on the REM’s X platform.

REM trains were running normally between Brossard and Île-des-Sœurs stations, but a platform change was required at Île-des-Sœurs station for those who wished to continue their journey to Central Station.

The return of the shuttle bus service aims to ensure transit users don’t lose trust in the service.

“These special measures will serve to provide greater reliability of service to customers who have to travel between the South Shore and downtown Montreal, and who have had to deal with numerous service disruptions in recent weeks,” said the press release.

Shuttle bus services available

Special bus service (Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8:20 p.m.):

• Between Brossard and Central Station stations: shuttle 721 operated by the STM, every 15 minutes, during peak periods, and every 30 minutes, during off-peak periods.
• Between Île-des-Sœurs and Gare Centrale stations: shuttle 568 operated by the STM, every 20 minutes, all day.
• Between Panama and Central Station stations: shuttle 722 operated by RTL, every 15 minutes, during peak periods, and every 30 minutes, during off-peak periods.

It should be noted that bus relief services are also offered during the REM closures scheduled for weekends and weeknights, starting at 8:20 p.m.

Users are reminded that several public transit options will still be available, in the event of a REM service interruption, to allow users to travel between the South Shore and Montréal, including the REM’s normal relief service and:

From downtown Montreal:

• From the orange line of the metro: go to the Longueuil metro station, on the yellow line, where several buses serve the South Shore, including the REM stations.
• From the South Shore: commuter train lines connect downtown during rush hour.