REM extension: Deux-Montagnes line inaugurated Friday; free weekend ahead of service launch Monday
Posted November 14, 2025 8:14 am.
Last Updated November 14, 2025 5:40 pm.
The Deux-Montagnes line of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) was inaugurated Friday morning, marking a major expansion of the light-rail network on Montreal’s North Shore.
“Fast, frequent, modern, it’s changing mobility,” Quebec Premier François Legault said, during his speech at Friday’s inauguration. He joined Prime Minister Mark Carney and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada aboard the first official train departing the new Deux-Montagnes station.
The dignitaries were among the first to travel the new branch ahead of its public launch on Monday, Nov. 17. The expansion adds 14 stations between downtown Montreal and Deux-Montagnes, three of which will connect directly to the STM metro system.
Carney described the REM as a national model for large-scale transit. “Once completed, the REM will be the largest automated transportation system in the world,” he said, noting the federal government supported its first phase through more than $1.2 billion in financing from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said the new branch gives Montrealers “the ability to move around safely, smoothly and quickly,” calling the expansion an important milestone for the city’s mobility network.
The network heads into the winter season following significant disruptions in February and March on the REM’s South Shore branch, when power outages, switch failures and harsh weather caused major breakdowns in February and March.
Charles Emond, CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, said steps have been taken to prevent similar issues. “We’ve communicated our expectations to the operator,” he said. “They’ve purchased new equipment, modified what struggled last winter, increased their resources and even brought in international expertise.”
Free rides this weekend
To mark the opening, REM will offer free service to mark the opening of the Deux-Montagnes station this weekend.
Passengers can ride the REM for free across the network. The schedule for the lines are:
- Between the Deux-Montagnes and Gare Centrale: Saturday, Nov. 15, and Sunday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Between Gare Centrale and Brossard, service will follow the regular schedule.
Due to the high ridership anticipated, bicycles and pets will not be allowed during the weekend, the REM said.
Visitors who wish to make the entire trip—a round trip between McGill and Deux-Montagnes stations—should allow approximately two and a half hours.
REM stations can be accessed on foot, by bike, and by public transit. Most stations are also accessible by car.
With the possible full shutdown of STM service this weekend after the Labour tribunal approved a strike by bus drivers and metro operators union late Wednesday, this free REM service could be helpful for public transit users.
Once fully built, the REM will span 67 kilometres with 26 stations and is projected to cost $9.4 billion. The airport branch, linking to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, is scheduled to open in 2027.
The launch comes as STM bus and metro drivers plan a two-day strike this weekend, meaning the REM could be one of the few transit networks fully operational across Montreal.
“We’re actually doubling the size of the subway with the REM. So we’re hoping that this conflict will get resolved pretty quickly because the faster it is, the better for the users,” said Emond when asked about how the strike may impact this weekend’s operations.
Carney closed the ceremony by telling the crowd, in French, that “we are building Deux-Montagnes, we are building Montreal, we are building Quebec, we are building a strong Canada.”
-With files from The Canadian Press
