‘A game-changer’: REM’s Deux-Montagnes line officially open

"I feel like 20-25 minutes going to downtown is nothing. You can't beat that," said one REM rider Monday morning at the Pierrefonds-Roxboro station as the Deux-Montagnes line officially opened for its first full day of service. Lola Kalder reports

By News Staff

Posted November 17, 2025 7:20 am.

Last Updated November 17, 2025 5:41 pm.

The new Deux-Montagnes Réseau express métropolitain (REM) line began running at 5:30 a.m. on Monday with service every 10 minutes, increasing to a frequency of 4 minutes 30 seconds during peak periods.

That higher frequency will remain consistent throughout the day.

“It’s just very interesting to have different alternatives, you don’t have to rely on just one public transport alternative,” said Philippe Jacques, co-executive director and spokesperson, for Trajectoire Québec. “Now you can take the REM, you can take the metro, of course you have buses everywhere as well, but it’s really like a network now.”

*REM Deux-Montanges line’s Pierrefonds-Roxboro station on Monday morning as the phase officially opens to paying customers on Nov. 17, 2025. (Lola Kalder, CityNews)*

After years of delays, this extension of the light-rail network is now fully open, connecting the North Shore to downtown. The Deux-Montagne’s extension adds 14 stations between downtown Montreal and the North Shore.

Here are the 14 new stations:

Deux-Montagnes.
Grand-Moulin.
Sainte-Dorothée.
Île-Bigras.
Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
Sunnybrooke.
Bois-Franc.
Du Ruisseau.
Montpellier.
Côte-de-Liesse.
Ville-de-Mont-Royal.
Canora.
Édouard-Montpetit.
McGill.

*People taking the REM Deux-Montanges line on Monday morning as the phase officially opens to paying customers on Nov. 17, 2025. (Lola Kalder, CityNews)*

Following a busy open house weekend, the REM’s operator, Pulsar, reported a strong start.

Early estimates show about 25,000 trips were made during the two-day event, surpassing expectations.

Aside from a minor technical issue Sunday morning on the stretch between Brossard and Central Station, overall service performed well, even amid challenging weather.

As winter approaches, officials say they’re better prepared this season.

“The teams have learned from the other seasons and from previous winters,” said Carol Du Sault, spokesperson for Pulsar. “So many adjustments have been made on the tracks, if I may say. So we have learned from the past.”

This marks a major milestone for the REM as it moves one step closer to completing its full network.The REM’s full 67-kilometre network will eventually feature 26 stations and is scheduled to cost $9.4 billion.

The final leg, linking Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, is expected in 2027.

“There will be two more phases,” said Du Sault. “In 2026, there will be another branch to l’Anse-Alors. And then for the airport, it will be in 2027.”

*Screen shows times for REM arrival in Deux-Montanges line’s Pierrefonds-Roxboro station on Monday morning as the phase officially opens to paying customers on Nov. 17, 2025. (Lola Kalder, CityNews)*

Following the completion of this branch, officials — including Premier François Legault and Montreal mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada — say attention now turns to the east. The next major transit project is the Tramway de l’Est, which will eventually connect Montreal’s East End to Repentigny and Terrebonne, linking into the blue and green metro lines. Early development begins this summer.

“It’s the next step,” said Jacques. “There’s a tramway de l’Est, and the project is just starting now, but it’s going to be transferred to the new Mobilité en Quebec agency in January. So that’s the next thing.”

Montrealers weigh in on new REM line

CityNews spoke with several commuters who said they were excited and thankful for the new extension.

“Going to school is going to be really easy,” said Sivagaami Sinnathurai. “We usually take about an hour and a half to get to school, and this is like 30 minutes, so it’s really great.”

“It’s good like I’ve been taking the bus and metro for a long time from the West Island going all the way to school and it’s a long way, so this will make my mornings much easier,” said Alma Alramli. “Really excited.”

“I find it fantastic because I live in Pierrefonds, just a few steps away so I walk to the train, I had been living there for 20 years, so I was really looking forward to the train starting up again,” said Celine Durand.

“This is such a game-changer,” said Nicholas Pare. ” I used to live back in St Laurent, so I just find that time efficiency is a huge thing. And I can get from here to downtown in a matter of 20 minutes.”

The history of the REM: Montreal’s transit revolution

The idea of a metro under Mount Royal was first proposed by Jean Drapeau in 1961, with a planned red line connecting Cartierville and Montréal-Nord to downtown. The project was abandoned in 1971 in favor of the blue line.

Decades later, the REM revived part of this vision. In November 2019, archaeologists discovered human bones at a Pointe-Saint-Charles work site, confirming an Irish cemetery from 1847.

By 2020, engineers faced major challenges in the century-old Mont-Royal Tunnel, including structural damage from de-icing salts. Innovative solutions ensured the tunnel and surrounding infrastructure remained safe.

REM car design also focused on accessibility and style, with Xavier Allard and Sarah Demers-Naurais aimined to create an efficient experience for users.

In 2022, the REM finally ran under Mount Royal, connecting Édouard-Montpetit to McGill. Key milestones on the South Shore branch included completed infrastructure, system testing, and full electrification. Engineers and students also oversaw the complex task of linking the REM to the historic tunnel 70 meters underground.