Comments on: Today is the last day that commuter trains will run through the Town of Mount Royal for at least three years, as work on the REM light rail project will cause the closure of the Mount Royal tunnel and all EXO commuter trains on the Deux-Montagnes line will terminate at the Bois-Franc Station. Trains on the Mascouche line will either terminate at Ahuntsic Station or take the long way downtown, going around Mount Royal via CN’s Taschereau Yard and Montreal Sub. Here EXO 945 passes what was the site of the Mont-Royal Station. Due to REM construction, a new, temporary station was built a bit south of here.

By: dhaisell

dhaisell — Sun, 10 May 2020 17:27:00 +0000

Good to hear. Shoving them all onto the REM is a non-starter.

By: mberry

mberry — Sun, 10 May 2020 17:20:06 +0000

Three Mascouche trains per rush hour will indeed be going all the way downtown via Taschereau Yard and then CN’s Montreal Sub.

By: dhaisell

dhaisell — Sun, 10 May 2020 17:16:22 +0000

One thing I don’t understand is why they’re cutting the Mascouche line instead of running it the long way round through CSL. Would have ready-made service for whatever they build over the yards down the road. (They can’t stay on-island forever.)

By: mberry

mberry — Sun, 10 May 2020 16:05:23 +0000

Exactly, yet another very negative impact that the REM project will have.

By: dhaisell

dhaisell — Sun, 10 May 2020 15:37:11 +0000

I can’t see this ending well. I also don’t see how the high-frequency VIA line could run through here if heavy-rail commuter trains can’t.

By: mberry

mberry — Sun, 10 May 2020 15:17:58 +0000

No, REM trains will be through trains running from the South Shore to the North Shore via Central Station. They will have to take a bus from Bois-Franc to a metro station.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Sun, 10 May 2020 15:09:15 +0000

Does that meal all the through tracks leading from Mount Royal become stub tracks ? Will there be enough space for the switches to remain in place in front of the tunnel mouth ? Michael, really appreciate your pictures , not only are they high quality , but for me it’s most interesting and informative, keeping me up to date on what is happening in the Montreal area. Nearly all my “Montreal pals” from CRHA days have either moved or passed away, and so I don’t get back to visit Montreal .
Another question, with the Deux Montanges trains terminating at Gare Bois-Franc, how do the passengers on these trains get downtown ? Many thanks

By: mberry

mberry — Sun, 10 May 2020 13:59:31 +0000

Nope, everything has to go, which is one reason why this is such a wasteful project.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Sun, 10 May 2020 13:55:45 +0000

Thanks for the update and an interesting and historical picture Michael. Guess this is the last day for “main line railway” operation through the Mount Royal Tunnel. Back in the 1960’s when I last rode to Deux Montagne, who would have thought that would happen ! Certainly a lot of changes when I last visited and took pictures at Mount Royal Station. Do you think REM will keep the existing rails and electrical overhead ? Thank you for posting.