Montreal public transit won't be affected by Quebec's curfew restrictions

The province-wide COVID-19 curfew in Quebec will not affect Montreal’s biggest public transit company, which is still deemed an essential service.

The STM (Société de transport de Montréal) buses, metros, and trains will remain in operation during the 8 pm and 5 am curfew period. Exo, the metropolitan transport network, says it has “already adjusted according to the pandemic and no major changes are planned at this time.”

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The STM says it has “taken note” of the newly announced measures and will still offer rides to essential workers. “You can count on us, even during curfew,” concluded the network’s social media post.

[#COVID19] 🦠⚠️ We take note of the new measures announced and will analyze in the coming days the service offer to be implemented. The essential workers will still be able to use public transit, you can count on us, even during curfew. More information to come. pic.twitter.com/ilmC216QBK

— STM – Prenons soin de nous. (@stminfo) January 6, 2021

The STM said staff won’t check to ensure only riders using the network are essential workers. The network says stopping riders and demanding proper post-curfew proof would be too much of a strain on STM employees.

On Thursday, Quebec’s deputy premier and minister of public security, Geneviève Guilbault, said provincial police will be using their “judgement to assess” specific situations of people outside at night.

[COVID-19] Suite à la conférence de presse du premier ministre, nous tenons à réitérer que nos services demeurent opérationnels. Qu’en est-il de l’offre de service? Comme elle est déjà ajustée en fonction de la pandémie, aucun changement majeur n’est prévu pour le moment. pic.twitter.com/XQSC9Bo7iD

— exo – Réseau de transport métropolitain (@allo_exo) January 7, 2021

Quebec’s COVID-19 curfew goes into effect on Saturday and is scheduled to be lifted on February 8.