Montreal's new 67 km light-rail system gets $1.3 billion in federal funding

Justin Trudeau joined Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and the head of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Michael Sabia announced in a morning press conference that major funding has been allocated for Montreal’s new train system.

Trudeau shared that the Government of Canada alongside the Government of Quebec and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec will invest 1.28 billion into the construction of this ambitious project.

Trudeau also shared that the changes being made in the transit system across Canada will help fight the battle against climate change and meet Canada’s Paris Agreement.

The rapid transit system is set to be 67-kilometre-long, consists of 27 stations, operate 20 hours a day  and 7 days a week.

Earlier this spring, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), announced its plans to build the 5.5 billion driverless commuter train system that will reach the outskirts of Montreal and provide a rail transit link to Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

The extensive system, dubbed the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM), will double the length of the region’s existing Metro subway system, which has 68 stations on 69 kilometres of track on four lines.

www.cdpqinfra.com

Once completed, the REM will be the fourth largest automated transportation system in the world after Singapore (82), Dubai (80 km) and Vancouver (68 km).

The REM also represents the largest public transportation infrastructure since the Montréal metro.