Montreal unveils first look of new REM light-rail trains

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante unveiled the first of the city’s new light-rail REM cars on Monday.

Montreal’s $6.3 billion light-rail REM train system continues to chug along. At the end of October, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) welcomed the arrival of its first fleet of trains and offered a glimpse of the stations’ exterior and interior.

On Monday, Plante shared pictures of herself at the front of the car and what the automated network’s trains look like from the side.

• See also:
  • Here’s what the inside of an REM light-rail station will look like (VIDEO)
  • The first fleet of Montreal’s light-rail trains have arrived
  • Turcot interchange celebrates opening with virtual inauguration (VIDEO)

Set to become the largest transportation network in Greater Montreal, the REM will link downtown to the South Shore, the West Island, Montreal-North, and Trudeau Airport.

The integrated 67 km train system will provide access to 27 stations across the Montreal network and will run 20 hours a day, seven days a week.

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

Plante says the REM trains will “represent an important step towards a modern and more efficient public transport network that meets the needs of the population of the city.”

Les essais sont lancés! Très fière d’avoir assisté au dévoilement des nouvelles voitures du REM ce matin. Le @REMgrandmtl représente un pas important vers un réseau de transport collectif moderne, efficace et qui répond aux besoins des populations de la métropole. (1/2) #polmtl pic.twitter.com/a5T2yznZ0M

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) November 16, 2020

The light-rail train system is slated to open to commuters by the summer of 2022 and is expected to be fully operational in the West Island and Trudeau Airport branch by 2024.