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So many came to ride the city’s new automated trains that officials had to turn some back.
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After the official ribbon cutting and the inauguration ceremony Friday, it was the public’s turn to celebrate the region’s newest transit network.
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On Saturday morning, access was free on the Réseau express métrpolitain and all five of its stations between Brossard and Montreal as part of an open house scheduled between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on both weekend days.
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The enthusiasm far surpassed the expectations of REM officials. As of noon, more than 20,000 people had crammed onto the trains, said REM spokesperson Jean-Vincent Lacroix. That’s a huge volume of passengers, considering the system is designed for a capacity of 30,000 people over a 20-hour period.
“It’s an amazing success, but we can’t get more people on board right now,” Lacroix said. “We’re at capacity.”
The lineup on Saturday began an hour before the open house began.
Among the first to arrive was Deux-Montagnes resident Lloyd Léger, who was at Central Station at 8 a.m., an hour before the gates opened to allow the first passengers on board.
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“It’s historic,” Léger said. “It’s exciting because it’s been more than 50 years since we inaugurated a new transit system.”
Léger said he’s excited for the REM to begin service in his city, currently expected by the end of next year.
“It will give us reliability and we won’t have to be stuck in traffic,” he said.
By noon, the lineup of people weaved throughout the waiting room at Central Station, known as the Salle des pas perdus, into the hallway, and almost to the door leading to De La Gauchetière St.
Security guards asked those in line if they were waiting to get back to their initial destinations. Those hoping to board the REM for the first time were asked to stay off the trains and return on Sunday. Outside Central Station at the Esplanade Place-Ville-Marie, there was a celebration of the REM’s construction, with gifts for children in the form of cardboard model REM trains, a photo booth, popsicles and other activities.
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People look out the window of an REM train in the Griffintown area of Montreal as it heads toward the South Shore on Saturday July, 29, 2023. The Réseau express métropolitain (REM), an automated light rail system, held an open house ahead of the official start of the transit service on July 31. The free rides were also available on June 30. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette
Ivana Radic and Csoban Somodi look out the window of an REM train in Montreal on Saturday July, 29, 2023, with their children Ariane Somodi-Radic and Damian Somodi-Radic. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette
People look out the window of an REM train on the Ssouth Shore of Montreal on Saturday July, 29, 2023. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette
Éric and his father, André, look out from an REM train as it approaches Central Station in Montreal from the South Shore on Saturday July, 29, 2023. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette
Sisters of the Compassionnistes Servites de Marie, from the right, sister Paola Vengaroth, sister Geraldine Jumawid and sister Vineetha Puthenparambilan wait in line for an REM train at Central Station in Montreal on Saturday July, 29, 2023. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette
Marie-Pier Lessard holds her son James as they look out the window of an REM train on the South Shore near Montreal on Saturday July, 29, 2023. Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette
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Those lucky enough to get on board remarked about the smoothness of the ride and the impressive views. The extreme front or the rear of the cars were where the crowds gathered most to take in the best views the train had to offer.
“It’s breathtaking,” said Thomas Gauvin, a Shaughnessy Village resident, as the train was crossing the bridge. “You get such a wonderful view and it’s so comfortable. I can’t believe we built this. It puts Montreal on the map in terms of best transit systems in North America and around the world.”
Gauvin said he’ll likely use the train to visit his parents in the West Island when the other branches come online. Until then, he looks forward to using it to get to Brossard.
In Brossard’s Panama Station, there was less of a lineup, and Alain Norris was one of the first to take it to get to work as an on-board agent for VIA Rail.
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“I’m very excited because I work at Central Station, so I’ll be right there when I get out,” said Norris, a Candiac resident, adding he is dismayed at the steep reserved parking fees at $10 per day. Norris said he has no choice but to drive to the stations because he works outside of the peak hours for buses.
Others were also trying out the REM to see if it would improve their daily commute.
“It’s exciting to discover this with my kid; he’s a fan of trains, so it’s good to be here with him,” said St-Hilaire resident Marie-Eve Labrecque, who was waiting in line at the Brossard station with her husband, Vincent Thérien, her daughter Clara and son Charles. “It’s more convenient because of the hours.”
Therien said he and his wife will likely try the REM a few times before deciding whether it makes sense for their commutes, as they have to be in Montreal two or three times a week. The REM’s schedule is more convenient than the Exo commuter train closest to their house, but there is no bus to get to the REM, so they have to drive about 25 minutes to access the Brossard station.
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Therien said he was excited to board the train on Saturday.
“I was telling the kids we’re making history today,” he said. “It’s like the opening of the métro back in the ’60s. We feel like we’re part of something important in Montreal.”
Lacroix said REM employees were also pleased with the enthusiasm of the general public.
“It’s a pretty amazing moment,” he said. “We can see the excitement in the eyes of the people. It’s been a great journey, at times it was difficult, but we are doing all that for this kind of reaction.”
The event also attracted out-of-towners as two Ottawa transit enthusiasts made the trip to Montreal to ride the REM.
“We’re used to problems with these kind of trains, but these are very smooth, way quieter than what we’re used to,” said Ottawa resident Andrew Moffat.
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Moffat said the system seems to be better built than that in Ottawa, where the Confederation Line has been plagued with breakdowns since it launched in 2019. That city’s newest LRT line was still out of service after breaking down on July 17, and wasn’t expected to resume service until at least Aug. 10.
“Seeing in the future how reliable it will be I think will be key to the REM’s success,” said his friend Karl Kurniawan.
The REM will be free again on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A tip for those wanting to beat the crowds: Brossard and Central Station are the busiest spots, so it’s easiest to board at Panama, Du Quartier or Île-des-Soeurs stations.
The REM officially begins taking its first paying customers when the trains begin service on Monday at 5:30 a.m.
jmagder@postmedia.com
twitter.com/jasonmagder
The REM: What you need to know about the new era in Montreal transit
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