[felix123]

Conceived? Premier Lesage announced the northern section from Central to Deux Montagnes back in the early 1960s. And they were talking about the (earlier opening) southern section from Union to the south shore about a quarter-century ago.

Yeah and the idea behind the downtown relief line dates back to like 1910, but I wouldn't say that the Ontario line was conceived until the DoFo announcement in 2019, because that's when the actual project became more than just a hope and a dream.

But my point is still the same. What matters at the end of the day is what gets done.

And while we're here, i just don't get the hate for the REM. I mean, shouldn't we be happy that a Canadian city got some rapid transit built? I get that it isn't a perfect system, but I also can't wrap my head around bringing a project down just because it didn't happen in Toronto.

 

[nfitz]

Yeah and the idea behind the downtown relief line dates back to like 1910, but I wouldn't say that the Ontario line was conceived until the DoFo announcement in 2019, because that's when the actual project became more than just a hope and a dream.

How does Ford's announcement in 2019 differ from big press conference and announcement in the early 1960s with Drapeau (was Lesage there as well?) talking about this project opening by - I think it was 1967?

While Toronto has a completion problem these days (or at least for projects contracted under the previous Liberal government), Montreal and the province of Quebec have a long history of vapourwear announcements about projects that never got built. They've been regularly announcing the Line 5 extension to (interchangeably to Anjou or Montreal-Nord) for about 50 years now!

 

[felix123]

How does Ford's announcement in 2019 differ from big press conference and announcement in the early 1960s with Drapeau (was Lesage there as well?) talking about this project opening by - I think it was 1967?

While Toronto has a completion problem these days (or at least for projects contracted under the previous Liberal government), Montreal and the province of Quebec have a long history of vapourwear announcements about projects that never got built. They've been regularly announcing the Line 5 extension to (interchangeably to Anjou or Montreal-Nord) for about 50 years now!

I think I agree with you somewhat here in that the start date that matters is when shovels are in the ground, not when a political announcement is made. That's why I think Line 5 Eglinton was a good comparison.

But it's mostly semantics, because all that matters is that the REM got built. That's cause for celebration. My hope is that despite ML's incompetence, we at least get Line 5/6 open this year. And that will equally be cause for celebration. See, we can cheer on more than one city!

 

[nfitz]

But it's mostly semantics, because all that matters is that the REM got built. That's cause for celebration. My hope is that despite ML's incompetence, we at least get Line 5/6 open this year. And that will equally be cause for celebration. See, we can cheer on more than one city!

We can. And the Ontario Line, even though they seem to be moving like lightening now, is only a modification to the 1960s TTC plan - which morphed out of the 1946 referendum approving the 1944 plan. (before they decided in the 1950s to build Danforth first). In the late 1940s they even built part of the required station/platforms at Queen where it intersects with the Yonge subway (Line 1).

The REM is certainly a signifcant upgrade for Montreal - though I do fear though that Montreal is still not moving very fast, with (as far as I know), only Blue Line extension to Anjou now under construction (which was announced in the early 1980s). Meanwhile as slow at GTA construction is, after Line 5 (Phase 1) and Line 6 there's another 11 major $billion+ projects under construction for subway/LRT lines and RER-like train service in Toronto (well, perhaps the Line 1 extension to Richmond Hill and the Hamilton LRT aren't really under major construction yet ...). And 3 more major high-frequency projects after that (Line 5 phase 3, Line 4 east extension, and the RER-like service on Milton GO) + more BRT. Along with the dozens of projects in the RTP.

I just don't see what Montreal has started construction on after the REM and Blue Line extension. And is there much in the actual pipeline other than the 3-station Orange Line extension to Bois Franc for Montreal - that was announced in the 1970s?

 

[Kyle Campbell]

I just don't see what Montreal has started construction on after the REM and Blue Line extension. And is there much in the actual pipeline other than the 3-station Orange Line extension to Bois Franc for Montreal - that was announced in the 1970s?

The only other major project in the pipeline is Tramway de l'Est, which was discussed earlier in this thread. That one seems likely, as it's the first project under the newly formed MIQ (Mobilité Infra Québec), which sounds modelled on how Metrolinx has evolved into a province wide thing to get projects done

 

[nfitz]

The only other major project in the pipeline is Tramway de l'Est, which was discussed earlier in this thread. That one seems likely, as it's the first project under the newly formed MIQ (Mobilité Infra Québec), which sounds modelled on how Metrolinx has evolved into a province wide thing to get projects done

I wasn't aware there'd been any government committment to build it. Well that's progress.

 

[just east of the creek]

There should definitely be better communication for the closure. You're probably aware but if not, it's for the final testing and commissioning for the next 40ish km of REM track and stations, scheduled to open this fall.

No way the REM is ML-level terrible though, despite its flaws. The REM was conceived after line 5 was already shovels in the ground yet the REM is open now. In Canada, we can count that as a huge win.

So the northern extension opens this fall? Does that include a link to the airport? Both would, should be huge steps forward. Looking forward to this.

Now for a little paint on Sherbrooke, maybe some pavement, dump the on street parking and improve bus and bike lanes. That would be pretty major as well.

 

[felix123]

So the northern extension opens this fall? Does that include a link to the airport? Both would, should be huge steps forward. Looking forward to this.

Now for a little paint on Sherbrooke, maybe some pavement, dump the on street parking and improve bus and bike lanes. That would be pretty major as well.

Yes to the northern and western branches, but unfortunately not the airport branch, which isn't scheduled to open till 2027, mainly because of YUL itself, which is a real mess these days.

 

[Kyle Campbell]

I wasn't aware there'd been any government committment to build it. Well that's progress.

In an interesting development Renée Amilcar will be heading up this new agency, I guess explaining her departure from OC Transpo

Rail Fans Canada (@railfanscanada) on Threads

Radio-Canada is reporting that Renée Amilcar will be heading up the new Mobilité Infra Québec as its first president. We are expecting an announcement this afternoon at 3:30pm. This new organization will be similar to Metrolinx in Ontario but for the whole province of Quebec.

www.threads.com

 

[DSCToronto]

Montreal transit are working up to a strike but the Provincial law compels rush-hour service. See: STM’s website.

Examples:

 

[nfitz]

Montreal transit are working up to a strike but the Provincial law compels rush-hour service. See: STM’s website.

Seems very similar to when I lived there 40 years ago. Though restoring service for F1 weekend is an interesting twist.

This is why strikes there can last weeks to even months. With 8 hours of peak service, there's a lot of hours being done. And the operators get strike pay too - I think it was about 95% of their salary back then, when both were combined.

Meanwhile the agency still runs its more profitable (or less unprofitable) services. But doesn't run services where they lose more money.

 

[DSCToronto]

Seems very similar to when I lived there 40 years ago. Though restoring service for F1 weekend is an interesting twist.

This is why strikes there can last weeks to even months. With 8 hours of peak service, there's a lot of hours being done. And the operators get strike pay too - I think it was about 95% of their salary back then, when both were combined.

Meanwhile the agency still runs its more profitable (or less unprofitable) services. But doesn't run services where they lose more money.

Yes, Quebec has had an essential service law re transit strikes for many years and it can prolong things.

 

[APTA-2048]

I finally got to ride the REM today. I know it has its criticism, and I do tend to agree, but from a passenger experience it was really nice. I got on in Brossard. The station actually reminded me a lot about the UP Express Pearson and Union stations. The view was great going into Montreal. The trains rode very smoothly. And my foamer side likes the soft buzzing sound they make when they slow down. Not many seats, but it wasn’t crowded when I rode it. Managed to take a nice picture of it too near the Brossard Station.

 

[APTA-2048]

Air was bad in Montréal yesterday. The STL has a policy of charging $1 fares the day after bad air quality days to promote environmentally friendly transportation. I’m trying to remember, but was there a similar promotion by any GTA agencies back when we had frequent smog days?

 

[nfitz]

Given that the bad days are forecast at least a day in advance, you'd think they'd be cutting fares (or making it free) the day that bad air is forecast. Not the day after.

I don't recall any similiar TTC issues. But back when it was smog, it was much more frequent than now. I don't recall any bad days last year. And the current is all from fires, not Nanticoke and Lakeshore (and Hearn years ago) coal plants.