REM
Construction of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is progressing in Mount Royal. The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is managing this project. Although the Town is not responsible for this project, the Mount Royal Town Council is representing residents’ interests.
REM Highlights
- 1.8 km of open railway runs through TMR.
- Trains coming from Deux-Montagnes, the West Island and the airport as well as a Montréal-East rail connection will converge there before heading toward downtown Montréal.
- Substantial adjustments to the tunnel under Mount Royal are required. It is scheduled to reopen in 2025.
- More than 550 trains will pass through each day, every two minutes during rush hours and every five minutes outside of those periods, 20 hours per day, 7 days per week.
- Scheduled opening: end of 2025.
Station Square : A new public space in the heart of our town
A public space for Townies has now been created in the Town, above the REM railway tracks between the Cornwall and Laird bridges.
In 2020, after an online vote that over 750 residents participated in, the name “Station Square” was selected with 51% of the votes. A public consultation was held in the summer of 2021 to gather residents' opinions on the use of this site. Based on their input, a new development plan is being prepared under the Town Council’s guidance.
Station Square has been welcoming residents since Fall 2024.
Lazard-Jasper Crossing
Because the railway tracks are surrounded by fences for safety reasons, the REM had to remove the Lazard/Jasper crossing.
Pedestrians and cyclists can now cross the train tracks downtown using the rebuilt Cornwall Bridge.
The crosswalks between Montgomery Avenue and Canora Road and between Russell Avenue and Dunkirk Road will remain accessible. However, following the rejection of bids for the replacement of the Russell-Dunkirk footbridge due to prices deemed too high, the Town is developing an alternative solution to address residents’ needs and concerns. Plans are to upgrade the existing structure by rehabilitating it, improving its appearance and making it accessible to a wider range of users. A structural assessment of the bridge was carried out and a call for tenders is being prepared for launch in the coming weeks based on the recommendations made, allowing the constraints imposed by the REM to be met. The work to improve the bridge’s accessibility, such as installing access ramps, is planned for 2024, as this part of the project will not interfere with the operation of the REM trains.
More about the REM
With 67 km of tracks and 27 stations, the ambitious REM electric train project will link various parts of the greater Montréal area, including the Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport, and will connect with the Montréal metro network.
Neighbourhood Committee meetings was organized with citizens from Mount Royal and Montréal’s Glenmount neighborhood as well as representatives from the REM, the Town of Mount Royal and the Ville de Montréal.
