Réseau express métropolitain (REM)

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What is the REM project?

The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) public transit system, a $8.34 billion dollar project, offers profound and long-lasting benefits for residents of the Greater Montréal area in Québec, Canada. Much thought has gone into designing a system that moves commuters across different modes of transportation and through the city comfortably, efficiently and sustainably. Because of its ability to reshape communities, the REM’s influence stretches far beyond public transit—its potential to connect people and impact how they live is truly transformative.

An electric and fully automated light rail transit system, the REM is the largest public transit endeavor in Québec in half a century. Once finished, the REM will stretch across 67km of double track and 26 universally accessible stations. It will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by an estimated 100,000 tonnes per year and be one of the longest automated light trail transit lines in the world.

The completed REM will integrate with existing bus networks, commuter trains and three lines of the Montréal metro, providing city-wide sustainable travel. Eventually the trains will run 20 hours a day, 7 days a week and carry up to 24,000 passengers per hour per direction. With direct access to 105 bus platforms, +/-9,500 parking spots, +/-1,400 bike racks, and three maintenance and storage facilities plus one control centre for the entire system, it will keep commuters moving smoothly.

'The REM is prime example of rail infrastructure projects that transform the communities it serves. We are proud to be delivering innovative solutions that not only connect regions but also foster sustainable growth and improve quality of life for residents.' Ian L. Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, AtkinsRéalis

Our role

AtkinsRéalis is part of both consortia delivering the REM. Since 2018, we have played a key role in engineering and construction as part of the NouvLR partnership (alongside Dragados, Aecon, Pomerleau and EBC). Through Pulsar, a separate partnership between AtkinsRéalis and Alstom, we are supporting operations and maintenance services for the REM for the next 30 years.

July 2023: Connecting downtown to the South Shore

The first part of the REM, known as the South Shore branch, was commissioned on July 31, 2023. This section connects 5 stations across 17km, from Montréal's Central Station (Gare Centrale) to Brossard. On average, 25,000 to 30,000 commuters use it every day. During the morning rush, a vehicle journey between Brossard and Gare Centrale takes much longer than the 18 minutes REM requires. Aside from offering more efficient and environmentally friendly transit, this scenic part of the network is a postcard to Montréal. Riders glimpse some of the city’s most emblematic places, namely the new Champlain Bridge (also an AtkinsRéalis project), the Farine Five Roses illuminated sign and the Lachine Canal.

November 2025: Connecting downtown to Deux-Montagnes

With the opening of 14 new stations stretching 31km north and west from the downtown Gare Centrale to Deux-Montagnes, the REM is nearing its full potential. By linking places on either side of the Mount Royal Tunnel, the REM connects areas that are far apart. Using ground transportation, it takes 40 minutes to travel between McGill and Édouard-Montpetit, two major university hubs in Montréal. Using the REM, the journey requires barely 3 minutes. For the 25,000 expected daily riders using McGill station, this is a major improvement.

Residents of Bois-Franc and Deux-Montagnes are connected by the REM very efficiently as well. From Bois-Franc to downtown Montréal, the journey time will be 14 minutes. For Deux-Montagnes, about thirty minutes. Trains will pass approximately every 3 minutes and 30 seconds during rush hour in the central section. Places that are 2 hours apart by vehicle can now be reached in 30 minutes—it marks a major change for Montréal and its surrounding municipalities.

Standout accomplishments

The REM has grown from an innovative and ambitious vision to offer the Greater Montréal area a high-level transit service using state-of-the-art solutions into reality. There are many standout parts to this project. While we cannot include them all, here are the highlights:

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The Mount Royal Tunnel: a project within a project

The tunnel under Mount Royal is the backbone of the network. This century-old, 5.8km long tunnel is the key to connecting downtown Montréal with neighbourhoods located north of the mountain and then towards the airport with one, unified system.

Making a 100-year-old tunnel fit for a modern transit system required upgrades that included building a wall the entire length of the tunnel to ensure passenger safety. In some parts of the tunnel, the degradation of the existing structural components meant rebuilding the entire tunnel arch for approximately 100m in the heart of the downtown area, and the rehabilitation of several hundred additional meters. The system has been tested extensively to ensure that the operating teams are fully prepared.

Deepest station in Canada, 2nd-deepest in North America

Sitting 70m below the surface, Édouard-Montpetit station is an impressive accomplishment. Located in the Mount Royal Tunnel, constructing it required working in tight quarters, and drilling and dynamiting through rock without affecting the surrounding neighbours (the metro’s blue line, the Université de Montréal, an important city aqueduct, and an elementary school). When unexploded century-old dynamite, likely from the original construction of the tunnel, was discovered, much of the work had to be done remotely to ensure worker safety, adding another layer of complexity to the project. The completed station has 5 elevators that transport 20 passengers each to the surface in less than 20 seconds, ensuring an efficient exit when the journey ends. This is also one of the REM stations, along with Gare Centrale and McGill, where commuters can make a connection to Montréal’s metro system.

Gare Centrale: Inserting a station through existing conditions

Two metro lines, regional commuter trains and national and international long-distance trains converge at Gare Centrale in Montréal. It’s a busy hub. Within this intricate infrastructure, the REM’s Gare Centrale was integrated without interrupting existing rail services . Construction under those conditions is especially complex, and options are constricted by what is possible and safe within the constraints of the available space. The design respects the station’s previous rail history while being modern and easy to use for commuters. Not a small feat, and one we are proud of.

Fully automated and driverless

The REM is an automated and driverless light rail transit system driven by Alstom’s signaling and train control solutions. The Grade of Automation (GoA) is Level 4, the most complex and advanced automation on the market. Its supervision and control require in-depth knowledge of automatic networks.

100% electric

The REM is a 100% electric network, powered by Québec's renewable energy grid. Trips are environmentally friendly and riders are actively participating in decarbonizing mobility in Québec every time they get onboard.

Platform screen doors: a first in North America

The REM is the first public transit system in North America (except for airport shuttles) to be equipped with platform screen doors. These doors open and close at the same time as the metro doors. It sounds simple, but the benefits are far-reaching. Beyond the obvious safety for users, the doors help minimize objects being dropped on the tracks, one of the leading causes of delays in the Montréal metro. They also allow better management of passenger flow in and out of trains to avoid delayed departures, and the doors minimize heat loss in winter when the train doors open in the station.

Safety first

The REM network puts safety first. Its technologies encompass the most demanding levels of security in the industry, especially when it comes to cybersecurity.

Alstom-supplied trains carry dozens of connected sensors and tools that capture a huge amount of data from railway equipment, power supply and track, and the network is equipped with Alstom's HealthHub technology, a platform for processing this data to improve the efficiency, performance and safety of operations and maintenance activities.

The system is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week from a central control building to ensure everything is running as efficiently and safely as possible.

Signature design that welcomes everyone

The passenger experience has been a guiding principle from the beginning of the project. Thoughtful design choices abound. All stations are universally accessible so everyone can benefit from the REM. We chose interior colours and created comfortable and clean interior environments that identifies every REM station as unmistakably belonging to the network. Utilities are hidden through the clever use of beams, sound absorbent materials create a comfortable auditory environment, and lighting is just the right level to feel bright enough without being sterile. Exterior station designs integrate with existing infrastructure whenever possible so it harmonizes with the landscape. The environment connects people before they ever reach a train. A good example is the park constructed to cover 150m of tracks at Ville-de-Mont-Royal station, which allows pedestrians to cross easily and creates a meeting place and welcome green space.

Fast-track to success

The REM was conceived of and built on a very fast timeline. Design started in 2016; the first ground was broken in 2018. Despite a pandemic and slowdowns to deal with unforeseen issues, the project has been delivered much faster than many other large transit projects. At the height of design, there were 1,000 people working on it, from multiple countries, across multiple languages, producing 700 documents per week, ultimately adding up to over 27,000 documents, not including revisions.

And tomorrow?

In 2027, the completed REM will connect Montréal's South Shore, downtown, the west end of the Île-de-Montréal and the YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. From L'Anse-à-l'Orme it will take 34 minutes to downtown, from the airport, 26 minutes. The network will be in service 20 hours a day, 7 days a week offering quality, modern, efficient, safe and frequent service to users in the Greater Montréal area.

The REM is a game-changing project that will serve several generations. It leaves an unforgettable legacy for everyone who has had the privilege to work on it along the way.

'The REM is a powerful example of the kind of infrastructure and mobility solutions Montrealers, and Canadians, need: transformative, sustainable, and built to last for future generations. At a time where Canada needs it most, we remain committed to shaping engineering solutions that make a real difference for communities—connecting people and driving economic growth.' Stephanie Vaillancourt, President, Canada, AtkinsRéalis.

67 km

total track including 18.2 km of elevated guideway

universally accessible stations connecting to 11 bus terminals

24,000

estimated passengers carried per hour per direction

100,000+ tonnes

GHG reduced annually

storage and maintenance facilities

35,000

estimated vehicles removed from the road

Markets

Transportation
Location

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Client

CDQP Infra
Collaborators

Dragados, Aecon, Pomerleau and EBC under the NouvLR partnership
Completion date

2027

Jonathan Gouin

Special Projects Manager, Canada contact form+1 514 393 8000 x53225

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