MONTREAL — The final phase of preparations for the opening of the Metropolitan Express Network (REM) begins this Wednesday between Montérégie’s Brossard stations and Montreal Central Station.
The prime contractor for this major public infrastructure project, CDPQ Infra, states that this final phase, called dry running, consists of simulating the operation of the future light rail line without passengers. In the next few days, empty REM wagons will run at frequencies similar to those in the future service.
In order to reach this final stage, the teams have achieved various crucial milestones over the past 12 months. This included the full electrification of the 16.6km Rive-Sud branch, the crossing of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge and a third winter in a row of intensive testing.
Depending on how the test drive develops over the next few weeks, CDPQ Infra will confirm the official date of commissioning of the REM between Brossard and Gare Centrale stations.
The REM envisages the development of an overall network of 26 stations covering more than 40 miles connecting downtown Montreal, the South Shore, the West Island, the North Shore and Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport.
The REM cars are expected to operate 20 hours a day, connecting to the three main lines of the Montreal Metro.
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