3 commuter train lines in greater Montreal might shut down in cost-savings plan

Thousands of Montreal-area residents may have to bid farewell to their commuter trains, according to a document obtained by Radio-Canada.

The document from the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), the regional transit authority, suggests that cutting Exo train lines could be the "only option" to significantly reduce costs.

An assessment of the commuter train network was conducted in June, as outlined in the ARTM report titled Evaluation of Optimization Measures for Commuter Train Services. Three sources confirmed to Radio-Canada that the possibility of shutting down train lines was discussed at the latest board meeting, though no final decision has been made.

The report, dated August 29, estimates that closing lines entirely could save between $15 and $21 million annually.

The three least-used lines to Montreal — Mascouche, Candiac, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire — are at risk of closure. The ARTM is also considering discontinuing service at certain stations on the Vaudreuil-Hudson and Saint-Jérôme lines.

Passengers on the Candiac line would be rerouted by bus to Brossard, while those on the Mascouche line would be redirected to the Radisson Metro station.

The report cites inflation and changes in commuter behavior since the COVID-19 pandemic as key factors in the need to cut costs. Additionally, the closure of the Deux-Montagnes line, which was the busiest Exo route and is now being replaced by the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), has had a significant impact on the budget.

As of March, Mascouche ridership was at 20% of its 2020 levels, Mont-Saint-Hilaire at 35%, and Candiac at 53%.

‘We are doing our homework’: ARTM
ARTM spokesperson Simon Charbonneau stated in an email Wednesday that the agency is thoroughly evaluating all aspects of public transit services.

"We want to continue developing services across the region, but we have limited financial resources," Charbonneau explained. "We are doing our homework, and all scenarios are being considered."

Charbonneau emphasized that the discussions are still in the preliminary stages and that no decisions have been made yet.

"We are taking a comprehensive approach, and that’s what we’re focusing on," he added, noting that the ARTM is particularly aware of the needs of Montreal’s north and south shores.

The idea of cutting train lines is expected to spark debate in Quebec City, where suburban mayors visited the National Assembly on Wednesday to protest the current state of public transit.

While they were initially pushing for expanded services, they may now have to fight just to maintain the existing ones.

Mont-Saint-Hilaire Mayor Marc-André Guertin called the notion of shutting down train lines, at a time when Quebec should be embracing sustainable transportation, "unbelievable" and criticized the potential savings as minimal.

"Very few cities in the world are closing train lines. In fact, most are looking to expand them," Guertin said. "Adding more buses to traffic without reserved lanes is nonsense."

He also pointed to what he believes is a deeper issue within the ARTM, arguing that municipal interests are underrepresented in the agency’s decision-making process.

"This situation highlights the growing discomfort we have with the ARTM," Guertin said. "Inducing change is an art, and clearly it’s not one the ARTM has mastered."