Agence métropolitaine de transport
Encyclopedia
The Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT; Metropolitan Transportation Agency) is the umbrella organization
that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transport
ation services across Canada
's Greater Montreal Region, including the Island of Montreal
, Laval
(Île Jésus
), and communities along both the North Shore
of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and the South Shore
of the St. Lawrence River. It was created in 1996, replacing the STCUM's commuter rail
service. The AMT operates Montreal's commuter rail and express bus services.
AMT's territory spans 63 municipalities and one native reserve, 13 regional county municipalities, and 21 transit authorities. It serves a population of approximately 3.7 million people who make more than 750,000 trips daily in the 4258.97 km2 area radiating from the City of Montreal.
AMT's mandate includes the management of reserved (HOV
) lanes, metropolitan terminuses, park-and-ride lots, and a budget of $163 million, which is shared amongst the transit corporations and inter-municipal public transit organizations. Apart from these essential services, AMT is also responsible for Montreal's commuter rail service, which links the downtown core with communities as far west as Hudson
, as far east as Mont-Saint-Hilaire
, and as far north as Saint-Jérôme
.
trains, used on the Deux-Montagnes Line, and diesel-electric push-pull train
s, used on all the others. The Deux-Montagnes line was electrified
because of the 4.8 km (3 mi) long poorly ventilated tunnel
to Central Station. Diesel trains through the tunnel were at one time restricted and are now prohibited. The AMT's Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Via Rail
and Amtrak
trains all back into Central Station.
The AMT commuter trains operate on tracks owned by Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and Quebec Gatineau Railway
. The Deux-Montagnes and Mont-Saint-Hilaire lines run on CN trackage and operate out of Central Station, while the Dorion–Rigaud, Blainville–Saint-Jérôme, and Delson–Candiac lines run on CP trackage and operate out of Lucien L'Allier
terminus, beside the historic Windsor Station
. The Blainville–Saint-Jérôme line also runs on Quebec Gatineau Railway trackage and on the AMT's own trackage between Sainte-Thérèse
and Saint-Jérôme
.
The train lines are integrated with the bus and metro
network maintained by the Société de transport de Montréal
(STM), or Montreal Transit Corporation.
The greater Montreal area is divided into 8 fare zones. Starting from downtown Montreal, they stretch outwards in all directions. The first three zones are within the cities of Montreal, Laval
and Longueuil
only. Zones 4 to 8 are circular around the centre of Montreal. This standardized fare zone means a user generally pays the same amount whether they travel by bus
or by train
. The commuter train fare system is based on the assumption that the user is travelling to or from downtown. It is the same price, for example, to travel within zone 3 or from zone 3 to zone 2 as opposed to travel from zone 3 to zone 1.
To use the train, passengers must have a validated TRAM ticket (Zone 1 to 3) or a TRAIN ticket (Zone 4 to 6). The difference between the tickets is that a TRAM ticket provides access to the Montreal Metro
or STM
buses without any additional payment. Regular users can get a TRAM Monthly Pass which allows for unlimited travel on any type of service within the zone indicated on the front of the card or a TRAIN monthly pass which is valid on the trains only. Tickets and passes for commuter trains are valid for any line, as long as travel is limited to the zone for which the ticket is purchased and is used within 120 minutes. Local bus tickets and passes are not valid on commuter trains. Fare inspectors sometimes check tickets, but there are no ticket barriers.
Following the introduction of the OPUS, smart card system tickets and passes are now sold by automated vending machines at each station. The machines accept cash, credit and debit cards. Purchases of more than $80 must be paid by cards. Tickets and passes are also sold at a few stores near the suburban stations. Consult the full list on the AMT's website. Passes are valid for a calendar month, and are normally on sale from the 20th of the previous month to the 5th of their month of validity. Passengers can also subscribe to La TRAM Postale which automatically debits the passenger's bank account
or credit card
and the sends the monthly pass by mail
.
The 80 Hawker-Siddeley cars are in operation on all lines except the Deux-Montagnes line. There are two types of cars; the 100 (1000) series and the 200 (1200) series. The only difference is the 200 and 1200 series has high doors for use at Central Station and are only used on the Saint-Hilaire Line
The 24 Bombardier single-level cars are in operation exclusively on the Dorion–Rigaud line Line. These are the 700 series.
The 9 Canadian Vickers gallery cars were rebuilt from June 2005 to December 2006. They were returned to the Blainville–Saint-Jérôme Line with the introduction of service to Saint-Jérôme
. They are the 900 series.
The 58 Bombardier electrics are exclusively used on the Deux-Montagnes line These are numbered in the 400s, and operate in married pairs (as only one car in each pair has motors
).
The 22 new Bombardier bilevels are in operation on the Dorion–Rigaud line and Blainville line. Although originally planned to be part of the revitalization project for the Dorion–Rigaud line, a set was put on the Blainville line while older double-deckers from the 1970s are being rebuilt. These are numbered in the 2000s.
On December 18, 2007, the AMT announced it had awarded Bombardier a $386 million contract to build 160 multi-level commuter cars. These cars will be based on the multilevel series of NJ Transit, as opposed to the recent purchase of GO-style bilevel cars, and will be able to enter the Mount Royal Tunnel. NJ Transit has a similar technical requirement; Bombardier designed the cars to enter the North River Tunnels between NJ and NYC. They will be numbered in the 3000s.
Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) had long operated commuter trains in the Montreal area, but by the 1980s, their services had dwindled to one route each. The Société de transport de la communauté urbaine de Montréal
(STCUM), or Montreal Urban Community Transportation Corporation (MUCTC), which already managed metro
and bus services across the Island of Montreal
, assumed management of CN's Deux-Montagnes commuter service and CP's Rigaud service in 1982 as the two railways began scaling back their services.
In 1997, management and financing of both lines was transferred to the newly-created AMT, which had been established to distribute funding and coordinate transportation planning among the numerous transit operators throughout the Greater Montreal Region. Later that year, the AMT inaugurated service between Blainville station
and the Parc/Jean Talon train station
in Montreal's Park Extension
district, connecting to the metro at Parc
. Originally, the service was designed to provide a temporary alternative for motorists from Laval
and the North Shore of Montreal, while the Highway 117
Dufresne Bridge was being repaired. The service proved to be so popular that the AMT continued to fund it, and even extended a number of trains to the Lucien-L'Allier
station downtown in 1999, and continues to provide off-peak daytime weekday service on this line. The service was extended further north to Saint-Jérôme
in 2007.
In 2000, AMT inaugurated its service to McMasterville
(which runs along a CN line), and later extended it to Mont-Saint-Hilaire
in 2002.
In 2001, the AMT initiated a pilot project, launching service on a fifth line (using CP tracks) to Delson
. This was later extended to Candiac
in 2005. More information about the history of each line can be found in their respective articles.
The AMT runs one Trainbus.
On July 1, 2010, service to Rigaud was discontinued, due to Rigaud's reluctance to pay annual fees; the rail line will end at Hudson
.
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
ation services across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's Greater Montreal Region, including the Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
, Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
(Île Jésus
Île Jésus
Île Jésus is an island in southwestern Quebec, separated from the mainland to the north by the Rivière des Mille Îles, and from the Island of Montreal to the south by the Rivière des Prairies....
), and communities along both the North Shore
North Shore (Laval)
The North Shore is the general term for the northern suburbs of Montreal. The North Shore is located in southwestern Quebec on the northern shores of the Rivière des Prairies and the Rivière des Mille Îles, opposite the Island of Montreal and the Island of Laval. It consists of twenty...
of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and the South Shore
South Shore (Montreal)
The South Shore is the general term for the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec located on the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River opposite the Island of Montreal. The South Shore is located within the Quebec administrative region of Montérégie....
of the St. Lawrence River. It was created in 1996, replacing the STCUM's commuter rail
Commuter rail in North America
Commuter rail services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico provide common carrier passenger transportation along railway tracks, with scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis primarily for short-distance travel between a central business district and adjacent suburbs and...
service. The AMT operates Montreal's commuter rail and express bus services.
AMT's territory spans 63 municipalities and one native reserve, 13 regional county municipalities, and 21 transit authorities. It serves a population of approximately 3.7 million people who make more than 750,000 trips daily in the 4258.97 km2 area radiating from the City of Montreal.
AMT's mandate includes the management of reserved (HOV
HOV
HOV may refer to:* High-occupancy vehicle lane* Ørsta-Volda Airport, Hovden in Hovden, Norway* Hovig* A small street gang located in Naperville* see Hov...
) lanes, metropolitan terminuses, park-and-ride lots, and a budget of $163 million, which is shared amongst the transit corporations and inter-municipal public transit organizations. Apart from these essential services, AMT is also responsible for Montreal's commuter rail service, which links the downtown core with communities as far west as Hudson
Hudson, Quebec
Hudson, Quebec, Canada, is a town with a population of 5,088 on the south-west bank of the lower Ottawa River, in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality. Situated about west of downtown Montreal, many residents commute to work on the Island of Montreal.- Location and...
, as far east as Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
Mont-Saint-Hilaire is an off-island suburb of Montréal in southeastern Québec, Canada on the Richelieu River in the Regional County Municipality of La Vallée-du-Richelieu...
, and as far north as Saint-Jérôme
Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
Saint-Jérôme is a town in Quebec, Canada, near Mirabel, about northwest of Montreal along Autoroute des Laurentides. The town is a gateway to the Laurentian Mountains and its resorts....
.
Commuter rail
The AMT's commuter trains (trains de banlieue) are its highest-profile division. It has two types of trains: electric multiple unit (EMU)Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
trains, used on the Deux-Montagnes Line, and diesel-electric push-pull train
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
s, used on all the others. The Deux-Montagnes line was electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
because of the 4.8 km (3 mi) long poorly ventilated tunnel
Mount Royal Tunnel
The Mount Royal Tunnel is a railway tunnel located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It connects the city's Gare Centrale/Central Station, located downtown, with the north side of the Island of Montreal and Laval, passing through Mount Royal. Since 1995, the only trains using the tunnel are commuter...
to Central Station. Diesel trains through the tunnel were at one time restricted and are now prohibited. The AMT's Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
trains all back into Central Station.
The AMT commuter trains operate on tracks owned by Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and Quebec Gatineau Railway
Chemins de Fer Québec-Gatineau
Les Chemins de fer Québec-Gatineau , in English the Quebec Gatineau Railway is a shortline railway operating the long ex-Canadian Pacific Railway line between Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Lachute and Gatineau, formerly Hull...
. The Deux-Montagnes and Mont-Saint-Hilaire lines run on CN trackage and operate out of Central Station, while the Dorion–Rigaud, Blainville–Saint-Jérôme, and Delson–Candiac lines run on CP trackage and operate out of Lucien L'Allier
Lucien-L'Allier (AMT)
Lucien-L'Allier is the commuter rail terminal for the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson, Blainville-Saint-Jerome, and Candiac lines in the Greater Montreal area in Quebec, Canada. Lucien-L'Allier is in Fare Zone 1. It is one of the two downtown terminals for Montreal commuter trains, the other being Gare...
terminus, beside the historic Windsor Station
Windsor Station (Montreal)
Windsor Station is a former train station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, formerly serving as the city's Canadian Pacific Railway Station.Windsor Station was the Canadian Pacific Railway's headquarters built between 1887 and 1889. The Romanesque Revival building was designed by New York architect...
. The Blainville–Saint-Jérôme line also runs on Quebec Gatineau Railway trackage and on the AMT's own trackage between Sainte-Thérèse
Sainte-Thérèse (AMT)
Sainte-Thérèse is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada. In addition to loading areas for buses of the CIT Laurentides, the station includes a train platform which is used by commuter trains of the Blainville-Saint-Jerome Line of the Agence métropolitaine...
and Saint-Jérôme
Saint-Jérôme (AMT)
Saint-Jérôme is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada.It serves bus routes operated by the CIT Laurentides, a suburban transit agency, and by two intercity bus companies. In addition to loading areas for buses, it includes a train platform which is used by the...
.
The train lines are integrated with the bus and metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
network maintained by the Société de transport de Montréal
Société de transport de Montréal
The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
(STM), or Montreal Transit Corporation.
List of commuter train lines
Fares
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
and Longueuil
Longueuil
Longueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census totaled 229,330, making it the third largest city in...
only. Zones 4 to 8 are circular around the centre of Montreal. This standardized fare zone means a user generally pays the same amount whether they travel by bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
or by train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
. The commuter train fare system is based on the assumption that the user is travelling to or from downtown. It is the same price, for example, to travel within zone 3 or from zone 3 to zone 2 as opposed to travel from zone 3 to zone 1.
To use the train, passengers must have a validated TRAM ticket (Zone 1 to 3) or a TRAIN ticket (Zone 4 to 6). The difference between the tickets is that a TRAM ticket provides access to the Montreal Metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
or STM
Société de transport de Montréal
The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
buses without any additional payment. Regular users can get a TRAM Monthly Pass which allows for unlimited travel on any type of service within the zone indicated on the front of the card or a TRAIN monthly pass which is valid on the trains only. Tickets and passes for commuter trains are valid for any line, as long as travel is limited to the zone for which the ticket is purchased and is used within 120 minutes. Local bus tickets and passes are not valid on commuter trains. Fare inspectors sometimes check tickets, but there are no ticket barriers.
Following the introduction of the OPUS, smart card system tickets and passes are now sold by automated vending machines at each station. The machines accept cash, credit and debit cards. Purchases of more than $80 must be paid by cards. Tickets and passes are also sold at a few stores near the suburban stations. Consult the full list on the AMT's website. Passes are valid for a calendar month, and are normally on sale from the 20th of the previous month to the 5th of their month of validity. Passengers can also subscribe to La TRAM Postale which automatically debits the passenger's bank account
Bank account
A Bank account is a financial account recording the financial transactions between the customer and the bank and the resulting financial position of the customer with the bank .-Account types:...
or credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
and the sends the monthly pass by mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
.
Locomotives and passenger vehicles
The AMT has a variety of rolling stock ranging in date from the 1960s to 2005, originally acquiring rolling stock directly from the railways. There are total of 367 cars and locomotives in the fleet.Locomotives
- 4 General Motors GP9RMEMD GP9An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
locomotives (1310–1313). 1800 hp. Built in 1959. Rebuilt in 1993 by GEC Alstom. - 11 General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
F59PHI locomotives (1320–1330). 3000 hp. Built between 2000 and 2001. - 8 General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
F40PHEMD F40PH-Amtrak NPCU Conversions:In later years, as Amtrak's F40PH fleet was being replaced by the newer GE Genesis-series locomotives, Amtrak converted a number of the retired units—generally ones with major mechanical problems limiting their value in the resale or lease marketplace—into "Non-Power...
locomotives (various numbers). 3000 hp. 6 former Amtrak units on lease from TITAN Transit, Inc., and 2 on lease from New Jersey TransitNew Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
. ex-VRE F40PH-2 #V-30 (sold to VRE from GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
) acquired by AMT as AMT 310. - 5 General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
GP40FH-2 locomotives. Built between 1965 and 1968. All on lease from New Jersey TransitNew Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
. - 20 (on order) dual mode (diesel and electric) ALP-45DPALP-45DPThe ALP-45DP is a dual-mode locomotive currently being built by Bombardier Transportation. It was unveiled to the public on September 21, 2010 at Innotrans 2010.-New Jersey Transit:...
locomotives from Bombardier. First unit was delivered on 9 June 2011, with subsequent deliveries expected at the rate of one per month.
Passenger cars
- 80 single-level coaches (originally from GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
); Built between 1967 and 1976 by Hawker-Siddeley Canada - 24 single-level coaches; Built in 1989 by Bombardier TransportationBombardier TransportationBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
(similar to NJ Transit'sNew Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
Comet II and Metro-North'sMetro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
Shoreliner I fleet) - 9 bilevel coaches (gallery design); Built in 1969 by Canadian Vickers
- 22 bilevel coachesBombardier BiLevel CoachBombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:...
; Built in 2004 by Bombardier TransportationBombardier TransportationBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.... - 58 single-level electric multiple unitMultiple unitThe term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
(MR-90MR-90The MR-90 is a class of single-level Electric Multiple Unit built in 1994-1995 by Bombardier Transportation for the Société de Transport de la Communauté Urbaine de Montreal and now operated by the Agence Metropolitaine de Transport...
design); Built in 1994–1995 by Bombardier TransportationBombardier TransportationBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
. - 160 (delivery in progress through 2011) bilevel coachesBombardier MultiLevel CoachThe Bombardier MultiLevel Coach is a bi-level passenger rail car manufactured by Bombardier for use on commuter rail lines. It started service in 2006 and is still being produced as of 2010.-Overview:...
; to be built in 2008–2009 by Bombardier Transportation (similar to NJ Transit's multilevel fleet)
The 80 Hawker-Siddeley cars are in operation on all lines except the Deux-Montagnes line. There are two types of cars; the 100 (1000) series and the 200 (1200) series. The only difference is the 200 and 1200 series has high doors for use at Central Station and are only used on the Saint-Hilaire Line
The 24 Bombardier single-level cars are in operation exclusively on the Dorion–Rigaud line Line. These are the 700 series.
The 9 Canadian Vickers gallery cars were rebuilt from June 2005 to December 2006. They were returned to the Blainville–Saint-Jérôme Line with the introduction of service to Saint-Jérôme
Saint-Jérôme (AMT)
Saint-Jérôme is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada.It serves bus routes operated by the CIT Laurentides, a suburban transit agency, and by two intercity bus companies. In addition to loading areas for buses, it includes a train platform which is used by the...
. They are the 900 series.
The 58 Bombardier electrics are exclusively used on the Deux-Montagnes line These are numbered in the 400s, and operate in married pairs (as only one car in each pair has motors
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
).
The 22 new Bombardier bilevels are in operation on the Dorion–Rigaud line and Blainville line. Although originally planned to be part of the revitalization project for the Dorion–Rigaud line, a set was put on the Blainville line while older double-deckers from the 1970s are being rebuilt. These are numbered in the 2000s.
On December 18, 2007, the AMT announced it had awarded Bombardier a $386 million contract to build 160 multi-level commuter cars. These cars will be based on the multilevel series of NJ Transit, as opposed to the recent purchase of GO-style bilevel cars, and will be able to enter the Mount Royal Tunnel. NJ Transit has a similar technical requirement; Bombardier designed the cars to enter the North River Tunnels between NJ and NYC. They will be numbered in the 3000s.
History
Société de transport de Montréal
The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
(STCUM), or Montreal Urban Community Transportation Corporation (MUCTC), which already managed metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
and bus services across the Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
, assumed management of CN's Deux-Montagnes commuter service and CP's Rigaud service in 1982 as the two railways began scaling back their services.
In 1997, management and financing of both lines was transferred to the newly-created AMT, which had been established to distribute funding and coordinate transportation planning among the numerous transit operators throughout the Greater Montreal Region. Later that year, the AMT inaugurated service between Blainville station
Blainville (AMT)
Blainville is a commuter train station in Blainville, Quebec, Canada. The station includes a train platform which is used by commuter trains of the Blainville-Saint-Jerome Line of the Agence métropolitaine de transport , the umbrella organization that plans, integrates, and coordinates public...
and the Parc/Jean Talon train station
Parc (AMT)
Parc is an Agence métropolitaine de transport commuter rail station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.It is served by commuter trains of the AMT and is part of the Blainville-Saint-Jérôme Line....
in Montreal's Park Extension
Park Extension
Park Extension is a neighbourhood in the city of Montreal, Quebec. It is located in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and has a population of 35,000 and an area of 1.6 km². The name derives from the fact that it is situated at the north end of Park Avenue and is literally an...
district, connecting to the metro at Parc
Parc (Montreal Metro)
Parc is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Park Extension district of the Villeray–Saint Michel–Park Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
. Originally, the service was designed to provide a temporary alternative for motorists from Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
and the North Shore of Montreal, while the Highway 117
Quebec route 117
Route 117 is a provincial highway within the Canadian province of Quebec, running between Montreal and the Quebec/Ontario border where it continues as Highway 66 east of Kearns, Ontario...
Dufresne Bridge was being repaired. The service proved to be so popular that the AMT continued to fund it, and even extended a number of trains to the Lucien-L'Allier
Lucien-L'Allier (AMT)
Lucien-L'Allier is the commuter rail terminal for the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson, Blainville-Saint-Jerome, and Candiac lines in the Greater Montreal area in Quebec, Canada. Lucien-L'Allier is in Fare Zone 1. It is one of the two downtown terminals for Montreal commuter trains, the other being Gare...
station downtown in 1999, and continues to provide off-peak daytime weekday service on this line. The service was extended further north to Saint-Jérôme
Saint-Jérôme (AMT)
Saint-Jérôme is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada.It serves bus routes operated by the CIT Laurentides, a suburban transit agency, and by two intercity bus companies. In addition to loading areas for buses, it includes a train platform which is used by the...
in 2007.
In 2000, AMT inaugurated its service to McMasterville
McMasterville (AMT)
McMasterville Station is a railway station located in McMasterville, Quebec, Canada. It is served by commuter trains from the Agence métropolitaine de transport. It is part of the Mont-Saint-Hilaire Line.-External links:*...
(which runs along a CN line), and later extended it to Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Mont-Saint-Hilaire (AMT)
Mont-Saint-Hilaire Station is a railway station located in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. It is served by commuter trains from the Agence métropolitaine de transport. It is the final stop on the Mont-Saint-Hilaire Line. It is also the eastern terminal of the AMT.-External links:*...
in 2002.
In 2001, the AMT initiated a pilot project, launching service on a fifth line (using CP tracks) to Delson
Delson (AMT)
Delson is a commuter rail station in the city of Delson, Quebec. It is situated on the AMT's Delson-Candiac Line.-External links:*...
. This was later extended to Candiac
Candiac (AMT)
Candiac is a commuter rail station in the city of Candiac, Quebec. It is the terminating station on the AMT's Delson-Candiac Line.-External links:*...
in 2005. More information about the history of each line can be found in their respective articles.
Buses
The AMT runs one Metropolitan Express Bus.- Express Chevrier 90, also called Express Terminus Centre-Ville 90 — operated by the RTLRéseau de transport de LongueuilRéseau de transport de Longueuil is a public transit carrier in the city of Longueuil, Quebec, Canada and nearby communities on the South Shore of Montreal...
in LongueuilLongueuil, QuebecLongueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census totaled 229,330, making it the third largest city in...
and links the Chevrier Park-n-RideChevrier Park-n-Ride (AMT)Chevrier Park-n-Ride is an AMT bus terminal with an incentive parking lot located in Brossard, Quebec, Canada.It is served by buses of the Réseau de transport de Longueuil and is located at 4700 rue Lapinière in the C section of Brossard at the crossing of rue Lapinière and the CN railway tracks...
in BrossardBrossardBrossard is a suburban area, located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, opposite the island and city of Montreal.Brossard is subdivided into many smaller sections. These sections are characterized by having street names that all begin with the same letter of the alphabet...
to the Downtown TerminusTerminus Centre-Ville (AMT)Terminus Centre-Ville is a bus terminus located within 1000 de La Gauchetière, Montreal. It is multimodal with the Bonaventure metro station on the Orange Line, the Central Station, the Lucien-L'Allier train station as well as the Lucien-L'Allier metro station...
.
The AMT runs one Trainbus.
- Trainbus 935, also called Trainbus Blainville/Centre-ville 935- operated by the STMSociété de transport de MontréalThe Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
in MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and links Parc Metro StationParc (Montreal Metro)Parc is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Park Extension district of the Villeray–Saint Michel–Park Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
to Lucien-L'Allier AMT StationLucien-L'Allier (AMT)Lucien-L'Allier is the commuter rail terminal for the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson, Blainville-Saint-Jerome, and Candiac lines in the Greater Montreal area in Quebec, Canada. Lucien-L'Allier is in Fare Zone 1. It is one of the two downtown terminals for Montreal commuter trains, the other being Gare...
.
Ridership
The AMT carries about 72,400 passengers on a typical weekday — 66,300 on the trains and 6,100 by bus.| Number of Passenger Trips (2010) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rail lines | |||
| Deux-Montagnes Line | 7,347,200 | ||
| Vaudreuil-Hudson Line | 3,421,700 | ||
| Blainville–Saint-Jérôme Line | 2,196,000 | ||
| Mont-Saint-Hilaire Line | 1,833,900 | ||
| Delson–Candiac Line | 672,900 | ||
| Subtotal — Rail lines | 15,471,700 | ||
| Bus routes | |||
| AMT Express Bus Service | 1,404,600 | ||
| Total — AMT System | 16,876,300 | ||
General
The AMT's future projects include:- The AMT is currently developing a commuter train line to connect eastern Montreal as well as the North Eastern suburbs to downtown Montreal. The Repentigny-Mascouche LineRepentigny-Mascouche Line (AMT)The Repentigny-Mascouche Line. is a commuter rail line, proposed to be operated in the Greater Montreal Quebec, Canada area, by the Agence métropolitaine de transport, or AMT , the umbrella organization that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transportation services across this...
, is set to begin service in late 2012. - Studying the return of light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
service to Montreal. One light rail route would follow René-Lévesque Boulevard from Gare CentraleGare Centrale (Montreal)Central Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 18 million rail passengers use the station every year....
, then north along Bleury Street and Park Avenue to meet up with the Parc StationParc (Montreal Metro)Parc is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Park Extension district of the Villeray–Saint Michel–Park Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
. Another route would go from Gare Centrale, along the Autoroute 10Quebec Autoroute 10Autoroute 10 is an Autoroute in southern Quebec, Canada...
corridor, to Chevrier Park-n-RideChevrier Park-n-Ride (AMT)Chevrier Park-n-Ride is an AMT bus terminal with an incentive parking lot located in Brossard, Quebec, Canada.It is served by buses of the Réseau de transport de Longueuil and is located at 4700 rue Lapinière in the C section of Brossard at the crossing of rue Lapinière and the CN railway tracks...
in BrossardBrossardBrossard is a suburban area, located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, opposite the island and city of Montreal.Brossard is subdivided into many smaller sections. These sections are characterized by having street names that all begin with the same letter of the alphabet...
, which is identical to the current Route 90 RTL express bus. In addition light rail is being studied as part of the ongoing waterfront revitalization plans.
Deux-Montagnes Line
To ease over-crowding on the Deux-Montagnes Line, there are plans to:- Extend the double track from its current end point at the Bois-FrancBois-Franc (AMT)Bois-Franc is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area. The Orange Line of the Montreal Metro was to have been extended to de Salaberry Street at the corner of Laurentian Boulevard, but that would have been too far away to have made an...
station to the Roxboro-PierrefondsRoxboro-Pierrefonds (AMT)Roxboro-Pierrefonds is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area. The station is located at the boundary between the former cities of Roxboro and Pierrefonds.- Société de transport de Montréal :...
station in Pierrefonds-RoxboroPierrefonds-RoxboroPierrefonds-Roxboro is a borough of the city of Montreal. It is composed of the former municipalities of Pierrefonds and Roxboro, spanning the northern part of the West Island...
. - Create an overpass for commuter trains to pass CNCanadian National RailwayThe Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
's Saint-Laurent subdivision just south of the MontpellierMontpellier (AMT)Montpellier is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area.-Origin of name:Prior to the modernization of the Deux-Montagnes Line, between 1993 and 1995, the station was called Vertu because of its location on Côte-Vertu Boulevard...
station, where CN operates a freight line with moderate usage. Via RailVIA RailVia Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
also operates trains to Jonquière and SenneterreSenneterre, QuebecSenneterre is a town in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northwestern Quebec, Canada. It is in the Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality. The town's territory includes a vast undeveloped area stretching from the Bell River to the Mauricie region...
. CN says that it will not allow any more commuter trains without a new overpass. - Open two new train stations: one at Autoroute 13Quebec Autoroute 13Autoroute 13 , is a freeway in the urban region of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Its southern end is at the junction of A-20 on the Island of Montreal near Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Its northern terminus is at the junction of A-640 near Boisbriand...
near boulevard Gouin (between Bois-Franc (AMT)Bois-Franc (AMT)Bois-Franc is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area. The Orange Line of the Montreal Metro was to have been extended to de Salaberry Street at the corner of Laurentian Boulevard, but that would have been too far away to have made an...
and SunnybrookeSunnybrooke (AMT)Sunnybrooke is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area.- Société de transport de Montréal :- External links :*...
stations), and another in Saint-EustacheSaint-Eustache, QuebecSaint-Eustache is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in western Quebec, Canada, west of Montreal on the north shore of the Rivière des Mille-Îles....
, just east of the line's current Deux-Montagnes terminus.
Blainville-Saint-Jerome Line
To improve service and attract new users to the popular Blainville-Saint-Jerome Line, there are plans to:- Bring the line into Mount Royal TunnelMount Royal TunnelThe Mount Royal Tunnel is a railway tunnel located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It connects the city's Gare Centrale/Central Station, located downtown, with the north side of the Island of Montreal and Laval, passing through Mount Royal. Since 1995, the only trains using the tunnel are commuter...
, joining the Deux-Montagnes Line. The proposed plan would reduce travel time to Downtown MontrealDowntown MontrealDowntown Montreal is the central business district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is nearly enitirely located at the southern most slope of Mount Royal and is approximately bounded by Sherbrooke Street to the north, Papineau Avenue to the east, Guy Street or until Shaughnessy Village to the west,...
by 15 minutes, arriving directly at Central Station, instead of circling Mount RoyalMount RoyalMount Royal is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the city to which it gave its name.The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentians and the Appalachians...
to arrive at Lucien-L'AllierLucien-L'Allier (AMT)Lucien-L'Allier is the commuter rail terminal for the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson, Blainville-Saint-Jerome, and Candiac lines in the Greater Montreal area in Quebec, Canada. Lucien-L'Allier is in Fare Zone 1. It is one of the two downtown terminals for Montreal commuter trains, the other being Gare...
station, west of Central Station. The AMT plans to purchase hybrid locomotivesElectro-diesel locomotiveAn Electro-diesel locomotive is powered either from an electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine...
, which to be used on the Repentigny-Mascouche LineRepentigny-Mascouche Line (AMT)The Repentigny-Mascouche Line. is a commuter rail line, proposed to be operated in the Greater Montreal Quebec, Canada area, by the Agence métropolitaine de transport, or AMT , the umbrella organization that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transportation services across this...
, so that trains may run electrically when in the tunnel while continuing to operate on diesel on the rest of the line. - Double the track between Saint-Martin Junction and Sainte-RoseSainte-Rose (AMT)Sainte-Rose is an commuter train station in Laval, Quebec, Canada on the Blainville-Saint-Jerome Line of the Agence métropolitaine de transport , the umbrella organization that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transportation services in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area...
train stations in Laval, QuebecLaval, QuebecLaval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
, to increase the number of daily trips. In February 2009, the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) announced $20 million dollars of funding to double track between the two stations and to improve signaling infrastructure along the entire route. These improvements will hopefully allow trains to travel more frequently.
Vaudreuil-Hudson Line
To increase service on the Vaudreuil-Hudson Line, there are plans to add dedicated tracks for commuter trains. The current tracks are used by the AMT under the permission from Canadian Pacific.On July 1, 2010, service to Rigaud was discontinued, due to Rigaud's reluctance to pay annual fees; the rail line will end at Hudson
Hudson (AMT)
Hudson is a commuter rail station on the AMT Vaudreuil–Hudson Line in Hudson, Quebec, Canada. It is served by only one round trip train per day....
.