On track for the next commissioning: The next big steps
Project progress
Published on
Dynamic testing is under way, the work in the Mont-Royal Tunnel is going well and the REM teams are continuing their efforts toward the next commissioning, planned for fall 2025. We present below the major upcoming phases, their impact on the network and the milestones that will need to be crossed before any future commissioning of next network.
Background and context:
The Mont-Royal Tunnel is essential infrastructure that connects downtown Montréal to the South Shore, Deux-Montagnes, Anse-a-l’Orme and YUL-Aéroport-Montréal-Trudeau branches.
Two unexpected events in the Mount Royal Tunnel:
- Deterioration of tunnel structure under McGill College Avenue
- Unexpected detonation of century-old explosives
These events caused significant delays in the work on the Mount Royal Tunnel.
A temporary control centre to optimize the schedule
In order to start dynamic testing before completing the tunnel, we built a temporary control center in Saint-Eustache. This allows work in the tunnel to continue at the same time as we start dynamic testing on the Deux-Montagnes and Anse-a-l’Orme branches.
Steps to be taken before the next commissioning
1. Finalization of the installation of the systems and work in the tunnel
The teams will finalize the work in the Mont-Royal Tunnel and the installation of technical equipment in addition to connecting the systems throughout the network.
Timeline: January 2025
Completing this step requires:
- Installing and connecting a variety of equipment and multiple systems across the entire network (e.g. catenaries and telecommunication system).
- Finalizing the work in the Mont-Royal Tunnel.
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Planned service interruptions:
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2. Progressive migration of operations from the temporary control centre in Saint-Eustache to the permanent control centre on the South Shore
During this migration, our operator will migrate the data collected during dynamic testing on the segments currently being tested from the temporary control centre in Saint-Eustache to the South Shore control centre, which operates the segment currently in service.
Timeline: February and March 2025
To conclude this step, the Brossard control centre will need to take over operating the entire network.
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Planned service interruptions:
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3. Network-wide testing
The teams will conduct dynamic testing across the entire network from the Brossard control centre. These tests will increase in speed and frequency until they reach those planned for when the network is in service. Before allowing the public to board, various reliability and safety criteria must be met to ensure safe travel. This is why network closures will be necessary during the various tests.
Timeline: April through the summer
To conclude this step, the network’s performance must meet satisfactory performance targets.
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Planned service interruptions:
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4. Dry run
This is the last step before official commissioning! During the dry run, the teams test the network as if it were in service, at the planned speeds and schedules, with teams deployed in the stations. The network can open once the dry run is concluded and these last tests demonstrate acceptable performance.
Rider support
As noted earlier, the next steps will be complex and will require service interruptions on the South Shore branch during 2025. For each step, our teams have targeted precise time slots to minimize the impact on riders.
We will be working with our transportation partners to develop a temporary bus shuttle service tailored to each step to provide travel to riders during service interruptions, with costs covered by CDPQ Infra. Service interruptions on the network will be communicated in advance to provide greater predictability to REM riders.
Interruptions
| Finalization of the installation of the systems and work in the tunnel |
Migration of all operations to Brossard | Testing on the full network | Dry run | Commissioning | |
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Saturdays: Network closes at 11:30 p.m. Sundays: Network opens at noon |
Saturdays and Sundays: Complete closure of the network |
Weekdays: Network closes at 9:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays: Complete network shutdown |
Complete closure of the network for a period of 4 to 6 weeks is planned Dates to be determined based on discussions with our partners |
No impact on service | |
| January 2025 | February and March 2025 | April, May and June 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | |
Did you know?
This is not the first time a transportation system had to close to allow the opening of a new portion of its network. The Grand Paris Express had to close its network for nearly 3 months before the commissioning of line 14!