Five major sites to follow in 2022
Project progress
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With the commissioning of the first REM branch on the South Shore, 2022 is set to be a pivotal year. What else is happening in 2022? Discover the five major sites to watch for.
1) Completion of South Shore branch electrification and continuation of testing
In the summer of 2022, you will be able to observe the end of the catenary installation and the complete electrification of the South Shore branch (from Brossard to Central Station). The electrification will mark an important milestone that will allow, subsequently, the expansion of the testing area for the cars and the network systems. For the first time, after the equipment is installed on the track, a REM car will be able to cross the Champlain Bridge and access the island of Montréal.
March 2022: The installation of the electrical infrastructure began over the past few weeks on the Champlain Bridge.
For the testing of cars and systems, the use of a switch after Panama station now allows cars to change tracks and Groupe PMM test teams to set up a "carousel" on the segment between Brossard station and Panama station. This carousel offers the possibility of running even more vehicles on the tracks, in both directions, and to test the automation of the rail system.
Current REM test area.
The 2021–2022 winter period allowed for tests to be carried out on cars and systems under various conditions. The equipment could be checked and adjusted during very low temperature, blowing snow and ice build-up. Beacon testing, which sends information about the positioning of the car to the control centre, demonstrated that it reacts well in the event of snow accumulation. Other findings: cars can continue to run even if snow banks of up to 40 cm are formed. Thanks to the nightly intervention of the snow removal teams, who also tested their methodologies this winter, the residual height of snow on the roads will always be lower.
Did you know that each car must complete 500 kilometres of rolling tests before it is commissioned? This is how we check the performance of its different components and make adjustments as needed.
Main tests to watch for:
- Supervision of all systems by the control center
- Automatic circulation of more and more cars
- Operation of the power supply in several connection configurations
- Distribution of information messages in the stations
The first segment from Brossard station to Central Station is scheduled to open in Fall 2022.
2) Installation of the tracks
Track installation is well underway in all sectors. More than 32.4 km of track is now installed and work will continue in the coming months in all sectors of the REM route.
The installation of tracks on the Champlain Bridge has begun. Since the bridge is in motion, the tracks must adapt to its shifting, which poses a challenge for our team. Specific expansion joints must be installed.
The installation of tracks on the Champlain Bridge has begun. Since the bridge is in motion, the tracks must adapt to its shifting, which poses a challenge for our team. Specific expansion joints must be installed.
The installation of tracks on the Champlain Bridge has begun. Since the bridge is in motion, the tracks must adapt to its shifting, which poses a challenge for our team. Specific expansion joints must be installed.
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Stay tuned: Specific updates on the installation, specificities and associated challenges of the tracks will be published in the coming days!
3) Alice, the tunnel boring machine: The end of drilling work
Alice has crossed a third of its route. It has drilled more than a kilometre of the tunnel and there is only about 1.5 km left until it reaches the airport. Its arrival at the airport is expected in autumn 2022 and the arrival under the runways is imminent. Once Alice is done its work, it will stay underground for some time to be disassembled. Its parts will be disassembled and then taken out through the Technoparc exit.
The entrance. Alice began its work in the Technoparc sector in October 2020. Today, the future Marie-Curie station is located in this area.
The tunnel built by the TBM Alice
More than 100 workers are deployed to the site and 15 are present inside the tunnel boring machine. Their expertise varies: From operators, mechanics and electricians specialized in tunnel boring machinery, health and safety officers, engineers, etc.
4) Anne and Marie launching gantries: Prepare your goodbyes!
In recent months, launching gantries Anne and Marie were moved. Anne is now in Pierrefonds-Roxboro. Marie will soon begin its work in the Technoparc sector to build the elevated segment to the Marie-Curie station.
Relocation of the Marie launching beam in early March. The beam will be reassembled in the Technoparc sector to continue its work.
Relocation of the Marie launching beam in early March. The beam will be reassembled in the Technoparc sector to continue its work.
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What’s left:
- 840 metres (238 segments) of structure to be completed by Marie in the Technoparc sector
- 1619 metres (466 segments) by Anne in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro sector
Their work will end this fall and then it will be time to say goodbye. They will be dismantled and stored.
5) Completion of several stations
Construction of the stations continues and work inside the stations will be carried out in the coming months. Workers are completing the finishing work, such as painting and ceramics.
Overview of interior work in the REM stations.
Overview of interior work in the REM stations.
Overview of interior work in the REM stations.
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Landscaping will begin in several areas in the spring and summer of 2022. Specifically in the South Shore and Town of Mount Royal sectors.