Scheduled interruptions to harmonize our systems

During the nights of August 23 and 30, the last departures of the REM will be earlier in both directions (11:00 PM towards Gare Centrale station and 11:20 PM towards Brossard station), with service resuming the next day at 8:45 AM. These interruptions are necessary to perform network updates to harmonize our systems in use on the South Shore and Deux-Montagnes branches, where we are conducting dynamic tests. A bus service will be available in the meantime.

The systems currently used on the North Shore and in the Montreal area during dynamic tests are more mature. Our tests over the past few months confirm their effectiveness. However, this harmonization will require extended testing hours, according to international safety standards for automated trains like the REM.

We aim to minimize the impact on users, which is why planned service interruptions occur during the least busy periods, at the very end and very beginning of service, on weekends. 

Why interrupt service to update systems? 

The updates are intended to improve service and make necessary adjustments to the cars and the system. Over the past few months, they have been used, for example, to improve communication systems with users, the precision of stops during braking, and control and safety systems.

Before integrating an update, we test it several times. When the tests are conclusive, we submit them to an external safety authority. Once authorization is received, the updates are permanently installed on our systems and in our cars.

For example, thanks to these improvements, when we completely restart the operating systems, the restart duration is 20 minutes or less. Last year, the same operation could take more than an hour.

These extended interruptions are therefore important, both to improve the current REM service and to facilitate the commissioning of our entire network. 

Other interruptions are possible in the coming weeks. We will also seek to minimize the impact on users and information will be communicated in advance. 

News from the ongoing tests 

Regarding our ongoing tests, they are going well. Currently, we are continuing tests between St-Eustache and Sainte-Dorothée station in Laval, and we have started the first sequence of tests on the section between Sainte-Dorothée and Du Ruisseau stations on the island of Montreal.

We are meeting the schedules we had set. Our learnings and expertise acquired in our previous tests and since the commissioning of the South Shore branch help us progress at a good pace.

Next steps: the cars will continue to run at low speed between Laval and Du Ruisseau station in Montreal later in September, then at normal speed thereafter. As for the tests on the Anse-à-l’Orme branch, they should begin as planned in the coming weeks.