MONTREAL — Exo, the Montreal-area commuter rail operator officially known as Réseau de transport metropolitan, will retire its remaining single-level passenger cars, 24 Bombardier-built 700-series cars similar to NJ Transit’s Comet II cars.
The cars are currently used only on the 15.9-mile, nine-station Candiac line, but Exo’s social media advisor informed railfans this week that if they wanted to get photos of the cars before they were retired they should do so “this week or early next week.”
The single-level cars, which date to 1989 and were refurbished between 2011 and 2013, will be replaced by Exo’s multilevel 3000-series cars, built by Bombardier between 2009 and 2011.
For over half a century commuter lines have trended towards packing passengers like sardines in bilevel cars. Early on, commuters travelled in dignity in plush walkover seats in clerestoried cars similar to their intercity counterparts with square windows and shades. The interior was opulent with woodwork on the ceilings and bulkheads. Incandescent lights illuminated through the white orbed globes in a single row from the ceilings.
And now it’s more accessible to a greater number of people, and not just the few who can afford a parlour car supplement.
Commuter trains have always been spartan. New Jersey’s revered Lackawanna MUs had steel interiors with rattan seats and no headrests. Nothing plush about them.
You’re right about commuter trains’ similarity to intercity, though. A couple hours on a 1920’s day coach would leave you a lot sorer than you seem to be about the state of modern commuter trains.
Interesting that not to be replaced by new cars but by stretching out the remaining fleet.
Great cars for Amtrak axel count cars. Amtrak might be able to get them donated or a very low price.
Follow up. Cars might need a COT&S. The wheel profiles most likely not Amtrak’s so would work better on UP & CN.
Follow up. Cars might need a COT&S. The wheel profiles most likely not Amtrak’s so they would work better on UP & CN.
Stevie Gardner and Anthony Coscia don’t want cars like these for axle counters. They want Superliner lounges, coaches, and especially sleepers for that. No one is watching and these guys know it. They will claim they have to operate anemic-sized LD consists now because they haven’t enough serviceable cars and no one will question it. Soon, as some are now predicting, LDs will be again reduced to tri-weekly operation. Any think the politicians, state and federal, in whose districts Amtrak is subject to providing axle court deadhead cars know about it. Anyone think if they were told they would do anything except mutter inanities?
And how’s Exo’s fleet from CRRC coming along?
Mr. Carleton: Are those CRRC cars the autonomous light rail ones for the line that’s replacing the Deux Montagnes Line?