Prior to 1997, the service had been managed by the Montreal Urban Community Transportation Commission (MUCTC), which continues to oversee Montreal’s Metro and bus routes. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific had long operated commuter trains to Montreal, although by the 1980s their services had dwindled to one route apiece. MUCTC assumed management of CN’s commuter service to Deux Montagnes on July 1, 1982, and CP’s commuter service to Rigaud on October 1, 1982.
On January 1, 1997, the management and financing of both commuter lines was transferred to AMT, which had been formed in 1995 to distribute funding and coordinate transportation planning among the various public transit operators in the greater Montreal region. AMT subcontracted management of the commuter rail service to SNC-Lavalin-Gesproex. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific own the tracks and operate AMT commuter trains under contract, as they had for MUCTC.
In 1997, AMT inaugurated service between Blainville and the Jean-Talon station in Montreal’s Park Extension district. The Blainville Line trains were meant to provide a temporary alternative for motorists while a highway bridge between Montreal and Laval was being repaired. The service proved so popular, AMT continued funding it, and even extended several trains to Windsor Station in downtown Montreal, beginning January 18, 1999.
In May 2000, AMT inaugurated service on a CN line from Central Station across the St. Lawrence River to McMasterville, with an extension to St. Hilaire in September 2002.
Another pilot project launched September 4, 2001, inaugurated service on a fifth line, in the hopes of reducing road congestion in Center City Montreal. AMT trains between Windsor Station and Delson use CP tracks on a route that last saw passenger service in the late 1970s.
Operations on the CN and CPR lines are disconnected from one another. As a result, AMT trains operate into two downtown Montreal stations: the ex-CN Central Station (Gare Centrale), also used by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada’s intercity and long-distance passenger trains; and Windsor Station (Gare Windsor), relocated from the site of CPR’s original Windsor Station.
Multiple-unit electrics from Bombardier provide service on the electrified Canadian National line through the 3.2-mile Mount Royal Tunnel, opened in 1918, to Deux Montagnes. The cars entered service on June 2, 1995, concurrent with the line’s conversion from D.C. to A.C. electrification.
Change came to the non-electrified lines in 2000, in the form of new F59PHI locomotives from General Motors, assembled by Super Steel and Alstom. The diesel engines now share passenger duties with ex-CN GP9Us rebuilt by AMF Transport.
Diesel trains operate push-pull, with single-level coaches from CP, Bombardier, and GO Transit, and bilevel gallery cars from CP. In 2001, AMT leased several gallery cars formerly used by Chicago commuter agency Metra and refurbished by Alstom. On trains with older locomotives, head-end power is supplied by ex-VIA steam generator cars carrying HEP engines.
- Deux Montagnes Line. Frequent weekday service to Deux-Montagnes, 17 miles, with reduced service on weekends. Serves 11 stations.
- Saint-Hilaire Line. Limited rush-hour service from Saint-Hilaire on weekdays, 20 miles, serving 5 stations. No service on weekends or holidays.
Windsor Station lines (Canadian Pacific trackage)
- Rigaud Line. Weekday trains operate to Beaconsfield and Dorion, serving 15 stations, with one rush-hour round trip extended to Rigaud, 40 miles from Montreal, serving two additional stations. Limited service to Dorion on weekends.
- Blainville Line. Two-way rush-hour and limited midday service from Blainville to the Park Avenue Jean-Talon station in Montreal, 19 miles, with some trains continuing on to Windsor Station. Serves 8 stations. No service on weekends or holidays.
- Delson Line. Limited weekday rush-hour service to Delson, 16 miles. Serves 7 stations. No service on weekends or holidays.
500, Place d’Armes
25e étage – bureau 2550
Montréal, Québec H2Y 2W2
(514) 288-6287
www.amt.qc.ca/tc/train/index.asp
*FYI: The web site is in French!
