METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Alstom unveils design for Montreal’s REM train

The external livery, chosen by the public, was inspired by the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge.

April 1, 2019
Alstom unveils design for Montreal’s REM train

Alstom will supply 212 Metropolis cars, or 106 trainsets, for the completely automatic light-metro system.

Photos via Alstom Design & Styling

 

2 min to read


Alstom will supply 212 Metropolis cars, or 106 trainsets, for the completely automatic light-metro system. Photos via Alstom Design & Styling

The Alstom-led consortium, Groupe des partenaires pour la mobilité des Montréalais (Groupe PMM), has revealed the design of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) train.

The external livery, chosen by the public, was inspired by the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge, with the vehicle’s headlights directly recalling the shrouds of the new bridge.

Ad Loading...

Designed to perfectly fuse with the green spaces of the city, the green-and-white vehicles offer passengers breathtaking views via panoramic windows and large bay windows at either end.

Alstom will supply 212 Metropolis cars, or 106 trainsets, for the completely automatic light-metro system. Recognized as the supplier of choice for reliable and efficient metros, Alstom has more than 65 years of experience and has sold more than 850 driverless metros worldwide. Over 17,000 Alstom metro cars in 55 cities worldwide, carry 30 million passengers every day.

Over 17,000 Alstom metro cars in 55 cities worldwide, carry 30 million passengers every day.

Alstom puts the passenger at the heart of its design process. The Metropolis is, therefore, built with the comfort of passengers in mind, offering wide doors and spaces to facilitate passenger flow, acoustic comfort, vibration mitigation, and passenger information in real time.

Awarded to the Groupe PMM consortium in early 2018, the project will be the largest transit project in Quebec’s history since the Montreal metro was built over 50 years ago. Upon completion, REM will be one of the world's largest automated transport networks — approximately 42 miles long with 26 stations — connecting downtown Montreal to the South Shore, the North Shore, the West Island, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

More Rail

Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →
A TriMet MAX Light Rail vehicle overhead shot
Railby StaffFebruary 24, 2026

STV Finalizes Design for First Phase of TriMet MAX Blue Line Substation Upgrades

The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.

Read More →
HDR rendering of LA to Coachella Valley Rail Project
Railby StaffFebruary 20, 2026

HDR Selected to Advance LA–Coachella Valley Rail Corridor Project

The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rendering of Austin Transit Partnership's light rail line.
Railby StaffFebruary 19, 2026

Contractor Chosen to Help Build Austin Light Rail

The ATP board’s approval of ARC enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities and advance final design for Austin Light Rail under the first phase of what will be a multibillion-dollar contract.

Read More →