METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Montreal Unveils first Alstom REM Car

The cars will form a single uninterrupted train for passengers, serving the mobility of Greater Montreal.

by METRO Staff
November 16, 2020
Montreal Unveils first Alstom REM Car

Alstom is supplying REM with not only 212 Metropolis cars, or 106 trains, but also Alstom’s automated and driverless Urbalis 400 communication-based train control solution.

Credit:

Alstom/C. Feury

2 min to read


The Alstom-led consortium, Groupe des partenaires pour la mobilité des Montréalais (Groupe PMM), participated in the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project office’s unveiling of the first cars that will carry passengers on the REM in Greater Montreal.

To date, Alstom has delivered four cars to Montreal. The cars for the REM are based on a proven Metropolis platform, already widely in service in the world, including in Sydney, and adapted for Montreal, not only in their design, their capacity, their accessibility, and to the experience they will offer passengers, but also to climatic conditions. The cars will form a single uninterrupted train for passengers, serving the mobility of Greater Montreal. The exterior livery, chosen by the public, was inspired by the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge and was designed to blend into the Montreal environment, offering passengers breath taking views via panoramic windows and large bay windows at either end.

Ad Loading...

Alstom is supplying REM with not only 212 Metropolis cars, or 106 trains, but also Alstom’s automated and driverless Urbalis 400 communication-based train control (CBTC) solution, an Alstom Iconis control center, as well as platform screen doors and depot equipment for this fully automated light-metro system. Recognized as the supplier of choice for reliable and efficient metros, Alstom has delivered nearly 6,000 Metropolis cars to 25 cities around the world.

Awarded to the Groupe PMM consortium in early 2018, the REM project is the largest transit project in Quebec’s history since the construction of the Montreal metro over 50 years ago. REM will be one of the world’s largest automated transportation networks — approximately 42 miles long with 26 stations — connecting downtown Montreal to the South Shore, the North Shore, the West Island, and the Montréal–Trudeau international Airport.

More Rail

MTA Advances Accessibility Improvements in Brooklyn
Paratransitby StaffJune 17, 2026

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility

Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.

Read More →
Six-Year Plan Boosts Virginia Transit, Rail Investments
Managementby StaffJune 17, 2026

Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail

Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.

Read More →
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →