Exo commuter rail

Exo commuter rail
Platform and wooden canopy, with a train stationed, at Lucien-L'Allier station
Overview
OwnerExo
LocaleGreater Montreal
Transit typeCommuter rail
Number of lines5[1]
Line number
Number of stations53[1]
Daily ridership27,019 (2024)
Annual ridership7,051,965 (2024)[2]
Websiteexo.quebec
Operation
Began operation
  • 1859 (first section)
  • January 1, 1996 (as AMT)
  • June 1, 2017 (as Réseau de transport métropolitain, later Exo)
Operator(s)Alstom
Reporting marksEXO
Infrastructure managers
Number of vehicles
  • 41 locomotives
  • 206 coaches[1]
Technical
System length225.7 kilometres (140.2 mi)[1]
Network map as of July 2023
 Mascouche 
Terrebonne
Repentigny
Pointe-aux-Trembles
Rivière-des-Prairies
Anjou
 Hudson 
Saint-Léonard–Montréal-Nord
 Vaudreuil 
Saint-Michel–Montréal-Nord
Dorion
Sauvé
Pincourt–Terrasse-
Vaudreuil
 Saint-Jérôme 
Île-Perrot
Mirabel
Sainte-Anne-
de-Bellevue
Blainville
Baie-D'Urfé
Sainte-Thérèse
Beaurepaire
Rosemère
Beaconsfield
Sainte-Rose
Cedar Park
Vimont
Pointe-Claire
De la Concorde
Valois
Bois-de-Boulogne
Pine Beach
Ahuntsic
Dorval
 Côte-de-Liesse 
Lachine
Chabanel
Du Canal
Parc
LaSalle
Montréal-Ouest
Sainte-Catherine
Vendôme
Saint-Constant
 Lucien-L'Allier 
Delson
 Gare Centrale 
 Candiac 
Saint-Lambert
Longueuil–Saint-Hubert
Saint-Bruno
Saint-Basile-le-Grand
McMasterville
 Mont-Saint-Hilaire 
Key
Vaudreuil–Hudson line
Candiac line
Saint-Jérôme line
Mascouche line
Mont-Saint-Hilaire line
Multiple lines

Exo commuter rail (reporting mark EXO) is a system of five radial commuter rail services serving the Greater Montreal area. The network is operated by Alstom using trackage owned by Exo, the Canadian National Railway (CN), and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).[3][4]

Exo's commuter trains are its highest-profile division. It uses diesel-electric push-pull trains. The Mont-Saint-Hilaire and Mascouche lines run on CN trackage, while the Vaudreuil–Hudson, Saint-Jérôme, and Candiac lines run on CPKC trackage and operate out of Lucien L'Allier terminus. The Saint-Jérôme line also runs on Exo's own trackage between Sainte-Thérèse and Saint-Jérôme, as does the Mascouche line between Repentigny and Mascouche and the Vaudreuil–Hudson line between Vaudreuil and Hudson.[4]

Operation of all commuter rail was provided by contract to CN and CP (on their respective rail networks) until June 30, 2017. Operations were taken over by Alstom (then Bombardier Transportation) beginning July 1, 2017, on an 8-year contract.[5]

The train lines are part of Greater Montreal's integrated public transit network including bus, regional rail (REM) and Metro, coordinated by the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM).[6] Many train stations serve local bus terminals, and a few provide connections to Metro, REM and Via Rail and Amtrak national rail services.

History

Takeover from private rail operators

Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) had long operated commuter trains in the Montreal area, but by the 1980s, their services had dwindled to one route each. The Commission de transport de la communauté de Montréal (CTCUM, predecessor of the STM), which already managed Metro and bus services across the Island of Montreal, assumed management of CN's Deux-Montagnes commuter service and CP's Rigaud service in 1982 as the two railways began scaling back their services.[7]

In 1997, management and financing of both lines was transferred to the newly created Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), which had been established to distribute funding and coordinate transportation planning among the numerous transit operators throughout the Greater Montreal Region.[7]

Service expansion

Later that year, the AMT inaugurated service between Blainville and Jean-Talon (now Parc) train station in Montreal's Park Extension district. Originally, the service was designed to provide a temporary alternative for motorists from Laval and the North Shore of Montreal, while the Highway 117 Dufresne Bridge was being repaired. The service proved to be so popular that the AMT continued to fund it, and even extended a number of trains to the Lucien-L'Allier station downtown in 1999, and continues to provide off-peak daytime weekday service on this line. The service was extended further north to Saint-Jérôme in January 2007.[7]

In 2000, the AMT inaugurated its service to McMasterville,[8] and later extended it to Mont-Saint-Hilaire in September 2002.[7]

In 2001, the AMT initiated a pilot project, launching service on a fifth line to Delson.[9][10] This was later extended to Candiac in 2005.[11]

A new Train de l'Est (East Train) line to Mascouche was announced by the Quebec government in March 2006.[12] After delays and cost overruns,[13] it started service in December 2014.[14][15]

In 2014, the AMT acquired the entire Deux-Montagnes line from CN, including the right of way, infrastructure, trackage, other railway equipment, grounds, curb lanes, rights in the Mount Royal tunnel and air rights, in a $97 million transaction.[16][17]

Creation of Exo

On June 1, 2017, the AMT was disbanded in a reorganization of metropolitan transit authorities. A new agency, the Réseau de transport métropolitain (RTM) was created to be responsible for operating commuter rail and suburban transit services.[18] In May 2018, the RTM adopted the Exo brand (stylized exo, all-lowercase), to represent the sub- and exurban nature of its service area.[19]

In 2019, Exo proceeded to rebrand all of its lines with numbers in the format "exo1", "exo2", etc. When the ARTM launched its new metropolitan signage in 2023, Exo renumbered the lines again starting at "11".[20] It also adopted a new logo for train service in a distinctive colour to differentiate from other rapid transit services, rolling out progressively on signage since 2020.[21]

Alignment with the REM

The construction of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) initially led to the closure of the Mount Royal Tunnel in May 2020, causing the Deux-Montagnes line to terminate at Bois-Franc station. From that point, most trains on the Mascouche line terminated at Ahuntsic station, with transfer to the metro possible at Sauvé, and certain rush hour trains were rerouted around the western end of Montreal in order to reach Central Station from the south.[22] On December 31, 2020, the Deux-Montagnes line was closed permanently for conversion to the REM.[23]

The REM includes a station built as a new terminus for the Mascouche line, at Côte-de-Liesse, allowing access to downtown via transfer to the REM. The REM station entered service on November 17, 2025, and the Exo station is scheduled to open on January 12, 2026.[24] At that point, service to Central Station will be discontinued.[25]

In May 2023, Exo announced that Lucien-L'Allier terminal would be closed starting April 2024 to rebuild the platforms and add a canopy. Trains on the Candiac, Vaudreuil-Hudson and Saint-Jérôme lines would terminate at Vendôme.[26] Service to Lucien-L'Allier resumed on December 21, 2024, for the Vaudreuil-Hudson line and December 23, 2024, for the Saint-Jérôme and Candiac lines.[27]

Lines

Commuter train lines
Train lines Line length Dates of service Trains per day Outbound terminus Inbound terminus Ref
Begun Discontinued Resumed M–F Sat. Sun. Extended service Regular service Short turn service Regular service Short turn service
Vaudreuil–Hudson 51.2 km (31.8 mi) 1887 14 out,
13 in
4 3 Hudson
(3/weekday)
Vaudreuil Beaconsfield
(1/weekday)
Lucien-L'Allier [28]
Saint-Jérôme 62.8 km (39.0 mi) 1882 1980[29] 1997 14 6 6 Saint-Jérôme Lucien-L'Allier Parc (3/weekday);
De la Concorde (weekends)
[30]
Mont-Saint-Hilaire 34.9 km (21.7 mi) 1859 1988[31] 2000 7 0 0 Mont-Saint-Hilaire Gare Centrale [32]
Candiac 25.6 km (15.9 mi) 1887 1981[29] 2001 9 0 0 Candiac Lucien-L'Allier [33]
Mascouche 44 km (27 mi) 1945[34] 1969[35] 2014 8 0 0 Mascouche Côte-de-Liesse [36]

Fares

As of July 1, 2024

Exo services operate within the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)'s integrated fare structure for Greater Montreal. Trains on the network operate within zones A, B and C. All Modes fares include passage on the commuter rail network through the zones covered.[37]

As of 2024, the fare schedule still includes TRAIN fares applying the old AMT fare zones that are valid only on commuter rail lines.[38]

There are no fare gates at train stations. Instead, a proof-of-payment system is used, where riders are expected to validate their ticket on the platform. Fare inspectors randomly check tickets.[39] Tickets and passes are now sold by automated vending machines at stations, either onto an Opus card or a cardboard Occassionel card.[40]

Funding

Financing for the rail network's operations (including maintenance, rolling stock, equipment and salaries) is handled by Exo, which is funded primarily by the Agence régionale du transport métropolitain.

Rolling stock

Exo has a variety of rolling stock, some of it acquired from GO Transit, the rest built specifically for it. There are a total of 256 cars and locomotives in the fleet.

Locomotives

Current locomotives

Maker Model Number in service Numbered Year built Comments
Electro-Motive Diesel F59PHI 8 1320–1330 2000 Used on the Vaudreuil-Hudson, Saint-Jérôme, and Candiac lines. Locomotives 1321, 1322 and 1330 are currently at CAD Rail industries for a rebuild.
F59PH 9 1340–1349 1990 Acquired from GO Transit. Used on the Mont-Saint-Hilaire and Mascouche lines. 1346 is in storage following its wreck in November 2023.
Bombardier ALP-45DP 20 1350–1369 2011 Used on the Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Vaudreuil-Hudson, Mascouche and Saint-Jérôme lines.[41]
Siemens Mobility US EC-42 4 1400-1409 2024 Used on the Saint-Jérôme line.

Future locomotives

On January 28, 2022, Exo announced that it had ordered 10 Siemens Charger locomotives to replace their older F59PH locomotives.[42] On November 18, 2024, the first unit was delivered and began tests around July. The first locomotive, 1400, entered service on the afternoon of November 3, 2025, on the Saint-Jérôme line. The remaining locomotives will be gradually delivered throughout 2026.[43][44]

Retired locomotives

Maker Model Number in class Numbered Year built Service years Comments
Electro-Motive Diesel F40PH 15 270-271, 274, 293, 301-302, 310, 330, 400, 418 1977–1985 2000s–2010s Ex-Amtrak[a], leased from Rail World. All sold off to various leasing firms, tourist railroads, or other commuter railroads.[b]
243, 287, 319, 331, 372, 411 Ex-Amtrak; leased from Titan Rail. All sold off to various leasing firms, tourist railroads, or other commuter railroads.[c]
F40PH-2CAT 2 4117–4118[46] 1981 2008–2012 Leased from NJ Transit until the arrival of the ALP-45DP locomotives.[47]
GP40FH-2 5 4135, 4137, 4140, 4143, 4144[47][48] 1966–1967
F59PH[d] 3 526, 530, 532 1988 2010s Ex-GO Transit; leased from Rail World.[47]
3 18523, 18524, 18531 Ex-GO Transit; leased from Rosen-Beaudin Leasing.[47]
FP7 6 1300–1305 1952 1982–2001[47] Ex-CP 4070–4075, 4040. Replaced by the F59PHI locomotives in 2001.[47] 1301 now on the DGVR as "WM 243".[49][50] 1306 to the Stourbridge Line as "PRR 9880".[49]
1306 1951
GP9RM[47] 4 1310–1313 1959 1990-2010s Ex-Canadian National, rebuilt by CN in 1990.[49] 1311 preserved at Exporail.
  1. ^ Mostly the same numbers, except for 330, which is ex-VRE V33, nee-Amtrak 365; 310, which is ex-VRE V31, nee-Amtrak 392; and 418, which is ex-Amtrak 318.[45]
  2. ^ Some units later leased to MBTA in 2015. Afterwards; 270 and 274 to Trinity Railway Express 130-131; 271 to Tshiuetin Rail Transportation 602; 310 to LTEX, then Steam Railroading Institute; 30 to Grand Canyon Railway 365 in 2023. Others sold to Rolling Stock Solutions in 2022.
  3. ^ Some units sold to Rolling Stock Solutions in 2022.
  4. ^ Distinct from the 1340 series locomotives still in service.

Passenger cars

Current coaches

Maker Model Number in service Numbered Year built Comments
Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Bi-level Coach 22 2000–2003[47] 2004 Control cars.
Low platform only
2020–2037[47] 2005 Low platform only
Bombardier MultiLevel Coach 160 3000 series 2009–2011 [51][52]
High and low platform compatibility. Required for service on Mascouche and Mont St-Hilaire line
CRRC Tangshan Bi-level coaches 44[53] 2050 series[53] 2022–2025 Entered service June 2024[53][54]
Low platform only
Cars 2126–2135 (salmon and red colours) are wheelchair accessible.

Retired coaches

Maker Model Number built Numbered Year built Comments
Bombardier Transportation Single-level coaches 24 701–708, 720–735[47] 1989 Renovated 2011–2013. Retired in 2022 following delivery of new coaches.
Hawker Siddeley RTC-85SP/D coaches 80 102–111, 200–204, 1036–1103, 1201–1258[47] 1967–1976 Ex-GO Transit. Retired after the arrival of the Bombardier MultiLevel Coaches. Car 104 on display at the Toronto Railway Museum in GO Transit colours.[55][56][57]
Canadian Vickers Gallery Car 9 900–901, 920–926[47] 1969 Ex-Canadian Pacific Railway. Retired in 2010.
Morrison–Knudsen Single-level coaches 14 5156–5234[47] 1987–1988 Leased from NJ Transit in the late-2000s and early 2010s.[47]
Other retired rolling stock
Maker Model Number built Numbered Year built Comments
Canadian Car and Foundry Head-end power cars 7 600–606 1958 Former boxcars rebuilt into head-end power cars by the Canadian National Railway in 1989, for use alongside the GP9RMs.[47]
Bombardier Transportation MR-90 58 400 series 1994–1995 Electric multiple units used only on the Deux-Montagnes line. Retired in 2020 when the Deux-Montagnes line was closed for conversion to the Réseau express métropolitain.

Further details

The 22 bilevel coaches are in operation on the Saint-Jérôme line. The AMT did not purchase additional bilevels as it sought to standardize its train fleet with the arrival of the multi-level coaches. However, 20 additional bilevels were purchased by the RTM in March 2018.

On December 18, 2007, the AMT awarded Bombardier a $386-million contract to build 160 multi-level commuter cars. These cars are based on NJ Transit's Multilevel series, and are able to enter the Mount Royal Tunnel, unlike the older GO-style BiLevel cars.[52] They are numbered in the 3000s.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Rapport annuel 2023" [2023 Annual Report] (PDF) (in French). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Rapport annuel 2024" [2024 annual report] (PDF) (in French).
  3. ^ "Bombardier aux commandes des trains de banlieue du Réseau de transport métropolitain" [Bombarider in the driver's cab of the Réseau de transport métropolitain's commuter trains] (in French). Réseau de transport métropolitan. June 22, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "The challenge of coordinating train traffic in winter". Exo. January 3, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Agence QMI (July 3, 2017). "Retour à la normale sur le réseau de trains de banlieue" [Back to normal on the commuter train network] (in French). TVA Nouvelles. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "À propos" [About us] (in French). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Barrieau 2019.
  8. ^ "Le train de banlieue attire plus d'usagers que celui de Blainville à ses" (in French). L'oeil régional. June 3, 2000. p. A1. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "Un nouveau train de banlieue Delson-Montréal" [A new Delson-Montreal commuter train] (in French). TVA Nouvelles. April 17, 2001.
  10. ^ "Montreal commuter expansion". Railway Gazette International. June 1, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2026. Quebec's Minister for Transport Guy Chevrette announced on April 17 the go-ahead for a fifth commuter rail route in Montreal. Services to the south shore town of Delson are due to start on September 4, as part of a programme designed to reduce road congestion in the city centre.
  11. ^ "Candiac-Montréal en train" [Candiac-Montreal by train] (PDF) (in French). La Presse. November 16, 2004. p. A7. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Shields, Alexandre (March 18, 2006). "Le train de l'est sur les rails" [The Train de l'est is on track] (in French). Le Devoir. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  13. ^ Magder, Jason (November 30, 2014). "$671 million later, a train to Mascouche". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Magder, Jason (December 1, 2014). "AMT's new Train de l'Est from Mascouche has successful first morning". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "AMT launches Train de l'Est commuter service". Railway Gazette International. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2026. Montréal commuter rail operator Agence Métropolitaine de Transport finally began revenue service on its 52 km Train de l'Est route from Montréal Central to Mascouche on December 1, around three years later than previously anticipated.
  16. ^ "L'AMT FAIT L'ACQUISITION DE LA LIGNE DE TRAINS DE BANLIEUE DEUX-MONTAGNES" [The AMT acquires the Deux-Montagnes train line] (in French). Agence métropolitaine de transport. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014.
  17. ^ "Deux-Montagnes line sold to AMT". Railway Gazette International. March 3, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2026. The C$97m sale of CN's Deux-Montagnes subdivision to Montréal regional transport authority AMT was completed on February 28.
  18. ^ "Nouvelle gouvernance dans les transports collectifs" [New governance in public transit] (Press release) (in French). Réseau de transport métropolitain. June 1, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Le Réseau de transport métropolitain devient exo" [The Réseau de transport métropolitain becomes exo] (in French). Exo. May 23, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  20. ^ "Your train lines are getting new numbers". Exo. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "Un nouveau symbole pour le train" [A new symbol for the train]. Exo. October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Bruno Bisson (May 11, 2020). "Le tunnel du mont Royal fermé" (in French). La Presse. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Magder, Jason (September 18, 2020). "Trains to stop running on Deux-Montagnes line Dec. 31, ahead of schedule". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "Ouverture de la gare Côte-de-Liesse prévue le 12 janvier". exo.quebec (in Canadian French). Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  25. ^ Exo. "Exo - Avis à la clientèle -- Ligne exo 15 Mascouche : ouverture à venir de la nouvelle gare Côte-de-Liesse". Exo (in Canadian French). Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025. La station Côte-de-Liesse du Réseau express métropolitain (REM) ouvrira ses portes le 17 novembre. Dans le même bâtiment que la station, exo mettra bientôt en service la future gare Côte-de-Liesse, qui deviendra le nouveau terminus de la ligne exo15 Mascouche. La date d'ouverture de la gare sera annoncée sous peu. Cela marquera la fin du trajet jusqu'à la gare Centrale.
  26. ^ Sanikopoulos, Audrey (May 29, 2023). "La gare Lucien-L'Allier va devoir fermer pour se refaire une beauté". TVA Nouvelles. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  27. ^ "Exo". exo.quebec. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  28. ^ Exo (December 21, 2024). "11 Ligne Vaudreuil/Hudson" (PDF). Exo. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  29. ^ a b Barrieau 2019, p. 180.
  30. ^ Exo (June 16, 2025). "12 Ligne Saint-Jérôme" (PDF). Exo. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  31. ^ Barrieau 2019, p. 290.
  32. ^ Exo (November 13, 2023). "13 Ligne Mont-Saint-Hilaire" (PDF). Exo. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  33. ^ Exo (December 21, 2024). "14 Ligne Candiac" (PDF). Exo. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  34. ^ Barrieau 2019, p. 131.
  35. ^ Barrieau 2019, p. 158.
  36. ^ Exo (January 12, 2026). "15 Ligne Mascouche" (PDF). Exo. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  37. ^ "Find your fare". Exo. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  38. ^ "Fare schedule. Public transit. Fares in effect starting July 1, 2024" (PDF). Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain. April 1, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  39. ^ "Voyager 101 - Validation des titres" [Travelling 101 - Ticket validation] (in French). Exo. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  40. ^ "OPUS card and Solo card". Exo. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  41. ^ "AMT electro-diesel arrives in Montréal". Railway Gazette International. June 16, 2011. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  42. ^ "Charger locos ordered for Montréal commuter services". Railway Gazette International. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  43. ^ "Siemens Mobility to Modernize Montreal's Exo Train Fleet With Sustainable Locomotives". Financial Post. January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  44. ^ "First Montréal Charger loco delivered to Exo". Railway Gazette International. January 17, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  45. ^ "On Track On Line - Amtrak F40s: Where Are They Now?". on-track-on-line.com. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  46. ^ "AMTL – Agence métropolitaine de transport Locomotive Roster [F40PH-2CAT] - Railroad Picture Archives.NET". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Godfrey, John; Turcotte, Jean-Francois (September–October 2010). "Canadian Rail No. 538" (PDF). Exporail. Canadian Railroad Historical Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  48. ^ "AMTL – Agence métropolitaine de transport Locomotive Roster [GP40FH-2] - Railroad Picture Archives.NET". rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  49. ^ a b c "Old Time Trains". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  50. ^ "Old Time Trains". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  51. ^ "Bombardier clinches big deal for new commuter trains". CBC News. December 18, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  52. ^ a b "AMT orders commuter cars". Railway Gazette International. February 18, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  53. ^ a b c "Chinese coaches enter service in Montréal". Railway Gazette International. June 26, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2026. Montréal regional transport authority Exo put its first CRRC-built double-deck commuter rail coaches into revenue service on the Saint-Jérôme route on June 25, following a launch run on June 21.
  54. ^ Sargeant, Timothy (June 21, 2024). "New railcars rolling out on exo's Saint-Jérôme commuter rail line". Global News. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  55. ^ "GO Transit restores cab car to mark 50th anniversary | Trains Magazine". Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  56. ^ GO Transit [@GOtransit] (May 14, 2017). "It's finally here! Please welcome the latest addition to the @TORailwayMuseum: a restored original GO cab car from…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  57. ^ Toronto Railway Museum [@TORailwayMuseum] (May 13, 2017). "The Toronto Railway Museum was pleased to welcome a very special part of our rail heritage to Roundhouse Park today…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

References

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