The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has never shied away from a comical online moment, whether it be Metro stations getting Star Wars-themed names for May The 4th, or new holiday-themed station names during the winter season that are as clever as they are quirky, and this time around is no different.
After years of anticipation, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail system is officially days away from launching its trains connecting Montreal's downtown core with the South Shore. The first section of the (eventual) 67-kilometre automated network will open to the public as of July 31, 2023. However, a lucky bunch will be able to ride the train for the first time ever days before anyone else can.
The Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) has closed a portion of the green line after a water leak on April 24 revealed tunnel cracks between the Berri-UQAM and Saint-Laurent stations. The major service interruption will continue for an "indefinite period," extending as far as Lionel-Groulx and Frontenac stations.
Montreal's metro not only allows regular dogs to ride the rails but their robot counterparts as well or at least they're allowed to inspect local stations. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) partnered with local software company Osedea and robotics manufacturer Boston Dynamics to have a robot dog perform "automated and autonomous" inspections of station platforms as part of a pilot project. For once, the roles are reversed and it's the (mechanical) mutt that's cleaning up human messes.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is strapped for cash and planning to cut back on services as a result. The transit agency released its 2023 budget showing a $77.7M deficit and citing inflation and pandemic recovery as major shortfall drivers. Some expenses were pushed to 2022 to cover emergency measures during the onset of COVID-19, around the time that pricey but necessary maintenance projects began on AZUR trains. The agency said "constructive discussions" are underway with financial partners to identify solutions. In the meantime, there are plans to reduce service in early 2023 meaning trains and buses will run less frequently.