Montreal Light Automated Metro

[tomh009]

A very critical piece of the proposal as a whole, in the Gazette. I think they sell the planners a bit short on some things, but much of it deserves consideration.

The blue line Metro extension has been something that's been needed for a long time, in particular. It would probably be a better use of taxpayer dollars than this project. Somehow that line just stopped one station short of where it could attract a large pool of riders at Pie-IX (which used to have a sort of BRT until someone got run over by a bus.)

One difference is that the blue line would need to be 100% taxpayer-funded, whereas this proposal has substantial private funding.  Net cost to Quebec government would probably be roughly similar for the two projects (latest estimates are around $3B for the blue line extension).  I'm not in a position to judge which one would provide more benefits to the public, though.

[Canard]

Federal government will invest $1.28B in Montreal light-rail train line

[KevinL]

This took a big step today, with a contract being awarded. SNC-Lavalin will lead the engineering, and trains will be from Alstom.


Montreal's light-rail project to break ground in April, start rolling in 2021

[Canard]

Very, very unfortunate. Glad the project is moving ahead, however.

[Canard]

I'm excited about this project because it's new trains, and I like shiney things, but this is sobering:

http://www.cat-bus.com/2016/05/how-the-c...wn-weight/

Edit: Reading through this entire thread again, I stumbled across Plam's post, which has another juicy article by the same blogger:

Mixed feelings about Montreal light rail from a Montreal transit blogger:

http://www.cat-bus.com/

(permalink: http://www.cat-bus.com/2016/06/townhall-...r-the-rem/)

[Canard]

[KevinL]

Rendered video of the trains and riding experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wMRxnGkKv4