Okay, here is the thing. Exo frequency was more on the poor side and ligne Deux-Montagnes was just an electrified commuter rail line, similar to those you see operated by SEPTA. It was nice for a 9-5 commuter, but it was not great for anything else. As a result, many areas north of the Mount Royal tunnel were made to be car-oriented, including the Town of Mont-Royal build by the original owner of the line, since there was no way to have a complete life there and not drive. Frequency is the game changer. In addition to 9-5 commuters, who will still get to work since the overall capacity of the line will be much greater, the line will be useful to anyone else living within the 15 minute radius from it. Commuter-oriented stations north of Bois Franc could be easily upgraded to local intermodal transit hubs for Laval and North Shore. It also removes a huge maintenance issue from Exo, since this was their only electrified rail line with many century-old infrastructure relics and bespoke car fleet. Finally, the Mount Royal tunnel will finally be utilized to its full potential. It will be carrying up to one train per minute in peak hours, connecting YUL, West Island, Laval and North Shore to the city centre. From any conceivable prospective, this is a better option. Well, maybe besides the railfaning one, since the cars were really unique. But the overall change is positive
Thanks for documenting this line. There is a comment at the end that the switch to light rail seems more reasonable now because of the pandemic. Light rail on this, a 30km line, never really made sense. Light rail is designed shorter distances. An fully automated line over such a distance with only 6 stops in the last 18kms and the kinds of winter we have will be trouble. Don't get me wrong, it will be nice to go downtown (or even the airport) on a whim without having to look at a schedule but it doesn't warrant shutting down a rail system for 4, probably 5 to 6 years. Thankfully I don't have to take the train every day because I would really be pissed at the shutdown.
The rem's capacity per train is very poor against a commuter rail. An for all of the reasons you mentionned above, I think it is a bad decision to scrap this line for a smaller sized automatic train system.
While is is true that the 2-car and 4-car REM trains will be relatively uncomfortable for long-duration rides, I will assume that 6-car and even 8-car trains will eventually replace them (along with the necessary extended platforms), as is the case on the Sydney, Australia Metro which uses the same Alstom Metropolis rolling stock. Incidentally, the Sydney trains have padded seats.@@-Productions-xu5bc
On what date did the A Ma Baie station close? It was located just west of Alexander Avenue and for decades served the high density community of Cloverdale Park until it was unceremoniously "moved" further west and renamed Sunnybrooke--quite a walk for the hapless Cloverdale Park residents.
Sadly, these cars are in the process of being scrapped. Sitting in Point St. Charles since being removed from service, a new buyer could not be found, thus in July 2022 a call went out to tender for recycling. I believe they ended up at American Iron. I have a video of the funeral train a few weeks ago. I will post it on my page.
![[From The Archive] Deux-Montagnes & Mascouche Line Trains In Action](/img/n.gif)
Okay, here is the thing. Exo frequency was more on the poor side and ligne Deux-Montagnes was just an electrified commuter rail line, similar to those you see operated by SEPTA. It was nice for a 9-5 commuter, but it was not great for anything else. As a result, many areas north of the Mount Royal tunnel were made to be car-oriented, including the Town of Mont-Royal build by the original owner of the line, since there was no way to have a complete life there and not drive. Frequency is the game changer. In addition to 9-5 commuters, who will still get to work since the overall capacity of the line will be much greater, the line will be useful to anyone else living within the 15 minute radius from it. Commuter-oriented stations north of Bois Franc could be easily upgraded to local intermodal transit hubs for Laval and North Shore. It also removes a huge maintenance issue from Exo, since this was their only electrified rail line with many century-old infrastructure relics and bespoke car fleet. Finally, the Mount Royal tunnel will finally be utilized to its full potential. It will be carrying up to one train per minute in peak hours, connecting YUL, West Island, Laval and North Shore to the city centre. From any conceivable prospective, this is a better option. Well, maybe besides the railfaning one, since the cars were really unique. But the overall change is positive
Thanks for documenting this line. There is a comment at the end that the switch to light rail seems more reasonable now because of the pandemic. Light rail on this, a 30km line, never really made sense. Light rail is designed shorter distances. An fully automated line over such a distance with only 6 stops in the last 18kms and the kinds of winter we have will be trouble. Don't get me wrong, it will be nice to go downtown (or even the airport) on a whim without having to look at a schedule but it doesn't warrant shutting down a rail system for 4, probably 5 to 6 years. Thankfully I don't have to take the train every day because I would really be pissed at the shutdown.
The rem's capacity per train is very poor against a commuter rail. An for all of the reasons you mentionned above, I think it is a bad decision to scrap this line for a smaller sized automatic train system.
While is is true that the 2-car and 4-car REM trains will be relatively uncomfortable for long-duration rides, I will assume that 6-car and even 8-car trains will eventually replace them (along with the necessary extended platforms), as is the case on the Sydney, Australia Metro which uses the same Alstom Metropolis rolling stock. Incidentally, the Sydney trains have padded seats.@@-Productions-xu5bc
2:21 Houses are very very European, like in Germany, Czech republic, maybe France
On what date did the A Ma Baie station close? It was located just west of Alexander Avenue and for decades served the high density community of Cloverdale Park until it was unceremoniously "moved" further west and renamed Sunnybrooke--quite a walk for the hapless Cloverdale Park residents.
By the way, what kind of arc blowout does it equipment use? Pneumatic or electromagnetic?
Train reminds me a dream version of LIRR in New York. If I'd own some land, I'd buy them as a conference lounge.
Sadly, these cars are in the process of being scrapped. Sitting in Point St. Charles since being removed from service, a new buyer could not be found, thus in July 2022 a call went out to tender for recycling. I believe they ended up at American Iron. I have a video of the funeral train a few weeks ago. I will post it on my page.
Excellent video. You were lucky to ride this train, which will no longer run. Are there any HO scale models of it?
sounds I guess can be used to DCC Sound Decoders
Very painful to watch.
Hi! Nice video! I've added it to my public playlist on my channel, AMT Deux-Montagnes train line, as part of archives! :)