Montreal enters planning stage for 2 new REM stations

CDPQ Infra, the government of Quebec and the city of Montreal announced the launch of the planning phase for two additional Reseau express metropolitan (REM) stations in Montreal: the Griffintown-Bernard-Landry station and a new station near Bridge and Wellington streets.

REM is an automated light-rail system that serves the Greater Montreal area. 

The Griffintown station will serve the north side of the Lanchine Canal; it will support redevelopment in the Wellington Basin area and the south side of the canal. The exact location and name of the second station will be announced at a later date, CDPQ officials said in a press release. 

The Griffintown station had originally been slated for construction in 2024, but planning was delayed in 2023 when the city of Montreal requested an additional station. The project developer, CDPQ Infra, recommended simultaneous construction to limit costs and impact.

"The simultaneous construction of these two stations is the best solution for users and for the network, said Danial Farina, president and CEO of CDPQ, in a press release. “It enables the implementation of the most efficient methods to deliver this major enhancement while limiting impacts on REM service and local communities."

The planning phase will include procurement and technical and environmental studies. It will determine the project's schedule and final cost; CDPQ Infra anticipates that the entire project could be completed over a four-year period, with construction to begin in 2028. The REM network will remain in operation during construction.

This stage of the project is being funded with CA$25 million from the government of Quebec and an additional CA$250 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), bringing the CIB’s total funding of the project thus far to CA$1.83 billion.