Commuters flock to new West Island REM branch ahead of opening

MONTREAL – Commuters boarded trains over the weekend as Montreal opened its long-awaited western branch of the REM — an automated light-rail network — for a free preview ahead of its official launch on May 18.

As riders looked out over the West Island, Margot Harley said the experience stood out. “I feel like I’m in another city. It’s incredible,” she said. She added that she expects the new line will make her daily work commute to downtown Montreal easier.

The REM, or Réseau express métropolitain, is a driverless rapid transit network across the Montreal region, designed to connect downtown with suburbs, the airport and surrounding communities.

From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the weekend on May 16 and May 17, riders could access the new branch at no cost, with service at four West Island stations: Des Sources, Fairview–Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, and Anse-à-l’Orme. Regular REM service continued on the rest of the network during the weekend, with standard fares still in effect.

The West Island is a suburban area on the western tip of the Island of Montreal, home to communities that have long relied heavily on cars.

Inside the four participating stations, commuters could pick up a paper “passport” designed to resemble a travel document but branded with REM imagery, and collect ink stamps at each of the four West Island stations. REM staff were stationed at stamping booths in Des Sources, Fairview–Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, and Anse-à-l’Orme, where small lineups formed as riders waited to have their passports marked at each stop.

For many riders, the experience was as much about discovery as transportation.

Sam Larouche, a 24-year-old commuter who came with his grandmother, said the passport-style stamps added a sense of meaning to the trip. “(It’s not) like a regular passport where you travel abroad. This was a very special passport,” he said. “It was like a rite of passage.” 

He said he believed the REM would eventually become an important link for suburban commuters, even if it was still early in its development.

Aziz Belhaj said he was happy to finally see the long-planned extension open and connecting the West Island to downtown Montreal. “I had been waiting a long time and watching the construction,” he said. “I’m pleased to see that this part of Montreal is connected to the city centre.” 

He said he expected public transit use to grow as the network expanded and was already looking ahead to the airport link. The final phase of the REM, which will link downtown Montreal to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, is expected to open before the end of 2027.

Daniel Landry, 34, said he took the REM line from Des Sources all the way to Bonaventure station in downtown Montreal — a trip he said took about 30 minutes — to attend the Montreal Canadiens Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres.

“It will be a lot simpler to get downtown now, we won’t need to use the car all the time,” he said, adding that parking in the city is often difficult. “It was pretty much impossible to find parking anyway,” he said.

Alexandre Poulin, 27, said the new system made a strong first impression. “It feels fancy. It’s my first time using the REM, and I like it,” he said.

The extension connects several suburban communities on the West Island, including Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

The western branch’s opening came after repeated delays — it was initially scheduled for late 2024 before being pushed to fall 2025 and then spring 2026.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2026.