Deux-Montagnes mayor calls expected commuter train delays 'unacceptable'

The mayor ofDeux-Montagnessays it's "unacceptable" that commuters will have at least 35 minutes tacked onto their usual travel time in and out of Montreal, and that theregional transit authority isn't listening to input from locals.

Starting in 2020, work on the new light-rail train network means the Mount Royal Tunnel, which passes under the mountain, will be closed.

Trains on theDeux-Montagnesline will stop atBois-Francstationin Saint-Laurent and ashuttle bus will be set up to ferry commuters betweenBois-Francand theCteVertuMetro station.

Deux-Montagnes MayorDenis Martin told CBC that the additional bus and the metro ride will add more than a half hour to the average commute.

Martin maintains that he's still firmly in support of the light-rail network project, but says he feels like theregional transit authority (ARTM) isn't listening toelected officials on the North Shore, who made suggestions on how to soften the blow.

He said for more than a year, he participated in committee after committee, trying to come up with solutions.

Themunicipal council is trying to arrange for shuttles to take citizens directly downtown from Deux-Montagnes instead.

On Thursday, theconsortiumbuilding theREM light-rail network delivered its plan to ease the strain on users of Exo, which combines all train, bus and adapted transit services onMontreal'snorth and south shores.

Work on the REM line has already forcedExoto cancel fourtrainson the Deux-Montanges lineand shift departure times on 23 trains.

From 2020 to 2022, parts of theline will be shut down entirely, affecting 15,000 users, the consortium said.

TheARTM, which is in charge of the decision, was not available for commentSaturday.