STM halts repair work on Blue line escalators

The STMhas been forced to indefinitely suspend repair work on its Metro station escalators because of defective replacement partspotentially stranding passengers with limited mobility.

Four stations on the network's Blue line currently have escalators out of operationdouard-Montpetit,Jean-Talon,Saint-Michel andCte-des-Neiges.

They were due to be the first stations to have extensive repair work doneas part of a $34-million, multi-year project to upgrade the Metro system's escalators. In all, 24 escalators are to be completely replaced and a further39 overhauled by 2020.

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But the transit agency is now warning users not to expect the escalators on the Blue line to be back up and running anytime soon.

A manufacturing defect was recently discovered in the replacement parts, forcing the STM to halt the ongoing repair work on the Blue line and delay scheduled repairs in the rest of the network.

It's not clear when the issue will be resolved. The douard-Montpetit andJean-Talon escalators have beenout of order since July 2016.

"We're in touch with the manufacturer to correct the situation and continue the replacement work already begun," saidAmlie Rgis, a spokesperson for the STM.

She declined to say whether the defect, and the delays, would increase the price tag of the repair work.

For the time being, in the affected stations, the STMhas kept at least one escalatorgoing up operational.