RTM train service is plagued by delays, commuters say

Montrealers who use theRseau de transport mtropolitain(RTM) commuter trains to get to work are growing increasingly frustrated with delays that leave them either waiting on the freezing platform or cramped inside stalled train cars for upwards of 30 minutes.

Katherine Bertrand, who uses the Vaudreuil-Hudson line starting at Pincourt station, says over the last month her train is habitually stoppingbetween Vendme station and the terminus at Central station.

"Today forexample, for 40 minutes we were just stuck in between andthere'snowhere to go," she told CBC. "Theysay it's going to be fiveminutes and it ends up being 40."

She saidthat no explanation for the delay wasgiven during her commute.

"There doesn't seem to be much accountability,"said Bertrand. "As soon as the snow comes its a guessing game of when you'll be at work."

A spokesperson for the RTM told CBCMonday afternoon that the Deux-Montagnesline was delayed due to frozen brakes.

She saidwhile staff are supposed to make regular announcements to keep users updated, they are often busy working on solving the problem itself.

Problems persist on Deux-Montagnes

Ivan Lu, who has been an RTM commuter for 16 years, said that Monday morning he was surprised to find an eight-car train arrive atSunnybrookestation in the West Islandinstead of the usual 10-car.

As a result, he said, the train filled up quickly and couldn't take on anymore passengers halfway down the line.

"Almost no one could get on board at the next stop, it was too full," he said. "Hundreds of people were waiting under extreme cold conditions, close to 30 C, on the platform of different stations along the line."

Lu saideven as one of the riders fortunate enough to get on at Sunnybrooke, his morning commute was no picnic standing for an hourpacked in "worse than sardines."

On top of that, his train stopped for an additional 10 minutes with all the doors open, due to a medical emergency.

"Everybody was freezing in the train," he said. "Ireally expect them to have better services."

'A trying start to the year'

The RTM released a statement directed at users Monday morning, saying that they are aware of the problems and working to improve matters.

"It has been a trying start to the year for our commuter train network, mainly because of the extreme weather conditions we are currently experiencing," it says.

The statement, signed by executive director of operationsStphane Lapierre, detailshow snow accumulation and temperature swings have had a "major impact on operations."

The RTM is "making every effort to improve the situation,"Lapierresaid, including ramping up efforts to execute its winter action planand adding additional crews on the ground.

Switchers on the tracks have been subject to freezing even though they are supposed to be heated automatically, so rail staff are sometimes forced to operate them manually. That cantake up to 20 minutes, the statement says.

The release also details a number of other issues, some of which the RTM says are beyond its control, including problems with the signalling system, vehicles on railway overpasses, broken level crossing barriers, and the passage of freight trains.