Train to bring suburbanites to Montreal in under an hour

The new commuter-rail line linking Montreal to communities north of the island will be able to transport suburbanites to downtown Montreal in a maximum of 61 minutes.

A 12-kilometre section of the rail line will have to be constructed between Mascouche and Repentigny. The rest of the line already exists; the CN rail in the north-east end off the island of Montreal will make for a total of 51 kilometres of rail.

• FROM MARCH 17, 2006: Rail line will link Montreal, Mascouche

Besides the stop in downtown Montreal, the commuter-rail line will also offer stops at Sauv metro station, and Central Station.

Residents of some suburban communities can make the trip to downtown Montreal in under an hour:

• From Mascouche, 61 minutes.
• From Terrebonne, 58 minutes.
• From Repentigny, 49 minutes.
• From Charlemagne, 45 minutes.

In Mascouche, the terminus will offer 500 parking spaces and a garage for the trains.

In Terrebonne, another 500-space parking lot will be built, whereas 360 parking spots will be available to commuters in Le Gardeur/Charlemagne.

Up to 24,000 people north of the city either take the bus or drive their cars to Montreal, and deal with traffic jams on Autoroute 40.

Experts predict 6,500 commuters from eastern Montreal and the northern off-island suburbs will use the line every day.

The rail line project will cost $300 million, and the 51-kilometre line should be in service by 2009.