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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 02 July 2006 - 04:30 PM

Since I no longer do guides for fests, I am going to use this topic to give you a slight tutorial on Montreal and its rail transportation lines.

Let's start with the rail stations.

There are two major rail stations in downtown Montreal. Central Station, or Gare Central, is the larger of the two. Amtrak's ADIRONDACK and all VIA Rail Canada intercity trains call here. We'll get to the commuter rail lines later, but know for now that two of the five commuter rail lines also use Central Station.

You may have heard of Windsor Station as well. This was the "other" rail station in Montreal, located a few blocks west of Central Station. While the building is still there, the functioning station is now a little further west at Gare Lucien-L'Allier. Three commuter rail lines use Gare Lucien-L'Allier.

On our fest we will be using both of these downtown stations. Central Station is closest to the Bonaventure station on the Metro Orange Line. Lucien-L'Allier is at a station on the Metro Orange Line by the same name as the rail station.

One of our commuter rail departures will take place from the Parc station, located in the northern part of the city along the Blainville commuter line and accessed by the Metro Blue Line. Parc is adjacent to Parc Jarry, where the Montreal Expos originally played before they moved to Olympic Stadium.

For a map of the area around Gare Lucien-L'Allier and the Lucien-L'Allier Metro station, see here.
For a map of the area around Central Station and the Bonaventure Metro station, see here.
For a map of the area around the Parc commuter rail and Metro stations, see here.


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#2 KevinKorell

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Posted 02 July 2006 - 05:41 PM

Now let's discuss the commuter rail lines themselves.

Commuter rail in the Montreal area is operated by the Agence Metropolitaine de Transporte (AMT). There are currently five commuter rail lines.

From Central Station, we have the Deux Montagnes Line. This is AMT's only electric line, powered by overhead catenary. It runs through the city's northern suburbs. Its highlight is a tunnel under Mount Royal, the city's namesake. Click here for more information. The Deux Montagnes Line runs seven days a week between the endpoints Montreal and Deux Montagnes. We will ride this line on Saturday morning during our Fest.

The other line using Central Station is the Mont-Saint-Helaire Line. This one runs weekdays only. Four trains run inbound in the morning rush, and four outbound in the evening rush. We will thus be unable to ride this particular line when we visit. However a small portion of this line between St. Lambert and Central Station will be traversed by the ADIRONDACK when we approach and depart from Montreal. More on the Mont-Saint-Helaire Line is here.

Now let's move to the three lines serving Gare Lucien-L'Allier. The Metro Orange Line serves this station. In addition, all lines out of Lucien-L'Allier also stop at Vendome, also served by the Metro Orange Line.

First we have by far the longest one, the Dorion-Rigaud Line. Service between Montreal and Dorion runs seven days a week in both directions. Only one rush hour trip in each direction extends to Rigaud. A major stop on this line is Dorval, where one can take a shuttle directly into Pierre Trudeau International Airport. For more information on the Dorion-Rigaud Line, click here. Our Fest travels on this line will be between Gare Lucien-L'Allier and Dorion on Saturday afternoon. VIA Rail Canada also uses part of this line (although it serves Central Station instead), so you may see some of the same stations as we travel towards Toronto and return from Ottawa.

Next we have the Blainville Line. This one is an oddball. It runs all day on weekdays only in both directions. No weekend service. However not all trips start or end at Gare Lucien-L'Allier. Some trains originate or terminate at Gare Parc. This is the reason we will be starting our outbound trip on Friday afternoon at Parc rather than downtown. (Our return trip will continue into Lucien-L'Allier.) In the future, this line will be extended to St. Jerome. You can find out more about the Blainville Line by clicking here.

Finally, AMT's newest route is the Delson-Candiac Line. This one operates rush hours only, sending four trains inbound in the morning, and four outbound in the evening. Like the Mont-Saint-Helaire Line, we won't be able to ride the Delson-Candiac Line on our Fest. Further information here.

And that covers the commuter rail lines. Next, the Metro.


Kevin Korell


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#3 gaspeamtrak

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Posted 03 July 2006 - 02:25 PM


First we have by far the longest one, the Dorion-Rigaud Line. Service between Montreal and Dorion runs seven days a week in both directions. Only one rush hour trip in each direction extends to Rigaud. A major stop on this line is Dorval, where one can take a shuttle directly into Pierre Trudeau International Airport. For more information on the Dorion-Rigaud Line, click here. Our Fest travels on this line will be between Gare Lucien-L'Allier and Dorion on Saturday afternoon. VIA Rail Canada also uses part of this line (although it serves Central Station instead), so you may see some of the same stations as we travel towards Toronto and return from Ottawa.



Just would like to point out that it is the CP line you will be riding on. Via rail runs on the parralell line of CN.
:)

#4 KevinKorell

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Posted 05 July 2006 - 11:24 AM

The Metro is operated by the Societe de Transporte de Montreal, or STM. The STM is also responsible for local bus transit throughout the city. Like most cities, bus routes are coordinated to feed the Metro subway stations.

The Metro consists of four routes that fan out to most outer portions of the city and the suburbs. They are generally referred to by both color and number. Directions are referred to by the terminus points at each end of the line.

Line 1, the Metro Green Line runs from Angrignon to Honore-Beaugrand, in a southwest to northeast direction, for a distance of 13.7 miles. It generally parallels the St. Lawrence River, but there are some twists and turns along the way. Major transfer points for the Metro Green Line are at Lionel-Groulx (Orange Line) and Berri-UQAM (Orange & Yellow Lines).

Line 2, the Metro Orange Line, is shaped like a U, similar to routes in Washington, DC and Toronto. The U is tilted so its open part is in the northwest. The left side of the route terminates at Cote-Vertu (which is confusing if you know a little French, since "verte" is the French word for "green"). The right side of the "U" currently ends at Henri-Bourassa. The current length of the route is 15.4 miles. An extension is under construction from Henri-Bourassa that will bring the Metro Orange Line out of Montreal proper and into neighboring Laval. Three new stations in Laval will open sometime in 2007, with the new terminus being Montmorercy. Another stop will be at De La Concorde, where the Metro Orange Line will interface with AMT's Blainville Line. Major transfer points on the Metro Orange Line are Lionel-Groulx (Green Line), Berri-UQAM (Green & Yellow Lines), Snowdon, and Jean-Talon (the latter two with the Blue Line).

Most tourists will find themselves on mainly the Green and Orange Lines.

There is no Line 3. It is one of those long stories, similar to why Philadelphia has no R4 commuter route. The short version is that AMT's Deux Montagnes Line operates in the corridor that was once considered for a Metro Line 3.

Line 4 is the Metro Yellow Line. By far the shortest of the routes (2.6 miles long) the Metro Yellow Line traverses the St. Lawrence River to the city of Longueuil. There is only one intermediate stop, on an island that was once host to a World's Fair back in the 1967. The endpoints of the Metro Yellow Line are Berri-UQAM (Green & Orange Lines) and Longueuil, where one can interchange with that city's bus system. Because of its short route, the Metro Yellow Line operates with two motormen, one at either end of the train, very similar to New York City's Times Square-Grand Central Shuttle.

Finally, we have Line 5, the Metro Blue Line. This one runs from southwest to northeast connecting the two sides of the Metro Orange Line at Snowdon and Jean-Talon, and it extends beyond the latter to Saint-Michel. Besides meeting the Orange Line at Snowdon and Jean-Talon, the Metro Blue Line also intersects with the AMT Blainville Line at Parc. This route is a little over 6 miles long.

Montreal's Metro is entirely underground. This is because the system uses rubber tires rather than steel wheels. Rubber tires would not work outdoors during the harsh winters. This phenomenon is modeled after parts of the Metro system in Paris.

All endpoint stations have areas beyond the terminus station for layups and changing directions; there are no bumping posts within the stations.

Of note is that Montreal's Metro system is not air conditioned. A series of fans circulates the air. The stations may feel hot at times, but it is said to not be unbearable.


Kevin Korell


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Lakewood, NJ





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