MONTREAL – The Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT), has signed an agreement in principle to buy the Deux-Montagnes train line from Canadian National (CN).
Under the agreement, passenger trains will have track priority, making it easier for the AMT to increase service to its West Island, Laval and North Shore regions.
This would in turn decrease the priority of freight trains using the line and reduce the chance of passenger trains getting delayed.
Read more: AMT launches new app to help commuters get real-time updates
Read more: Commuters react to Deux-Montagnes train cancellations
Right now, the AMT is leasing the line from CN.
That means freight trains have priority between 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and 8:30 pm to 5:30 am.
With 49 trains during the week, Deux-Montagnes already has the most departures of any AMT train and freight train interruptions in the line are often a source of complaint from commuters.
The 12-stop line, which has long been the AMT’s busiest, accounts for 45 per cent of ridership.
Read more: AMT ridership down, but why is a mystery
To fix this, as well as address concerns about overcrowding during rush hour, the AMT has plans to add more departures to the line once the purchase is finalized.
The total price has yet to be disclosed but the organization revealed it has already set aside $126 million to buy its train lines and building land.
Read more: Service on Deux-Montagnes line gradually restored
Comments