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Montreal Metro
Posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022 Visited Montreal last month and had a nice experience. The Metro currently runs the newer MPM-10 Azur and the older MR-73. Almost all of its 68 stations have side platforms, even the terminals. The trains were frequent and reliable. On Friday they were running every 4-6 minutes, and on Saturday some 6-8 minutes. The system has 4 lines (Green, Orange, Yellow, and Blue), but are numbered 1,2,4, and 5 (3 was supposed to be a planned Red line that was never built, but that routing has some similarities to the under-construction REM). Of course, a big difference between NYC and Montreal is that the Metro uses rubber-tired trains, just like Paris. Overall, I was very impressed. The REM Réseau Express Métropolitain under construction, on the Champlain bridge.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by LuchAAA* on Wed May 18 01:14:22 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Nice. Thanks for posting. I enjoyed Montreal subway too. Was there in 2006.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Osmosis Jones* on Wed May 18 03:47:45 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Nice photos. That MPM-10 is a nice looking car, and the concrete guardrails next to the rail for the wheels is also an interesting feature. Can you get around fine if you speak no French?
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill Newkirk* on Wed May 18 06:37:46 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Nice photos. When I was in Montreal a few years ago, the rolling stock I rode had axiflow ceiling fans like in the R-27's etc. but smaller in size. I guess that equipment was replaced with the new cars in the photos. Bill Newkirk
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by New Flyer #857* on Wed May 18 06:51:18 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Awesome! I'm waiting until at least most of the REM is in operation before finally going up for a first visit.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by IRTRedbirdR33* on Wed May 18 09:41:06 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Thank you for that nice selection of pictures. I rode the Montreal Metro for the first time in the summer of 1967. I went up to Canada for Expo 67 and the system was brand new. Larry, RedbirdR33
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Wallyhorse* on Wed May 18 09:54:13 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Stations have not changed much from when I was there for the 1976 Summer Olympics. They look pretty much as I remember them from that time.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Jersey Mike* on Wed May 18 10:30:46 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Only some Paris lines use the rubber tyre system.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill from Maspeth* on Wed May 18 11:46:55 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Osmosis Jones on Wed May 18 03:47:45 2022.* Yes. However there are more French only speaking citizens in Montreal than Toronto.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill from Maspeth* on Wed May 18 11:51:36 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill Newkirk on Wed May 18 06:37:46 2022.* I find it unusual that the Montreal cars don't have air conditioning/year round climate control system. While summers are short in Montreal, those cars are hot in August. Plus in the winter a climate control system would have heat coming out of the ceiling rather than just the floor which would distribute the heat more evenly throughout the car.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Joe* on Wed May 18 12:49:23 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* I wonder whether they still use a two-man crew. In the 1970's, I recall the rapid turnback at Henri-Bourassa. Let passengers out. Go beyond the terminal. Rear conductor becomes motorman. Into platform and ready to roll. --- The summer heat was, I believe, caused by tire friction. Note that there are also small horizontal tires. In 1967, I recall the smell of peanut oil, supposedly in wooden brake shoes.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill Newkirk* on Wed May 18 13:14:01 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 11:51:36 2022.* I find it unusual that the Montreal cars don't have air conditioning/year round climate control system. Not only that but I found that the rubber tired cars were noisy. I still don't understand the purpose of rubber tires verses steel wheels. Bill Newkirk
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill Newkirk* on Wed May 18 13:14:04 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 11:51:36 2022.* I find it unusual that the Montreal cars don't have air conditioning/year round climate control system. Not only that but I found that the rubber tired cars were noisy. I still don't understand the purpose of rubber tires verses steel wheels. Bill Newkirk
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill Newkirk* on Wed May 18 13:14:06 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 11:51:36 2022.* I find it unusual that the Montreal cars don't have air conditioning/year round climate control system. Not only that but I found that the rubber tired cars were noisy. I still don't understand the purpose of rubber tires verses steel wheels. Bill Newkirk
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by chicagoMotorman* on Wed May 18 13:21:15 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* I was supposed to visit Montreal for the first time September 2020, but Prime Minister Trudeau put a stop to it.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Mark S. Feinman* on Wed May 18 14:28:20 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* Very nice! Is this still an active line? --Mark
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill from Maspeth* on Wed May 18 16:09:31 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 11:51:36 2022.* I agree with you in reference to the noise factor.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill from Maspeth* on Wed May 18 16:10:31 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 16:09:31 2022.* The above response meant for Bill Newkirk.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Osmosis Jones* on Wed May 18 16:15:11 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 11:46:55 2022.* Thank you Bill! I want to ride the Adirondack up there when they bring it back.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Wed May 18 16:26:04 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 11:46:55 2022.* That’s not comparable as Toronto is a fully English city. There’s not French influence at all, other than bilingual signage at federal offices and the like.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by AlM* on Wed May 18 17:27:38 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Wed May 18 16:26:04 2022.* Yeah, Ottawa is probably the only sizeable Canadian city outside of Quebec where lots of people are comfortable speaking French, or it's even their native language. (Also probably a few towns in New Brunswick.) As a totally off-topic aside, there are also towns in northern Quebec where the two main spoken languages are Cree and English.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Wed May 18 18:15:18 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by AlM on Wed May 18 17:27:38 2022.* Ottawa is right next to Quebec. Ottawa:Quebec::NYC:NJ.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Bill Newkirk* on Wed May 18 18:15:54 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Wed May 18 16:10:31 2022.* The above response meant for Bill Newkirk. Acknowledged. Bill Newkirk
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Nasadowsk* on Wed May 18 18:28:08 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Jersey Mike on Wed May 18 10:30:46 2022.* And, in my experience, they’re noiser and ride pretty badly.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP* on Wed May 18 18:59:25 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* I rode on the Metro back in 1967 when we visited Expo 67, and each subsequent year through 1971. Haven't been on it since, which means I haven't ridden on any of the extensions or the Blue line. IINM all stations have side platforms.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Easy* on Wed May 18 21:11:29 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Wed May 18 18:15:18 2022.* Do they still accept American dollars in Montreal? The exchange rate isn't favorable to do so now, but when I went it was closer to 0.90 USD to 1.00 CD and I decided to not exchange. Except thinking about it now, I don't often use cash, so who cares?
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Ancient Mariner* on Wed May 18 21:22:48 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Easy on Wed May 18 21:11:29 2022.* Since a Canadian dollar is worth about 78 US cents right now, I imagine that anyone would be thrilled to accept a US dollar straight up for a Canadian one. But as you say, cash is not really used very much anyway. If you want to have a bit handy though, just go to an ATM and withdraw $20 Canadian - Your US back account would be have $15.50 deducted (plus any ATM fees, of course).
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by GojiMet86* on Wed May 18 22:54:34 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Mark S. Feinman on Wed May 18 14:28:20 2022.* Yes, I've seen photos from a Canadian railfan (Michael Berry) and he takes a bunch of photos around Montreal. It's called the CN East Side Canal Bank Spur. This is one of his recent ones from March 2022....... ......and this is from 2021: The nearest Metro station is Charlevoix.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by GojiMet86* on Wed May 18 23:16:16 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Osmosis Jones on Wed May 18 03:47:45 2022.* Written French is easy to understand. Many English words come borrowed from French, so you can recognize what a whole sentence implies. Now for speaking, most people know some level of English, many good or even perfect. If you're taking the Metro, be aware that the trains don't use Northbound or Southbound or East/West, they use terminals instead so you have to know where they are. The sign indicates trains heading in the direction of Montmorency, and Sortie is Exit.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by GojiMet86* on Thu May 19 00:11:19 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Joe on Wed May 18 12:49:23 2022.* The Yellow Line definitely does it, I saw operators on both ends at the Berri-UQAM terminal. But the line is just a three-station shuttle, similar to the 42nd Street and Franklin shuttles. The other three lines are OPTO and need just one person. This is the MR-73 pulling into Berri-UQAM with the first operator in the front. After the train emptied out, it pulled into the relay track beyond the platform. There was an second operator, in the back. I'm pretty sure this operator is also there for the whole trip as well, and did not just get into the train at this terminal. The train relayed and headed to Longueuil with the second operator now becoming the "front" operator. I got off at the next and only intermediate station, Jean Dapreau. As the train pulled out, I saw the first operator in the back now. All terminals have relay tracks past the platforms, and almost all have the same track layout as well: they have a single crossover before and a single crossover after the station. Only Montmorency has diamond crossovers before and after the terminal, and Snowdon only has a single crossover, located after the station. Here's the full track map from Carto Metro.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by New Flyer #857* on Thu May 19 08:54:00 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Wed May 18 23:16:16 2022.* If you're taking the Metro, be aware that the trains don't use Northbound or Southbound or East/West, they use terminals instead so you have to know where they are. That's pretty standard in my experience, with just a few exceptions. NYC of course has its own vocabulary with the boroughs and then uptown/downtown/crosstown, etc., and Boston likes to use "inbound" and "outbound" a lot. But in other big US cities (e.g. Chicago, Washington, DC) and much of Europe it's all done by terminal (with "Loop" being a terminal in Chicago), no matter how far away that terminal is.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by AlM* on Thu May 19 08:56:47 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Ancient Mariner on Wed May 18 21:22:48 2022.* Plus a currency exchange fee which will be at least 3%.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Thu May 19 10:30:50 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by AlM on Thu May 19 08:56:47 2022.* Not necessarily. Depends on the bank policy. Charles Schwab Bank doesn’t do that.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by AlM* on Thu May 19 12:37:43 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu May 19 10:30:50 2022.* OK. You've checked that the conversion rate they give you is roughly the rate for the day (average of bid and asked)? Banks that do this don't TELL you they're giving you an exchange rate that is 3% or more worse than the published rate.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Thu May 19 12:55:53 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by AlM on Thu May 19 12:37:43 2022.* I just checked, and no.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by AlM* on Thu May 19 13:06:46 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu May 19 12:55:53 2022.* Aha. I'm not really surprised. I've never heard of a bank NOT burying 3% or more into the conversion rate they use.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Joe* on Thu May 19 13:15:06 2022, in response to Montreal Metro, posted by GojiMet86 on Tue May 17 23:03:21 2022.* @gojimet Thanks for the link to the track map. --- I must point out a brief item on Wikipedia that includes the dates of two horrible accidents, one on December 8, 1971, on a tail track of Henri Bourassa. A fire lasted 17 hours. Inferno
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Thu May 19 13:22:34 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by AlM on Thu May 19 13:06:46 2022.* Huh? I just pointed out an example of a bank NOT burying a 3% exchange rate fee.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Charles G* on Thu May 19 14:05:49 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu May 19 13:22:34 2022.* From Charles Schwab bank - in the footnotes: If you use your Card to withdraw foreign currency from an ATM, or to pay for a purchase with foreign currency, Schwab Bank charges your account for the U.S. dollar equivalent of the transaction. Depending on the specific arrangements that are in place, the exchange rate and calculation of the U.S. dollar equivalent will be done by the bank at which you conduct the transaction, the network to which the ATM belongs, or Visa. The bank or network may also charge a fee. Schwab Bank does not assess foreign transaction fees (i.e., a fee to convert US Dollars to local currency) to debit cardholders. See the Schwab Bank Visa Debit Card Agreement or (specific schwab.com link) for details. So Schwab doesn't charge the fee, but their business partner in Canada (or whichever other country does). There is no bank anywhere that is giving you the midpoint. Schwab's partner is going to charge you their "buy C$" rate, which will be anywhere from 2%-4% more than the midpoint between the buy and sell rates.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by New Flyer #857* on Thu May 19 14:31:49 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu May 19 12:55:53 2022.* I try to use American Express--which doesn't do foreign transaction fees--wherever it's accepted in Europe (and cash for everything else). When I look at the Amex transactions afterward, they seem relatively fair but I never really do the math.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Charles G* on Thu May 19 14:54:47 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by New Flyer #857 on Thu May 19 14:31:49 2022.* Some AmEx cards have no foreign transaction fees, but others do (naturally the annual fees on such cards are among their highest). They do appear to give an exchange rate somewhere near the mid point. I used an Uber last Sunday in London - the local charge was GBP 50.56 and the USD charge on my statement is $61.86 for an exchange rate of 1.2235 -- which is almost exactly where the midpoint of the exchange spread was over the weekend.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Thu May 19 15:01:52 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Charles G on Thu May 19 14:05:49 2022.* I don’t know what a reliable exchange rate is, but I looked at my old transactions and back in 2008 I looked at one of my Spanish ATM withdrawals where I remember I withdrew €60, and it looks like it was almost exactly 1% higher than what XE.com says is the EUR in USD rate for that day. It didn’t specify if it was the bid or ask.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Spider-Pig* on Thu May 19 15:02:12 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu May 19 15:01:52 2022.* 2018, not 2008.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by AlM* on Thu May 19 17:28:19 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Thu May 19 15:01:52 2022.* OK, 1% is very good. Bid and ask don't differ by much.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by nh153* on Sat May 21 07:28:04 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by LuchAAA on Wed May 18 01:14:22 2022.* Very good photos... and a great subway system. I was on it several times, most recently just before the Covid lockdown. It's very clean. 15 years ago, most of the cars had video screens that gave info, showed advertisements and told you the next station. That was well before they were seen on PATH trains... and still don't exist on NYC subways or SIR.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by New Flyer #857* on Sat May 21 07:35:33 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by nh153 on Sat May 21 07:28:04 2022.* The global standard is slowly becoming that the screens tell you the next station or bus stop, all transfers available there (including buses if you're on a train) and the next couple of real-time departures for each of those transfer possibilities (again including buses). While it appears amazing the first time you experience it, you realize that all it really needs is an Internet connection.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by nh153* on Sat May 21 07:38:40 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by Spider-Pig on Wed May 18 16:26:04 2022.* Toronto has more speakers of Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi-Urdu, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese than French. It ranks next to New York as being one of the most international cities on the planet. But if you're an immigrant who speaks French, you most likely will go to Montreal. Immigrant children who come from a non-English speaking country MUST go to French language schools. Otherwise, they'd go to an English school and never become fluent in French. The Montreal Metro tries hard to use French. All advertisements are required to be in French only and station announcements are in French. But emergency info is in English and the fare machines have an English button. Most of the subway personnel speak some English. But I found most bus drivers speak little or no English.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by nh153* on Sat May 21 07:55:28 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by New Flyer #857 on Sat May 21 07:35:33 2022.* I think that ALL sections of the Montreal Metro are below ground. I don't even remember a brief section between stations, such as across a valley, that it goes above ground. The Toronto subway is also mostly below ground. But there are a few times it sees sunlight, either crossing a valley or at some of the newer stations near the end of a line. And the Scarborough #3 line, slated for demolition and replacement, is mostly grade level or above ground.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Joe V* on Sat May 21 08:11:09 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by nh153 on Sat May 21 07:55:28 2022.* Montreal subway cars are not suffiently waterproof to ever go outside. There are no outdoor yards or shops.
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Re: Montreal Metro
Posted by Joe V* on Sat May 21 08:14:14 2022, in response to Re: Montreal Metro, posted by nh153 on Sat May 21 07:38:40 2022.* Their diction of the PA announcements is awful. From what I hear, Euro-French people have trouble understanding Quebec French. "Champ de Mars" is heard as "Cha Ma'. Whether that is proper or not, it is still slurred speach and unintelligible.
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