Commuters flock to new West Island REM branch ahead of opening

Highway 40 is shown in the direction of Montreal from a REM train during its inaugural run on the West Island line in Montreal, on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

MONTREAL — Commuters are out in force this weekend to try Montreal’s new western branch of the REM — the city’s automated light-rail network — ahead of its official opening on Monday.

From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, riders can access the new branch for free, with service at four stations: Des Sources, Fairview–Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, and Anse-à-l’Orme.

Visitors can collect stamps in a special REM passport at each station, while transit agents are on site throughout the weekend to answer questions and guide first-time riders.

REM enthusiasts say they are excited to ride the elevated line and take in views of the West Island.

The extension serves several suburban communities on Montreal’s West Island, including Pointe-Claire, Kirkland and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

The launch of the branch was initially scheduled for late 2024, but the deadline was pushed back twice — first to fall 2025 and then to spring 2026.

The final section of the REM, which will connect downtown Montreal to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, is expected to open before the end of 2027.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2026.

Charlotte Glorieux, The Canadian Press