REM disruption: no weekend service in late December, early closures for 3 days

A boy rides the REM light rail system back towards downtown Montreal during its inaugural run from the Deux-Montagnes station in Deux-Montagnes, Que., on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Users of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) are being warned that the light-rail system will shut down completely for two days after Christmas and close early in December and January.

The network said the service disruptions are needed in order to do “final testing” on the system before the launch of the branch that will provide service to Montreal’s West Island.

The REM will close early on Dec. 12 and 13, as well as on Jan. 9, 2026, with the last train leaving the Deux-Montagnes station on the North Shore at 8:08 p.m. and the last train leaving the Brossard station on the South Shore at 8:10 p.m.

The entire network will be out of service to passengers on the weekend of Dec. 27 and 28. Regular service will resume on Dec. 29.

The network said special shuttle buses will be available outside of the REM’s operating hours.

The Anse-à-l’Orme branch to the West Island is expected to open to the public in spring 2026. The North Shore branch, which has 14 new stations, opened in mid-November.