REM train evacuates after long delay
A northbound REM train somewhere between Central Station and Panama had to be evacuated Friday afternoon after it lost power between stations. Service was down for four hours.
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Kate
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Uatu 11:28 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
I was unfortunately on this train. The person in the CTV report must’ve been on my car because I saw the poor girl crying having a panic attack/breakdown. The train stopped on the curve just before the river crossing over to nun’s island so the sun was shining through the windows heating up the car which was already SRO because it was late. I heard them force the door and good because I was going to pass out. Some REM guy walked on the catwalk and came into the car and said they’re sending another train. It eventually arrived and we forced the door open and jumped onto the catwalk.
We were on a curve so the other car door was 1/2 a meter high up and I had to be helped on by another passenger (not a REM employee). Some other lady was so scared she couldn’t make it, but the rest of the train gave her support and encouragement and eventually did and was applauded for her courage. She profusely thanked everyone for being so kind and patient.
Then the doors closed and we waited again for something to happen. Passengers were joking about flipping a coin to see if we’d go downtown or to nun’s island. I have to commend MTL commuters for not having tantrums or angry freakouts. We went back to central station passing the other 2 trains that were stuck behind us. When we got out nobody from the REM was there to inform us of anything just a bunch of befuddled security agents. I went to de la gauchetiere to catch the navette, but the line was crazy so I made my way home via metro Longueuil.
This is yet another REM breakdown that I’ve had to endure and it’s ridiculous. I’ve become the unofficial mtlcityweblog REM breakdown reporter lol. Thank goodness it wasn’t winter or raining because that catwalk would’ve been a slippery deathtrap especially for people with mobility problems. I’ve been on a bus breakdown and that was easy – wait until another arrives and then transfer over. This just makes me long for my old bus commute. Seriously thinking about just commuting via metro Longueuil. It’s longer, but at least a little more predictable.
Kate 11:38 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
Thank you for the report, Uatu. I’m sorry you had to live through that, but it makes a good story.
I’m making you the official mtlcityweblog REM breakdown reporter now!
mare 12:16 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
So Uatu has to be on every broken down REM now and *officially* report? 😉
Thanks for the inside scoop Uatu, it’s terrible to have to endure things like this on a regular basis. But in a couple of years you can look back and have a story to tell: ‘When I was younger it was much worse (or not as bad except once…) etc.’
Kevin 12:22 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
Some enterprising Nuns’ Island should set up a side hustle to deliver snacks and water to stranded REM passengers using a drone.
Nicholas 12:30 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
I had to go to near Panama last Saturday morning. The REM had a delayed opening of 7h30 due to planned works. At 10 it was still not running. Metro and bus worked out great. As I got to Longueuil metro the REM had restarted, but too late for me.
The Brossard section opened 3 years ago next weekend. I certainly wish someone wrote in some financial penalties, either CDPQ to the operators or ARTM/Quebec to CDPQ. If after x years service does not meat y reliability metrics, they owe $z.
Nicholas 12:34 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
Mare, why do you think the service will get any better? Growing pains of a year or two I get, but this was supposedly state of the art, and yet it breaks down as often as our 60-year old metro, maybe more.
PatrickC 14:31 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
There needs to be more public shaming as well as financial penalties (which won’t happen). A small start could be made by guides to the city issuing “travel advisories” against using the REM. A bad foreign rep sometimes has more effect that local complaints.
Nicholas 14:48 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
PatrickC, until the airport segment opens the percentage of REM users who are tourists will be essentially zero. It doesn’t go to any tourist attractions or business destinations. Rail fans, visitors to UdeM and people staying with friends or family is just not a significant group. But yes this would really harm it once the airport station opens, especially if the 747 sticks around, which I’ve seen nothing about but I can’t imagine it will.
Kate 20:28 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
The 747 probably won’t. The REM’s contract involved a degree of monopoly over routes, remember.
Uatu 21:38 on 2026-07-18 Permalink
Lol thanks Kate. Hopefully I won’t have more stories to report. @Nicholas – I have seen tourists mostly they’re staying at the hotel at Dix 30 or the motel next to Panama station. I think there was a tourist family on the train (or maybe they were just Anglos) It’s the best of both worlds for them: access to downtown with cheaper priced suburban hotels with free parking…