When construction of the Montreal-region’s light rail transit system begins in late April, commuters who use the Deux-Montagnes rail network will lose weekend train service.
The service shutdown goes from Friday nights to the end of Sunday and will be replaced by buses from the STM and RTL.
"Oh, that will be a blow," said a woman hopping on the Deux-Montagnes line to go visit her sister. "A lot of people work downtown even though it's weekends."
A spokesperson for the Réseau Express Métropolitan (REM) says the exact date that weekend shutdowns of the line's rail service have not been finalized. The advance notice is to give commuters ample time to prepare.
Début des travaux préparatoires du #REM et interruption temporaire de la ligne Deux-Montagnes les fins de semaine à partir de la fin avril 2018. Toutes les infos : https://t.co/iGtwlEg0Os pic.twitter.com/WjcEd6hb5w
— REM - Réseau express métropolitain (@REMgrandmtl) March 27, 2018
However, commuters that CJAD 800 spoke with all seemed surprised or shocked by the news and some wondered when they'd be given a financial break for all their troubles.
"With all of the issues we've been having lately, I think they should...um...if they're going to make changes they should give back," said one frustrated commuter upset by train delays, cancellations and irregular service.
"It's not enough," even with double-decker trains added to the route in late January. "I know that they're going to hike up the prices again and it's just going to be a neverending nightmare."
The REM says the closures will let preliminary work - like surveying and drilling - to begin while ensuring the safety of those doing the work.
The start date of these weekend shutdowns will be made within the next couple weeks.
* With files from Andrew Peplowski