A new branch of Montreal's REM light rail is opening next month with 4 new stations

The REM's West Island branch will finally open May 18, bringing rapid transit to Pointe-Claire, Kirkland and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue for the first time in the region's history. The Anse-à-l'Orme line adds four new stations over 14 kilometres, connecting Des Sources, Fairview—Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, and Anse-à-l'Orme to Montreal's growing light-rail network. This third branch brings the total REM system to 23 stations across 63 kilometres, as reported by MTL Blog. The network has been steadily expanding since its first five downtown-to-South Shore stations opened in 2023, followed by the 30-kilometre North Shore line last fall. Daily ridership has averaged 75,000 trips since November, with peak usage hitting 98,000 rides in a single day. For West Island residents who've watched orange cones multiply faster than Tim Hortons locations, this represents a seismic shift in how we move around the city. No more white-knuckling it through the Turcot interchange or playing "will the 211 bus actually show up" roulette. The REM promises high-frequency service that runs independently of Montreal's existing transit network, meaning fewer delays and more predictable commutes. REM operator Pulsar calls this "the first high frequency, structurally integrated public transit network to serve the area" — corporate speak that translates to "finally, something that works." The May 18 opening date depends on final testing going smoothly, which in Montreal construction terms means we're cautiously optimistic while keeping our AMT passes handy. The timing couldn't be better for a region that's seen explosive growth but transit infrastructure stuck somewhere in the Duplessis era. Fairview shopping centre alone generates enough traffic to make Highway 40 look like a parking lot on weekends. Now shoppers, commuters, and airport-bound travelers will have a genuine alternative to sitting in traffic. The final piece comes in 2027 when two more stations connect the network to Trudeau Airport, completing a transit dream that seemed impossible just a decade ago. Until then, West Islanders get to experience something revolutionary: public transit that might actually be faster than driving. Bon voyage to bumper-to-bumper traffic — at least until the next construction season starts.