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Blue Line (Montreal Metro)

For other uses, see Blue Line.

The Blue Line (French: Ligne bleue), also known as Line 5 (French: Ligne 5), is one of the four lines of the Montreal Metro in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was the fourth to be built, notwithstanding its alternate official name of "Line 5", as Line 3 was planned but never built. Unlike the other three routes, the east–west Blue Line does not serve the city's main Metro junction at Berri-UQAM.

Blue Line
Overview
Native nameLigne Bleue
Line number5
LocaleMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Termini
Stations12
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemMontreal Metro
Operator(s)Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
Depot(s)Plateau d'Youville (connected to line 2, for MR-73 cars)
Snowdon tail tracks and connecting track (connected to line 2, for maintenance of way equipment)
Rolling stockBombardier Transportation MR-73 cars
History
Opened16 June 1986
15 June 1987Opening of extension to Parc
4 January 1988Opening of extension to Snowdon
28 March 1988Opening of Acadie
Technical
Line length9.7 km (6.0 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 750 V DC on the guide bars at either side of the track
Operating speed72 km/h (45 mph)
Route map

Legend
Anjou
Langelier
Lacordaire
Viau
Pie IX
arrow for u extension under construction
Saint-Michel
D'Iberville
Fabre
Jean-Talon
Orange Line
← to Montmorency│to Berri-UQAM ↓
 De Castelnau
to Youville Shops
 Parc
Acadie
Outremont
Édouard-Montpetit
Université-de-Montréal
Côte-des-Neiges
Orange Line
← to Côte-Vertu│to Berri-UQAM ↑
 Snowdon
connection to Orange Line
This diagram:

The line first opened in 1986, with the last addition to the line being an intermediate station in 1988. The line is currently being extended five stations to the east, with completion scheduled for 2030.

History

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The Blue Line was first proposed in the early 1970s as an east–west line passing through the centre of the island of Montreal.[1][2] Construction of Snowdon station began in 1975 as part of the construction of the Orange Line. In 1979, the provincial government confirmed plans to build the Blue Line.

On 16 June 1986, the first section opened, between Saint-Michel and De Castelnau. That was followed by the section from De Castelnau to Parc on 15 June 1987 and Parc to Snowdon on 4 January 1988. The opening of the intermediate station Acadie was delayed for almost three months and occurred on 28 March 1988.

Due to low usage, the line was initially operated from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm on weekdays, and used three-car trains instead of the nine-car trains used on the other Metro lines. Students from the University of Montreal, the main source of Blue Line riders, obtained an extension of the closing time to 11:10 pm and then 12:15 am in 2002.[3] As of 2023, the line has similar opening hours to other metro lines.[4]

In the 2010s, work began on making the line accessible to all, with the installation of elevators.[5] As of 2024, three stations on the line are accessible, including both interchange stations at Snowdon and Jean-Talon.[5][6] In the 2020s, a renovation of Édouard-Montpetit station began to link the station to the new Réseau express métropolitain, which will replace the Deux-Montagnes line with rapid transit.[7][8]

In January 2023, the Société de transport de Montréal announced that the line would be re-signalled with communications-based train control (CBTC) as part of the work to extend the line eastwards to Anjou.[9] In February 2024, a $217-million contract was awarded to Thales to install CBTC on the line.[10][11]

Extensions

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Initial proposals for the line in the 1970s suggested that the line would run from Ville Saint-Pierre, Lachine, in the west, passing through the centre of the island of Montreal before turning north towards Montréal-Nord.[1][2]

Eastern extension to Anjou

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Following the opening of the line in the 1980s, various governments have proposed extending the line east to Anjou, such as prior to the provincial elections of 1989.[1] Various studies took place to understand the cost and ridership potential of an extension.[1]

The former Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT, now ARTM) published a study, Vision 2020, in December 2011. The study proposed extending the Blue Line northeast of Saint-Michel to Anjou. There were a total of five planned new stations: Pie-IX, Viau, Lacordaire, Langelier and Anjou.[12] The terminus would be located at the Galeries d'Anjou shopping centre, near the junction of Autoroute 25 and Autoroute 40.

On 20 September 2013, a 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) extension northeast to St. Leonard and Anjou was announced by the STM and the Quebec government.[13] The provincial government announced that the extension would proceed and committed $38.8 million to set up a project office tasked with preparing detailed financial and technical plans within two years. The start of construction was slated for 2021, with completion in 2025.[14]

After the Parti Québécois lost the 2014 provincial election, the future of the Blue Line extension came into question. The successor Liberal government had expressed interest in extending mass transit to Montréal–Trudeau International Airport and implementing a light rail line on the new Champlain Bridge under construction. On 28 May 2014, it was announced that the project would be reviewed by the new provincial government and that, if the project was again approved, construction would start in 2021, which was confirmed in the STM's new 2025 Plan.[14] The project could cost up to $3 billion based on a February 2016 reassessment.[15]

On 9 April 2018, premier of Quebec Philippe Couillard and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced their commitment to fund and complete the extension, then planned to open in 2026.[16] Around $365 million was provided to STM to allow them to purchase land and undertake design and technical work.[16]

In March 2022, it was announced that the federal government had agreed to provide $1.3 billion to the extension, with further costs to be covered by the provincial government.[17] The 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) extension was set to include five new stations, two bus terminals, a pedestrian tunnel connecting to the Pie-IX BRT and a new park-and-ride.[18][19] Overall, the project was estimated to cost around $5.8 to $6.4 billion and scheduled to be completed in 2029.[20]

Initial construction work began in August 2022.[21] Procurement work to build the tunnels and stations began in the fourth quarter of 2022, and major construction will follow after contractors are appointed.[22][18] In January 2023, the STM announced that five Quebec artists – Jocelyne Alloucherie, Ludovic Boney, Nadia Myre, Alain Paiement and Marc Séguin – had been selected to create public art at each of the new stations.[23] In September 2023, construction tenders for the tunnel boring machine were called and an announcement was made that the opening date would be delayed to 2030.[24]

Proposed western extension

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The original intent for the Blue Line was that it would extend southwest from Snowdon to serve Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Hampstead, Montreal West and Ville Saint-Pierre.[2][25] Snowdon station was constructed with a cross-platform interchange to allow easy access to Orange line trains heading downtown.[25]

Service

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Operation hours and frequency

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The Blue Line operates between 5:30 a.m. and 12:45 a.m on weekdays and Sunday, and between 5:30 a.m. and 1:15 a.m on Saturday.[4] Trains arrive at stations every 5 to 7 minutes during peak periods, every 5 to 10 minutes during off peak periods, and every 8 to 11 minutes at weekends.[4]

Rolling stock

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Main article: MR-73
 
A blue line MR-73 at D'Iberville station

Since the line's opening, Blue Line trains have been made up of MR-73 cars. Each train consists of two segments of three cars, totalling six cars, shorter than the Green, Orange, and Yellow Line trains, which all comprise three segments of three cars, for a total of nine cars. Some nine-car MR-73 trains were transferred from the Orange to the Blue Line, but these had to be shortened to six-car configurations. The train's maximum speed is 72 kilometres per hour (45 mph).[26]

The preceding MR-63 train type spent its final day in revenue service on the Blue Line but otherwise rarely appeared on it.

The line is served by Youville Shops, located between Parc and de Castelnau stations. This is located underground and occupies a small portion underneath Jarry Park. Another service facility is located at the 500-metre (1,640 ft 5 in) end tracks following Snowdon station but is rarely used by the STM.

List of stations

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Station Inauguration date Odonym Namesake Transfers/Connections Location
Snowdon   4 January 1988 Snowdon Street; Snowdon neighbourhood Name of area's former landowner   Orange Line Côte-des-Neiges–
Notre-Dame-
de Grâce
Côte-des-Neiges Côte-des-Neiges Road Former Village of Côte-des-Neiges
(name Notre-Dame-des-Neiges (Our Lady of the Snow) dates to 18th century)
Université-de-Montréal Université de Montréal
Édouard-Montpetit Édouard-Montpetit Boulevard Édouard Montpetit, Université de Montréal professor   Réseau express métropolitain (2025)
Outremont Outremont Avenue; borough of Outremont Named for a prominent estate
(Outremont means "other side of the mountain") 		Outremont
Acadie 28 March 1988 Boulevard de l'Acadie Commemorates bicentennial of the expulsion of the Acadians Villeray–
Saint-Michel–
Parc-Extension
Parc 15 June 1987 Park Avenue Mont Royal Park At Parc station:
De Castelnau 16 June 1986 De Castelnau Street Édouard de Castelnau, French soldier
Jean-Talon   Jean Talon Street Jean Talon, intendant of New France   Orange Line
Fabre Fabre Street Édouard-Charles Fabre, first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Montreal
D'Iberville   D'Iberville Street Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
(French explorer, founder of Louisiana)
Saint-Michel Saint-Michel Boulevard; neighbourhood of Saint-Michel (formerly Ville Saint-Michel) Saint-Michel; long-standing name
Pie-IX (future) 2030 Pie-IX Boulevard To be changed Pie-IX BRT
Viau (future) Viau Boulevard To be changed Saint-Léonard
Lacordaire (future) Lacordaire Boulevard Potentially to be changed
Langelier (future) Langelier Boulevard To be changed
Anjou (future) Borough of Anjou Potentially to be changed Anjou

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Noakes, Taylor C. (16 June 2021). "The Blue Line to nowhere: Montreal metro extension and magical thinking". Cult MTL. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Magder, Jason; Scott, Marian (14 October 2016). "The métro at 50: The clash with car culture". Montreal Gazette. The Blue Line was to extend to the northern extremity of Montreal North, and in the west end, it was to continue from Snowdon through Hampstead, northern N.D.G. and Montreal West to Ville St-Pierre.
  3. ^ "Line 5 – Blue". www.metrodemontreal.com. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Line 5 - Blue". Société de transport de Montréal. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Universal access". Société de transport de Montréal. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Métro's Blue line now accessible". Société de transport de Montréal. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ^ Magder, Jason (25 November 2016). "Three REM train stations added to proposed route through downtown Montreal". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Les travaux du REM débutent à la station Édouard-Montpetit". Ici Radio-Canada (in French). 24 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Investissement en transport collectif : Plus de 565 M$ pour améliorer le service dans le métro de Montréal". Société de transport de Montréal (in French). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Major milestone for blue line extension: Contract awarded for train control system". Société de transport de Montréal. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  11. ^ Smith, Kevin (19 February 2024). "Montreal metro Blue Line CBTC contract awarded". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Électrification des transports: le prolongement de la ligne bleue toujours à l’étude". Metro, 16 October 2015
  13. ^ "Green light for Montreal métro's Blue Line extension". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  14. ^ a b "La STM voit grand pour 2025 | le Journal de Montréal". Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  15. ^ Lessard, Denis. "Prolongement de la ligne bleue du métro: deux fois plus cher que prévu". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  16. ^ a b Bruemmer, René (9 April 2018). "Montreal métro: Green light for Blue Line extension". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  17. ^ "New investments to extend the Montréal Metro's Blue line". Prime Minister of Canada. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Blue line extension". Société de transport de Montréal. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Montreal Metro's Blue line extension finally a go, but province says it's behind schedule". CBC News. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Montreal to get its metro blue line extension in the east end by 2029". montreal.citynews.ca. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Aujourd'hui, c'est le jour 1 des travaux du prolongement de la ligne bleue! 🤩🔵". Facebook (in French). Projet Montréal. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023. Aujourd'hui, c'est le jour 1 des travaux du prolongement de la ligne bleue! 🤩🔵 C'est une étape importante pour le développement du transport collectif dans notre métropole. Le nouveau tronçon de la ligne bleue permettra de relier au reste du réseau des quartiers historiquement mal desservis par le métro.
  22. ^ "Prolongement de la ligne bleue : une nouvelle étape franchie vers la construction du tunnel". Société de transport de Montréal (in French). 5 December 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Blue line extension — Five major Quebec artists selected to decorate the new stations". Société de transport de Montréal. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Prolongement de la ligne bleue : La phase finale du plus important appel d'offres du projet est lancée". Société de transport de Montréal (in Canadian French). Retrieved 10 October 2023. Le Bureau de projet du prolongement de la ligne bleue annonce la publication de l'appel d'offres final visant la construction du tunnel à l'aide d'un tunnelier et la préparation des emplacements de certaines des futures stations et structures auxiliaires ... le tronçon prolongé de la ligne bleue ne pourra être mis en service avant 2030
  25. ^ a b "Line 5 - Blue - metrodemontreal.com". metrodemontreal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  26. ^ "FAQ - Matériel roulant".
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