Blue Line (Montreal Metro)#Eastern extension to Anjou
{{Other uses|Blue Line (disambiguation){{!}}Blue Line}}{{Short description|Rapid transit line in Montreal, Canada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Blue Line
| native_name = Ligne Bleue
| native_name_lang = fr
| color = {{rcr|Montreal Metro|Blue}}
| logo = Montreal public transit icons - Métro 5.svg
| logo_width = 75px
| image = Ligne bleue.jpg
| image_width =
| caption =
| type = Rapid transit
| system = Montreal Metro
| status =
| locale = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| start = Snowdon (west)
| end = Saint-Michel (east)
| stations = 12 (5 under construction)https://www.stm.info/en/blue-line-project
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| linenumber = 5
| open = 16 June 1986
| lastextension =
| close =
| owner =
| operator = Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
| character =
| depot = 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)
| stock = Bombardier Transportation MR-73 cars
| event1label = 15 June 1987
| event1 = Opening of extension to Parc
| event2label = 4 January 1988
| event2 = Opening of extension to Snowdon
| event3label = 28 March 1988
| event3 = Opening of Acadie
| linelength = {{convert|9.7|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracks =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| electrification = Third rail, 750 V DC on the guide bars at either side of the track
| speed_km/h = 72
| elevation =
| map = {{STM Blue Line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The Blue Line ({{langx|fr|Ligne bleue}}, {{IPA|fr|liɲ blø|pron}}), also known as Line 5 ({{langx|fr|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.
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 2031.https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article416477.html
History
The Blue Line was first proposed in the early 1970s as an east–west line passing through the centre of the island of Montreal. 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.{{Cite web |title=Line 5 – Blue |url=http://www.metrodemontreal.com/blue/index.html |access-date=27 October 2016 |website=www.metrodemontreal.com}} {{As of|2023}}, the line has similar opening hours to other metro lines.
In the 2010s, work began on making the line accessible to all, with the installation of elevators.{{Cite web |title=Universal access |url=https://www.stm.info/en/info/universal-accessibility/universal-access |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en}} {{As of|2025|01}}, four stations on the line are accessible, including both interchange stations at Snowdon and Jean-Talon.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2019 |title=Métro’s Blue line now accessible |url=http://www.stm.info/en/press/news/2019/metro-s-blue-line-now-accessible |access-date=2020-11-08 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en}} In the 2020s, the renovation of Édouard-Montpetit station included linking the station to the new Réseau express métropolitain, which replaced the Deux-Montagnes line with rapid transit.{{cite web |last=Magder |first=Jason |date=25 November 2016 |title=Three REM train stations added to proposed route through downtown Montreal |url=https://montrealgazette.com/storyline/three-rem-train-stations-added-to-proposed-route-through-downtown-montreal |access-date=25 November 2016 |work=Montreal Gazette}}{{Cite web |date=24 July 2018 |title=Les travaux du REM débutent à la station Édouard-Montpetit |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1114309/reseau-express-metropolitain-universite-montreal |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Ici Radio-Canada |language=fr}}
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.{{Cite web |date=23 January 2023 |title=Investissement en transport collectif : Plus de 565 M$ pour améliorer le service dans le métro de Montréal |url=https://www.stm.info/fr/presse/communiques/2023/investissement-en-transport-collectif---plus-de-565-m%24-pour-ameliorer-le-service-dans-le-metro-de-montreal |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=fr}} In February 2024, a $217-million contract was awarded to Thales to install CBTC on the line.{{Cite web |date=13 February 2024 |title=Major milestone for blue line extension: Contract awarded for train control system |url=https://www.stm.info/en/press/press-releases/2024/major-milestone-for-blue-line-extension--contract-awarded-for-train-control-system |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Kevin |date=19 February 2024 |title=Montreal metro Blue Line CBTC contract awarded |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/montreal-metro-blue-line-cbtc-contract-awarded/ |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=International Railway Journal}}
=Extensions=
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.{{Cite web |last=Noakes |first=Taylor C. |date=16 June 2021 |title=The Blue Line to nowhere: Montreal metro extension and magical thinking |url=https://cultmtl.com/2021/06/the-blue-line-to-nowhere-montreal-metro-extension-and-magical-thinking-stm-public-transit-quebec/ |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Cult MTL |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Magder |first=Jason |last2=Scott |first2=Marian |date=14 Oct 2016 |title=The métro at 50: The clash with car culture |work=Montreal Gazette |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/the-metro-at-50-the-clash-with-car-culture |quote=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.}}
== Eastern extension to Anjou ==
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. Various studies took place to understand the cost and ridership potential of an extension.
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.[http://journalmetro.com/local/saint-leonard/actualites/858605/plan-daction-en-electrification-des-transports-le-prolongement-de-la-ligne-bleue-toujours-a-letude/ "Électrification des transports: le prolongement de la ligne bleue toujours à l’étude"]. Metro, 16 October 2015 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 {{Convert|7|km|adj=on}} extension northeast to St. Leonard and Anjou was announced by the STM and the Quebec government.{{cite web |url=https://montrealgazette.com/a9tro+Blue+Line+extension/8938031/story.html |title=Green light for Montreal métro's Blue Line extension |access-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921210814/http://www.montrealgazette.com/a9tro%2BBlue%2BLine%2Bextension/8938031/story.html |archive-date=21 September 2013}} 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.{{Cite web |title=La STM voit grand pour 2025 | le Journal de Montréal |url=http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2017/08/29/la-stm-voit-grand-pour-2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901041619/http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2017/08/29/la-stm-voit-grand-pour-2025 |archive-date=1 September 2017 |access-date=31 August 2017}}
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. The project could cost up to $3 billion based on a February 2016 reassessment.{{Cite news |last=Lessard |first=Denis |title=Prolongement de la ligne bleue du métro: deux fois plus cher que prévu |language=fr |newspaper=La Presse |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/montreal/201602/05/01-4947482-prolongement-de-la-ligne-bleue-du-metro-deux-fois-plus-cher-que-prevu.php |access-date=October 27, 2016}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Bruemmer |first=René |date=9 April 2018 |title=Montreal métro: Green light for Blue Line extension |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-metro-green-light-for-blue-line-extension |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Montreal Gazette |language=en-CA}} Around $365 million was provided to STM to allow them to purchase land and undertake design and technical work.
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.{{Cite web |date=4 July 2019 |title=New investments to extend the Montréal Metro’s Blue line |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2019/07/04/new-investments-extend-montreal-metros-blue-line |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en}} In March 2025, the federal government committed an additional $650 million to the project.{{cite web |title=Federal government announces investments in two major transit infrastructure projects in Quebec |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/housing-infrastructure-communities/news/2025/03/federal-government-announces-investments-in-two-major-transit-infrastructure-projects-in-quebec.html |website=www.canada.ca |access-date=23 March 2025 |date=22 March 2025}} The {{Convert|6|km|adj=on}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Blue line extension |url=https://www.stm.info/en/about/major_projects/major-metro-projects/blue-line-extension |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=18 March 2022 |title=Montreal Metro's Blue line extension finally a go, but province says it's behind schedule |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/blue-line-metro-stm-government-funding-1.6389902 |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=CBC News}} Overall, the project was estimated to cost around $5.8 to $6.4 billion and scheduled to be completed in 2029.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2022 |title=Montreal to get its metro blue line extension in the east end by 2029 |url=https://montreal.citynews.ca/2022/03/18/montreal-metro-blue-line-extension/ |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=montreal.citynews.ca}}
Initial construction work began in August 2022.{{Cite web |date=29 August 2022 |title=Aujourd’hui, c’est le jour 1 des travaux du prolongement de la ligne bleue! 🤩🔵 |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=614717083376075&set=a.410626200451832&type=3 |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Facebook |publisher=Projet Montréal |language=fr |quote=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.}} Procurement work to build the tunnels and stations began in the fourth quarter of 2022, and major construction will follow after contractors are appointed.{{Cite web |date=5 December 2022 |title=Prolongement de la ligne bleue : une nouvelle étape franchie vers la construction du tunnel |url=https://www.stm.info/fr/presse/communiques/2022/prolongement-de-la-ligne-bleue---une-nouvelle-etape-franchie-vers-la-construction-du-tunnel |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=fr}} In January 2023, the STM announced that five Quebec artists{{snd}}Jocelyne Alloucherie, Ludovic Boney, Nadia Myre, Alain Paiement and Marc Séguin{{snd}}had been selected to create public art at each of the new stations.{{Cite web |title=Blue line extension — Five major Quebec artists selected to decorate the new stations |url=https://www.stm.info/en/press/press-releases/2023/blue-line-extension----five-major-quebec-artists-selected-to-decorate-the-new-stations |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en}} 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 2031. Construction officially started in September 2024.https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article416477.html
== Proposed western extension ==
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.{{Cite web |title=Line 5 - Blue - metrodemontreal.com |url=https://metrodemontreal.com/blue/index.html |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=metrodemontreal.com}} Snowdon station was constructed with a cross-platform interchange to allow easy access to Orange line trains heading downtown.
Service
= Operation hours and frequency =
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.{{Cite web |title=Line 5 - Blue |url=https://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/metro/ligne-5---bleue |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Société de transport de Montréal |language=en}} Trains arrive at stations every 3 to 6 minutes during peak periods, every 4 to 10 minutes during off peak periods, and every 8 to 10 minutes at weekends.
= Rolling stock =
{{main|MR-73}}
File:A MR-73 on the blue line.jpg at D'Iberville station]]
File:Inside-Montreal-trainNight.jpg train]]
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 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 {{Convert|500|m|adj=on}} end tracks following Snowdon station but is rarely used by the STM.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}
List of stations
| class="wikitable centre" |
| scope=col |Station
! scope=col |Inauguration date ! scope=col |Odonym ! scope=col |Namesake ! Transfers/Connections ! Location |
|---|
| Snowdon {{access icon}}
|rowspan=5|4 January 1988 |Snowdon Street; Snowdon neighbourhood |Name of area's former landowner | {{rint|montreal|metro|2}} Orange Line | rowspan="4"| Côte-des-Neiges– |
| Côte-des-Neiges
|Former Village of Côte-des-Neiges | |
| Université-de-Montréal
|colspan=2|Université de Montréal | |
| Édouard-Montpetit
|Édouard-Montpetit Boulevard |Édouard Montpetit, Université de Montréal professor |{{rint|montreal|rem|1}} Réseau express métropolitain (2025) |
| Outremont {{access icon}}
|Outremont Avenue; borough of Outremont |Named for a prominent estate | |
| Acadie
|28 March 1988 |Boulevard de l'Acadie |Commemorates bicentennial of the expulsion of the Acadians | |rowspan="8"|Villeray– |
| Parc
|15 June 1987 |At Parc station: {{Plainlist|
}} |
| De Castelnau
|rowspan=5|16 June 1986 |De Castelnau Street |Édouard de Castelnau, French soldier | |
| Jean-Talon {{access icon}}
|Jean Talon, intendant of New France | {{ric|Montreal Metro|2}} Orange Line |
| Fabre
|Fabre Street |Édouard-Charles Fabre, first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Montreal | |
| D'Iberville {{access icon}}
|D'Iberville Street |Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville | |
| Saint-Michel
|Saint-Michel Boulevard; neighbourhood of Saint-Michel (formerly Ville Saint-Michel) |Saint-Michel; long-standing name |
| bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Pie-IX (future) |rowspan=5|2031 |Pie-IX Boulevard |To be changed |
| bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Viau (future) |Viau Boulevard |To be changed | |rowspan="3"|Saint-Léonard |
| bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Lacordaire (future) |Lacordaire Boulevard |Potentially to be changed | |
| bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Langelier (future) |Langelier Boulevard |To be changed | |
| bgcolor="#dddddd"
|Anjou (future) |Borough of Anjou |Potentially to be changed | |
See also
References
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081002144947/http://www.stm.info/English/info/reseau2008.pdf 2008 STM System Map]
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