Exo commuter rail#Fares

{{Further |Deux-Montagnes line#History |Vaudreuil-Hudson line#History|label1=History of the Deux-Montagnes line|label2=History of the Vaudreuil-Hudson line}}

Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) had long operated commuter trains in the Montreal area, but by the 1980s, their services had dwindled to one route each. The {{langr|fr|Commission de transport de la communauté de Montréal}} (CTCUM, predecessor of the STM), which already managed Metro and bus services across the Island of Montreal, assumed management of CN's Deux-Montagnes commuter service and CP's Rigaud service in 1982 as the two railways began scaling back their services.{{Cite web |url=https://archipel.uqam.ca/12610/1/D3566.pdf |title=L'Évolution des trains de banlieue montréalais : 170 ans de service (1847–2017) |language=fr |trans-title=The Evolution of Montreal Suburban Rail: 170 Years of Service (1847–2017) |author=Barrieau, Pierre |publisher=Université de Québec à Montréal }}

In 1997, management and financing of both lines was transferred to the newly created {{langr|fr|Agence métropolitaine de transport|}} (AMT), which had been established to distribute funding and coordinate transportation planning among the numerous transit operators throughout the Greater Montreal Region.

{{Further |Saint-Jérôme line#History |Mont-Saint-Hilaire line#History |Candiac line#History |Mascouche line#History}}

Later that year, the AMT inaugurated service between Blainville and Jean-Talon (now Parc) train station in Montreal's Park Extension district. Originally, the service was designed to provide a temporary alternative for motorists from Laval and the North Shore of Montreal, while the Highway 117 Dufresne Bridge was being repaired. The service proved to be so popular that the AMT continued to fund it, and even extended a number of trains to the Lucien-L'Allier station downtown in 1999, and continues to provide off-peak daytime weekday service on this line. The service was extended further north to Saint-Jérôme in January 2007.

In 2000, the AMT inaugurated its service to McMasterville,{{cite news |url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/2439768 |title=Le train de banlieue attire plus d'usagers que celui de Blainville à ses |publisher=L'oeil régional |page=A1 |date=2000-06-03 |access-date=2024-08-05 |language=fr}} and later extended it to Mont-Saint-Hilaire in September 2002.

File:Montreal West - AMT Train Station.jpg in Montreal West]]

In 2001, the AMT initiated a pilot project, launching service on a fifth line to Delson.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2001/04/17/un-nouveau-train-de-banlieue-delson-montreal |title=Un nouveau train de banlieue Delson-Montréal |publisher=TVA Nouvelles |trans-title=A new Delson-Montreal commuter train |language=fr |date=2001-04-17 |access-date= }} This was later extended to Candiac in 2005.{{cite news |date=2004-11-16 |title=Candiac-Montréal en train |trans-title=Candiac-Montreal by train |url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/2200349 |format=PDF |page=A7 |language=fr |publisher=La Presse |access-date=2024-09-05}}

A new {{lang|fr|Train de l'Est}} (East Train) line to Mascouche was announced by the Quebec government in March 2006.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/regions/104680/le-train-de-l-est-sur-les-rails? |title=Le train de l'est sur les rails |author=Shields, Alexandre |language=fr |trans-title=The Train de l'est is on track |publisher=Le Devoir |date= 2006-03-18 |access-date=2024-09-05}} After delays and cost overruns,{{Cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/671-million-later-a-train-to-mascouche |title=$671 million later, a train to Mascouche |publisher=Montreal Gazette |author=Magder, Jason |date=2014-11-30 |access-date=2024-09-05}} it started service in December 2014.{{Cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/amts-new-train-de-lest-from-mascouche-has-successful-first-morning |title=AMT's new Train de l'Est from Mascouche has successful first morning |publisher=Montreal Gazette |author=Magder, Jason |date=2014-12-01 |access-date=2024-09-05}}

In 2014, the AMT acquired the entire Deux-Montagnes line from CN, including the right of way, infrastructure, trackage, other railway equipment, grounds, curb lanes, rights in the Mount Royal tunnel and air rights, in a $97 million transaction.{{Cite web |url=http://amt.qc.ca/en/pressroom/newreleases.aspx?communiqueid=287 |title=L'AMT FAIT L'ACQUISITION DE LA LIGNE DE TRAINS DE BANLIEUE DEUX-MONTAGNES |language=fr |publisher=Agence métropolitaine de transport |trans-title=The AMT acquires the Deux-Montagnes train line |url-status=dead |date=2014-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304193128/http://amt.qc.ca/en/pressroom/newreleases.aspx?communiqueid=287|archive-date=2014-03-04}}

On June 1, 2017, the AMT was disbanded in a reorganization of metropolitan transit authorities. A new agency, the {{langr|fr|Réseau de transport métropolitain}} (RTM) was created to be responsible for operating commuter rail and suburban transit services.{{Cite press release |url=https://exo.quebec/fr/a-propos/medias-publications/communiques-presse/nouvelle-gouvernance-dans-les-transports-collectifs |title=Nouvelle gouvernance dans les transports collectifs |language=fr |trans-title=New governance in public transit |publisher=Réseau de transport métropolitain |date=2017-06-01 |access-date=2024-09-05 }} In May 2018, the RTM adopted the Exo brand (stylized exo, all-lowercase), to represent the sub- and exurban nature of its service area.{{Cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/fr/a-propos/medias-publications/communiques-presse/le-reseau-de-transport-metropolitain-devient-exo | title=Le Réseau de transport métropolitain devient exo |trans-title=The Réseau de transport métropolitain becomes exo |language=fr |date=2018-05-23 |access-date=2024-08-27 |publisher=Exo }}

In 2019, Exo proceeded to rebrand all of its lines with numbers in the format "exo1", "exo2", etc. When the ARTM launched its new metropolitan signage in 2023, Exo renumbered the lines again starting at "11".{{Cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/en/news/renumerotation |title=Your train lines are getting new numbers |publisher=Exo |date= |access-date=2024-09-05 }} It also adopted a new logo for train service in a distinctive colour to differentiate from other rapid transit services, rolling out progressively on signage since 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/fr/actualites/symbole-train |title=Un nouveau symbole pour le train |trans-title=A new symbol for the train |publisher=Exo |date=2020-10-01 |access-date=2024-09-05}}

{{Gallery

|title=Evolution of Montreal suburban rail network logo

|height=96

|align=center

|noborder=yes

|File:Logo train STCUM (circa 1990).svg

|Logo used by the CTCUM and STCUM until 1997

|File:Trains de banlieue de l'AMT (logo).svg

|Logo used by the AMT from 1997 until 2020

|File:Montreal public transit icons - Train.svg

|Logo used by Exo as of 2020, part of the ARTM's uniform metropolitan signage

}}

The construction of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) led initially to the closure of the Mount Royal Tunnel in May 2020, causing the Deux-Montagnes lines to terminate at Bois-Franc station, and the Mascouche line was rerouted around the Western end of Montreal in order to reach Central Station from the south.{{Cite news |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2020-05-11/le-tunnel-du-mont-royal-ferme |title=Le tunnel du mont Royal fermé |language=fr |trans-title= |publisher=La Presse |author=Bruno Bisson |date=2020-05-11 |access-date=2024-09-05}} On December 31, 2020, the Deux-Montagnes line was closed permanently for conversion to the REM.{{cite web |last1=Magder |first1=Jason |title=Trains to stop running on Deux-Montagnes line Dec. 31, ahead of schedule |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/trains-to-stop-running-on-deux-montagnes-line-dec-31-ahead-of-schedule |website=Montreal Gazette |access-date=September 21, 2020 |date=September 18, 2020}}

In May 2023, Exo announced that Lucien-L'Allier terminal would be closed starting April 2024 to rebuild the platforms and add a canopy. Trains on the Candiac, Vaudreuil-Hudson and Saint-Jérôme lines would terminate at Vendôme.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2023/05/29/la-gare-lucien-lallier-va-devoir-fermer-pour-se-refaire-une-beaute |title=La gare Lucien-L'Allier va devoir fermer pour se refaire une beauté |date=2023-05-29 |publisher=TVA Nouvelles |author=Sanikopoulos, Audrey |access-date=2024-09-05}}

{{Updated|July 1, 2024}}

{{See also |Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain#Fare structure}}

Exo services operate within the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)'s integrated fare structure for Greater Montreal. Trains on the network operate within zones A, B and C. All Modes fares include passage on the commuter rail network through the zones covered.{{Cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/en/fares |title=Find your fare |publisher=Exo |access-date=2024-09-09}}

As of 2024, the fare schedule still includes TRAIN fares applying the old AMT fare zones that are valid only on commuter rail lines.{{Cite web |url=https://www.artm.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ARTM_Grille_tarifaire_TC_EN.pdf |title=Fare schedule. Public transit. Fares in effect starting July 1, 2024. |publisher=Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain |date=2024-04-01 |access-date=2024-12-10}}

There are no fare gates at train stations. Instead, a proof-of-payment system is used, where riders are expected to validate their ticket on the platform. Fare inspectors randomly check tickets.{{Cite web|url=https://exo.quebec/fr/service-clientele/voyagez-101/validation-des-titres-de-transport |title=Voyager 101 - Validation des titres |language=fr |trans-title=Travelling 101 - Ticket validation |publisher=Exo |access-date=2024-12-09}} Tickets and passes are now sold by automated vending machines at stations, either onto an Opus card or a cardboard Occassionel card.{{Cite web |url=https://exo.quebec/en/fares/opus-card |title=OPUS card and Solo card |publisher=Exo |access-date=2024-12-10}}

{{See also |Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain#Funding |}}

Financing for the rail network's operations (including maintenance, rolling stock, equipment and salaries) is handled by Exo, which is funded primarily by the Agence régionale du transport métropolitain.

Exo has a variety of rolling stock, some of it acquired from GO Transit, the rest built specifically for it. There are a total of 256 cars and locomotives in the fleet.{{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}

{{Gallery

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|File:AMT Train Candiac.jpg

|EMD F59PH locomotive from Delson-Candiac at Vendôme station

|File:Lucien L'Allier 2025-01-08 loc 1357.jpg

|ALP-45DP locomotive from Vaudreuil-Hudson at Lucien-L'Allier station

|File:Amtstje.jpg

|F59PHI locomotive at Parc station

}}

On January 28, 2022, Exo announced that it had ordered 10 Siemens Charger locomotives to replace the older F59PH locomotives in their fleet. On January 17, 2025, the first unit was delivered and will begin tests. The remaining locomotives will be gradually delivered throughout 2025.{{cite news |title=Siemens Mobility to Modernize Montreal's Exo Train Fleet With Sustainable Locomotives |url=https://financialpost.com/pmn/press-releases-pmn/business-wire-news-releases-pmn/siemens-mobility-to-modernize-montreals-exo-train-fleet-with-sustainable-locomotives |website=Financial Post |access-date=28 January 2022 |date=28 January 2022}}{{cite news|title=First Montreal Charger Loco delivered to Exo |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/first-montreal-charger-loco-delivered-to-exo/68149.article?|access-date=April 16, 2025 |date=January 17, 2025}}

{{notelist}}

File:AMTLucienLallier.jpg

File:AMT Seating.jpg

The 22 bilevel coaches are in operation on the Saint-Jérôme line. The AMT did not purchase additional bilevels as it sought to standardize its train fleet with the arrival of the multi-level coaches. However, 20 additional bilevels were purchased by the RTM in March 2018.

On December 18, 2007, the AMT awarded Bombardier a $386-million contract to build 160 multi-level commuter cars. These cars are based on NJ Transit's Multilevel series, and are able to enter the Mount Royal Tunnel, unlike the older GO-style BiLevel cars. They are numbered in the 3000s.

{{Portal|Trains}}

• Exo bus services
• Réseau express métropolitain

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Category:Exo (public transit)

Category:Standard-gauge railways in Canada