In what many are calling a once-in-a-generation moment for the North Shore, the City of Deux-Montagnes celebrated the long-awaited inauguration of its new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) branch. After more than four years of anticipation, construction, and pressure from residents and regional leaders, the return of rapid transit to the community became official in a ceremony marked by exceptional political and institutional presence.
The significance of the day was clear from the moment the dignitaries arrived. Among them were Prime Minister Mark Carney, Quebec Premier François Legault, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Deux Montagnes Mayor Denis Martin top executives from CDPQ Infra, and Charles Emond, President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Federal and provincial ministers, along with MNAs and MPs from the surrounding region, joined municipal leaders in recognizing the enormous impact this project will have on mobility across the metropolitan area.
This was not merely a symbolic return of rail service but the restoration of a vital link for thousands of North Shore commuters. With the REM now officially serving Deux-Montagnes once again, residents can rely on a fully electric, high-frequency service that reconnects them to Montreal and the broader urban network.
A Turning Point for Local Life
For Deux-Montagnes, the resumption of service marks the beginning of a transformational chapter. The town now benefits from two modern, strategically located stations, offering residents a faster and more reliable connection to work, school, and cultural life across Greater Montreal.
Mayor Denis Martin, speaking during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, emphasized what this moment represents for the community.
“The inauguration of the REM marks a major turning point for the future of Deux-Montagnes. With two modern stations in the heart of our territory, we are taking a decisive step forward for our residents’ quality of life. This new mobility link brings our citizens closer to their services, to their activities, and to the entire metropolitan region.”
His remarks captured the broader sentiment shared by many elected officials: that this infrastructure will not only transform daily life today but shape the town’s development for decades to come.
A Catalyst for Growth Across the North Shore
Urban planners and regional development experts have long viewed the REM as a transformative force for communities along its axis. In Deux-Montagnes, expectations are high. Local leaders believe the new service will help ease traffic pressure on major arteries, support neighbourhood revitalization, increase accessibility for families and students and strengthen the overall economic resilience of the region.
With transit-oriented development already underway near key stations throughout the metropolitan area, the North Shore is preparing for similar opportunities. The return of rapid transit is expected to accelerate residential, commercial, and service-sector growth, while also giving residents greener, safer, and more sustainable travel options.
A National Moment for a Local Community
The scale of the inauguration, attended by leaders from the highest ranks of both the federal and provincial governments, underscored just how significant this project is beyond local borders. The REM represents a major investment in modern infrastructure, climate-friendly transportation, and long-term urban planning. For the North Shore, the message was unmistakable: this region is central to Quebec’s future mobility strategy, and its residents are once again fully connected to the heart of the metropolis.
The Beginning of a New Era
As Deux-Montagnes settles into its first full week with the REM back in service, the atmosphere in the community reflects both relief and renewed optimism. For commuters, students, families, and businesses, the return of rapid transit marks more than the reopening of a line, it signals a forward-looking, dynamic, and better-connected future for the entire North Shore.
The REM has finally returned to Deux-Montagnes, and with it, the region steps confidently into a new era of mobility, opportunity, and growth.
