Montreal's REM light-rail network down during morning rush hour

MONTREAL - Montreal's light-rail network went down at the end of the morning rush hour, causing delays for commuters. A spokesperson for the operator of the REM — Réseau express métropolitain — says the technical issue occurred on two trains, both of which needed to be taken out of service. The system started slowing down around 8 a.m. and went completely out of service for about one hour before it was up and running at full capacity just before 10 a.m. Shuttle buses were deployed, causing lengthy lineups at some stations for people seeking to get to downtown. Claudia Néron, a spokeswoman for Pulsar, the operator of the REM, says crews found a problem with snow infiltration on wheel components that triggers protective measures and a train shutdown. She says a solution has been identified and will be gradually implemented across the entire fleet of trains in the coming days. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2026.