What? I am the first? Quoi? Je suis le premier? I've had it on my radar screen to write a review for AMT, Agence Metropolitaine de Transport, for a while, imagining someone would have already done so. Instead, here I am, being the FTR greater Montreal's train network for its "trains de banlieue," which I could have deduced from the context, and the map one sees in some Metro stations, as being "trains for the suburbs," or its commuter rail network. Most tourists to Montreal will probably remain unaware of the AMT trains, unless they are at the few intermodal stations at which the Metro (STM) also operates or they happen to see the AMT map, possibly because maps beckon. It would even be more unlikely that tourists would ride an AMT train de banlieue. For most tourists, the Metro and the buses are more than sufficient. However, the greater Montreal area is quite vast, with a fair number of its 3.5 to 4 million inhabitants living in the further out suburbs on the "West Island," on the Rive Nord (north shore), and on the Rive Sud (south shore). The Metro has gone to the Rive Sud for quite a while now, but barely into Longueuil. In recent years, it has been extended off the Ile de Montreal into Laval, which sits on another huge island, but is not on the actual Rive Nord. That said, the commuter trains of AMT pick up the slack in getting those folks to the heart of Montreal or some key intermodal stations not quite in Montreal's center. There are a total of 6 AMT lines and, according to the map, their tentacles are fairly amazing, both in terms of distance and causing one to realize that some Montreal area folks live quite a ways out of town. The map of the system is linked below: http://www.amt.qc.ca/Media/Default/images/section7/Nouvelles/2014/carte-reseau-amt-nouvelles-couleurs-haute-resolution.jpg The map professes to clarify things ("plus claire," yeah, sure) yet, unless one is already familiar with the Metro layout, the network map is a little unclear where the Metro's network is superimposed onto that of AMT. Two things are certain, though. First, the map will clue in the observer that the layout of the Montreal area is quite interesting and there are waterways to traverse. Second, the map will clue in the observer that the terms "West Island" and Montreal Est are misnomers, since the Ile de Montreal sits at about a 45 degree angle in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River and the concept of north-south-east-west was probably adopted for the sake of simplicity and convenience. I like the AMT. I especially like the funky bi-level trains used on the Ligne Saint-Jerome, manufactured for them by Bombardier of Canada in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Interestingly enough, these are the same types of train cars typically used in Sunbelt locations, such as L.A.'s Metrolink, San Diego's Coaster (with its "surf's up, dude" graphics), and South Florida's Tri-Rail. I'll cap off my assessment of AMT, Agence Metropolitaine de Transport, at 3 stars. It is definitely A-OK, and then some. I'm taking away a star because the pricing is high when purchasing an individual ticket from one of the further out destinations, since the fares reflect fare zones. Thus, some sort of a monthly pass has to be the way that those who commute on AMT's trains de banlieue pay for the service. I'm also taking away another star for the limited and/or infrequent hours and that, owing to logistics, some trains to Centre-Ville head to Gare Centrale (Central Station) while others, such as Ligne Saint-Jerome, head to the Lucien-L'Allier station, still in the Financial District, albeit a little west of the city center. As for the hours, they stop running at about 8 p.m., and offer minimal or no service on weekends, such that someone who has a monthly pass and wants to go into Montreal to shop, dine, or for entertainment would be unable to do so on the train. I could see this as being inconvenient when there is inclement weather. However, AMT's trains de banlieue are in place and make living further out yet working in Centre-Ville feasible without congesting the roadways, allowing one to drink coffee or tea, get some work or reading done, and watch the snow fall. read more

See all

Terrible service. I got stopped up at the ticket machine and was 2 minutes late, because there were a few of us trying to buy our tickets (1 machine for 6 of us). The train driver was nice enough to clap at us like we were cattle before leaving, i did try to signal to him that we were having trouble with the machines (they constantly have problems with cards and RARELY accept cash). I have waited many times on a platform, with no covering or benches, in -30°C weather for a late train. I don't see how 2 minutes in July was too long for a few passengers, experiencing issues with YOUR TICKET MACHINES, WHERE THERE ARE NO ATTENDENTS TO HELP, was too long to wait. They left us all behind. The machines should be on the train or at least on the platforms. This was in Vaudreuil on a Sunday night. There should be train service on the weekends that is not at dinner time (6:45). There is NOTHING after 7pm on weekends. Who is this service for? Only people traveling Monday to Friday in the morning or at night time on peak rush hour. The rest of us are screwed. Do better! read more

i don't know where to start EXO whos usually a decent public transport system recently screwed my partner over completely, with no alternative route exo accepted payment and never provided the basics of public transport services, you ruined my evening you hurt my partner and you guys need better infastructure. UNACCEPTABLE! read more

Such a shame! Horrible train services Lots of trains are canceled or delayed but Exo doesn't even care to update their schedules in their useless website, I waited 2 hrs in the morning for candiac train at south shore and now again at Vendome! Is that really so difficult to update it? just update it, inform us , it's not complicated, how many trains do you have? How many lines? 5??? It's not Tokyo!!! Don't blame the weather or snow fall, it's just mismanagement! Snow may cause delay but not such mess! Delay is predictable, inform us, update that Fu.. schedules. People are out there in this cold weather read more

Exo - Public Transportation Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Pire compagnie de sans coeur. Ma fille a oublié son cellulaire dans le bus de Valleyfield à Angrignon et a couru après, le chauffeur a refusé de la laisser rentrer dans le bus le chercher. Ils l'ont fait attendre 1h30 dans le froid avant que le même chauffeur revienne. Quand elle l'a vu, elle demandé s'il avait son cellulaire. Il a dit non. En insistant, il a fini par lui demander son nom et la niaiser avant de finalement lui donner. Un vrai sadique psychopathe. Tu travailles dans le public, ça te coûte quoi d'avoir un peu d'âme... Vraiment, c'était si dur de lui laisser le prendre la première fois??? read more

I always enjoy taking the train from Montreal Ouest to Sainte Anne de Bellevue for school, and today I missed my 12:43 train, but a very kind employee Serge offered to drive me to the next station to catch a bus to my destination. He deserves a bonus for his generosity. Another great experience with Exo and it's employees! read more

Delays delay delays! Horrible service, tight trains, avoid if possible! Service reliability as gone down in less than a year to the point where you're better off driving than taking public transport. I'd give them 0 stars if I could. read more

Terrible service, huge frustration and disappointment ! I cam to Bois-Franc station at 7:55 on 15-Jan-2018, it an extremely cold weather , about -25, the train was cancelled, the next one cam in about 25 minutes completely full and I could not get in :-( I had to take a bus, I got cold and I was one hour late for my work ..Then I called the RTM Customer Service and applied fo rrefund, the agent said she could not do that for no reason and no manager , no supervisor, no other department to escalate my complaint ! Terrible train service and horrible so called "Customer service" department that is good for nothing, never ever I will ride that RTM Train in Montreal again ! Do not spend your money for nothing! read more

If I could put zero stars I would. I reported that I had forgotten my wallet on May30th as soon as I got off the bus. I immediately realized I didn't have it clipped to my bag anymore. While on the phone with EXO customer service, I tried flagging down the bus driver of the same bus now going the opposite direction towards Châteauguay. Apparently I'm invisible, and was only waving my arms as a form of Exo-cise. The driver waved at me and drove right by so I couldn't get back on the bus and check for my wallet. They never got back to me, and all they ever tell me when I call them for information is that I have to wait. Wait for what? The second coming of christ? Just ridiculous, very poorly managed. It was a small pale green/aqua leather wallet that had two vapes, points cards, my ID, bank cards, and house keys...good thing nothing with my address was in the wallet or someone just might have decided to let themselves into my house. Just terrible...thanks for convincing me to invest in a private, electric mode of transportation. read more