REM Abandons Early Risers

Every weekday for the last five years, people have been lining up to take the 4:55 a.m. bus from Deux Montagnes to Montreal. They have early jobs. As of next month, the 4:55 a.m. bus is being eliminated. It would be no problem if the REM replaced the bus with a train at the same time, but there will be no such train, or bus. It has decided those early morning workers will be given no such option. The early risers in Deux Montagnes, and at every other stop down the line, are abandoned. They are being denied REM service because they work too early. They’re being denied bus service because they work too early. How can you justify removing the only service that has been in place for five years without replacing it? The REM claims it cannot implement a 4:55 a.m. train from Deux Montagnes train because it needs the overnight hours to do maintenance. Why not hire more maintenance personnel to accomplish more maintenance in a shorter period? Why not implement a 4:55 a.m. train from Deux Montagnes and then no other train until regular weekday service begins? Better still, why not leave the one early bus in place? Many of these early commuters are distraught, as their worlds are being turned upside down. These people are ignored and abandoned because they work too early?

The photo, taken in the fall, shows people lined up for the 4:55 a.m. bus from Deux Montagnes. People are lined up at that time at each of the other 14 stops between Deux Montagnes and Montreal. So far, with its frequent breakdowns, disruptions and delays, the REM has proven an embarrassment to competent public transit services around the world Be that as it may, early workers are entitled to the same shoddy service you try to provide all commuters riding the REM to and from their jobs. The Caisse de depot et du placement du Quebec is raking in commuters’ money. The website for la Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (lacaisse.com) says, “When you take the REM, you help pay for your retirement” – now it needs the disclaimer, “but if you are a commuter who starts work in Montreal at 6 a.m., you can forget about paying for your retirement by riding the REM.”