Réseau Express Métropolitain Montréal | Otis Global Projects
Réseau Express Métropolitain
When tailored solutions become true innovation for Montréal metro
The Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) is an ambitious public transit project in Canada designed to transform urban mobility across Greater Montréal with cutting-edge solutions for accessibility, reliability, and sustainability. The fully electric light metro system will link 26 stations, connecting the South Shore, North Shore, West Island, downtown Montréal, and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
The latest phase of construction added 30 kilometers of track and 14 new stations, extending service from downtown to Deux-Montagnes and bringing the network to nearly 50 kilometers. Once complete in 2027, REM will accommodate up to 150,000 daily passages and help create energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, according to its developers.
For this landmark project, Otis is installing 79 custom elevators and escalators across all stations – contributing to safe, reliable and inclusive movement for passengers throughout the network.
Project facts
Unique requirements
Otis elevators and escalators are installed in each of REM’s 26 train stations, all with their own unique needs and specifications. Otis engineered a highly customized solution to integrate seamlessly with REM’s sophisticated command-and-communications network. This included adapting our systems to work with SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), an industrial control system that monitors and manages infrastructure in real time and support the fully automated light metro transit system.
Otis innovation
While the project used one of our proven platforms, the differentiator wasn’t the product’s latest features – it was how we transformed it to meet REM’s unique needs. Otis modified the standard elevator platform controller, originally designed for low-rise buildings, into a one-of-a-kind system capable of automated passenger evacuation during emergencies. Aligned with REM’s sustainability goals, Otis implemented energy-saving features like ReGen drives on the elevators and escalators, which feed energy back into the grid
Aligned with REM’s sustainability goals, Otis implemented energy-saving features like ReGen drives on the elevators and escalators, which feed energy back into the grid.
“From day one, our priority was clear: deliver custom solutions that met REM’s vision. Through close collaboration and unwavering commitment, we ensured every milestone was met with the quality our customers expect.”
– Leo Pizzi, New Equipment Manager in Montréal
Otis solutions
Customization with fully glass elevator cabs
Otis delivered 57 elevators and 22 escalators, each designed with a level of customization rarely seen in large-scale transit systems. Every elevator features a fully glass cab framed in precision-engineered steel, creating a sleek, modern aesthetic that complements the architectural vision of the stations while maintaining durability for high-traffic environments. These transparent designs enhance passenger visibility and safety, while also contributing to an open, airy feel within the stations – an important consideration for a system intended to redefine urban mobility – an environment where mobility is seamless, safe, and stress-free including reducing travel time and improving overall passenger confidence. Achieving this required specialized engineering to integrate glass panels while ensuring structural integrity or performance. From custom framing to advanced vibration control, every detail was optimized to withstand the demands of continuous operation in a public transit setting.
Seamless integration drives efficiency across REM network
Seamless integration with REM’s internal Equipment Management System (EMS) was a critical component of this project, ensuring that every elevator and escalator installation aligned with the broader infrastructure schedule and operational requirements. This integration demanded a highly collaborative approach, with Otis engineers and project managers working closely alongside the customer’s technical teams to synchronize data, track equipment status, and manage dependencies across multiple construction phases. By embedding our processes within the customer’s EMS, Otis helped create a unified workflow that minimized delays, optimized resource allocation, and ensured that every station was equipped and ready for service as the REM network expanded.
Making mobility accessible for all
Otis partnered with REM to deliver advanced vertical transportation solutions designed to transform urban mobility in the Montréal region, including for a growing and aging population. With longevity on the rise, the challenge was to create a system that is efficient, inclusive, and reassuring, ensuring independence and autonomy for seniors, individuals with reduced mobility, and families. Wide doors and spacious cabins provide barrier-free access for wheelchairs and strollers, and intuitive controls make traveling easier. Beyond accessibility, the project aimed to shorten commute times and improve the passenger experience. By integrating these solutions into station design, Otis helped create an environment where mobility is seamless, safe, and stress-free.
Otis’s contribution to REM reinforces our commitment to innovation and sustainability. By delivering reliable, energy-efficient, and accessible elevator systems, we helped Montréal set a new standard for urban transit.
Ensuring the safety of all passengers in escalators and elevators
To meet the safety requirements of the REM light metro system, Otis engineers developed a one-of-a-kind modification. As part of this customized solution, Otis engineering teams – electrical, software, systems, and fabrication – collaborated to develop custom protocols, integrate bilingual displays, and install specialized LCD screens at landings and inside elevator cabs to communicate real-time status. Otis experts worked closely with REM’s consultants to ensure compatibility with their technology stack, delivering a solution that looked familiar to passengers but was deeply customized behind the scenes.
SCADA serves as REM’s backbone for remote supervision and disaster recovery, enabling elevators and escalators to be taken offline or switched into evacuation mode from both a centralized offsite command center and individual station control rooms. The adaptation required integrating advanced logic into the controller software to communicate with the station’s emergency systems. When triggered, the system automatically moves the elevator to the nearest designated floor, opens the doors, and secures the car for safe egress – all without operator input. This innovation involved rigorous testing to meet strict transit authority standards and was engineered to function seamlessly across multiple stations with varying layouts.
This effort spanned design, programming, testing, and supply chain coordination, proving that true innovation comes from tailoring solutions to meet our customers’ needs. Service offerings were also tailored to meet the specific needs of the REM operator’s contract. Maintenance and testing are performed overnight outside regular hours by resident mechanics, who also handle service calls throughout REM’s operating hours, with increased support during peak times. This is all to maximize performance limit any inconvenience to passengers.
“Consistency was key. We worked with a single point of contact with our customer, but behind that were 26 individual stations – each with unique requirements. Sales, execution, delivery – it all had to align perfectly.”
– Eve Zaharopoulos, General Manager, Montréal
