Lockout Halts Suburban Train Services in Montreal

Montreal’s suburban train services have come to a halt due to an unprecedented work stoppage initiated by the Canadian National Railway (CN) and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). This situation has impacted lines 11 (Vaudreuil/Hudson), 12 (Saint-Jérôme), and 14 (Candiac), leaving many commuters struggling to reach downtown Montreal.

The disruptions began early Thursday morning, causing complications for thousands of workers seeking to travel into the city. Notably, Nicolas Pinzon expressed surprise upon learning at the Lachine station that no trains would be operating due to the lockout. He noted, “I will be late; the bus will take me longer.”

Other commuters have reported facing similar difficulties. Majgan Hosseini mentioned her need to drive, despite objections to doing so due to ongoing roadwork. Emma Kerdela pointed out her plans to attend a graduation celebration downtown, now hindered by the absence of train services.

Yue Wang, scheduled for a meeting in the city, anticipates delays, stating, “Driving in traffic does not please me.” Despite the widespread awareness of potential service disruptions communicated through news and transport apps, most users opted not to arrive at their usual train stations.

Currently, no alternative transport solutions have been offered, forcing commuters to find their own means of travel. However, lines 13 (Mont-Saint-Hilaire) and 15 (Mascouche) remain operational, as do ViaRail connections across Quebec.

In response to the situation, exo has established a tactical cell involving all departments to formulate a contingency plan. The transit authority has promised to implement an alternative bus service starting Monday, August 26. Yet, exo cautions that the shuttle buses will not fully substitute the service on the affected train lines, and advises passengers to consider alternate routes using the exo trip planner without the train option.

Each day, the impacted lines accommodate an average of 21,200 travelers. User associations from Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver have jointly condemned the situation, stating that “passengers remain at the mercy of freight transport in Canada.”

The statement emphasized the necessity for Canada to prioritize passenger-exclusive rail infrastructure, highlighting that approximately 32,000 individuals across the three cities are affected, including 20,000 in the Montreal area.

According to Jonathan Abecassis, spokesperson for CN, the company made an offer to union representatives just before midnight last night, but received no response, leading to the decision to implement the lockout. Abecassis remarked, “Negotiations continue today. We have been seeking a solution to this conflict for nine months. The union has not presented any serious proposal.”

Meanwhile, Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, accused CN and CPKC of prioritizing profits over rail safety. He asserted, “The rail companies disregard farmers, small businesses, supply chains, or even their employees; their sole objective is to increase net profits, even at the expense of the economy.”

In Ottawa, the office of Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that meetings are ongoing to evaluate the possible options available to the Trudeau government in light of these events. MacKinnon is reportedly in discussions throughout the day regarding this critical situation.

As of Thursday, over 9,300 workers have been placed on lockout.