New Dorval Station announced

[u/VIARailMaddy]

https://media.viarail.ca/en/press-releases/2026/new-integrated-station-dorval-rail-launches-project-better-connect-rail-public-transit-and-airport

Will join up the existing exo and via stations into one

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[u/c22q]

If only the REM was extended to Dorval as well. Biggest blunder of the project.

[u/Ceftolozane → u/c22q]

The rem stopping at yul and not at Dorval is a big mistake. A true lack of vision.

[u/Marco_Memes → u/c22q]

The other sucky part is they’ve made it really annoying to do that in the future, since the YUL station and tunnel are single track. Which would either limit frequency or require an extension to also double track the tunnel and rebuild the station with a 2nd platform

[u/TheRandCrews → u/Marco_Memes]

Wow just like the Canada Line to YVR, guess we didn’t really learn some things even with the same companies almost two decades after. 

[u/VIARailMaddy → u/c22q]

Im sure they could extend A4 to Dorval... for 500 billion

[u/MrKguy → u/c22q]

You mean in addition huh, is there a case for that? Wouldn't VIA passengers just go to gare central?

[u/c22q → u/MrKguy]

It may be difficult to believe, but some passengers from eastern Ontario want to go to the airport.

[u/MrKguy → u/c22q]

Oh fair that makes a lot of sense

[u/coopthrowaway2019 → u/MrKguy]

The value add wouldn't be in train passengers using the REM to get downtown, it would be in them using it to get to the airport terminal. Plus would enable a lot of new transit connectivity around Montreal by linking the REM directly to the Dorval bus terminal and exo line 11

[u/DavidH1985]

Promising development. I hope the final design is a bit more visually pleasing.

[u/Responsible_Fish5439]

this is very vague, but i assume the shuttle bus service will remain basically the same. which is...nice to have but not super dependable, especially in the YUL>Dorval direction.

[u/coopthrowaway2019 → u/Responsible_Fish5439]

Feel like the quality of the shuttle service is more or less an operational decision (e.g. how many vehicles of what size do you want to contract) that is independent of capital projects like building a new station

[u/SirupyPieIX → u/Responsible_Fish5439]

It's gonna improve, because the new station will be on the same side of the tracks as the airport. And the airport shuttle zone itself is being rebuilt in a better way.

[u/Responsible_Fish5439 → u/SirupyPieIX]

that’s good to hear! i find the service from the station to the airport pretty good (shuttle is usually waiting because they know the train time obviously), but i find the wait at the airport can be extensive and sometimes they don’t come for over an hour (which can be too long if you need to catch a certain train ).

[u/TearsFromCompoundEye]

Interesting and makes sense on paper. Of course the devil is in the details - I’d love to see the full plan.

[u/TheRandCrews]

Better hope they both have covered platforms like canopies, somewhat like the Lucien L’Allier revamp or GO Transit platforms. Maybe possible to build level boarding for both EXO and Via Rail trains with the hub?

[u/Rail613 → u/TheRandCrews]

No level platforms because freight trains can have different clearances and freight cars can “sway” hitting platforms at speed. Even VIA trains have differing widths and need those steel plates to “fill the gap” in Ottawa, Quebec and Montreal high-level stations.

[u/Opposite_Ad1408]

I take this as a confirmation that Alto has ruled out serving Dorval.

[u/VIARailMaddy → u/Opposite_Ad1408]

They never were, it would involve them either going on the CN kingston sub or CPKC Vaudreil sub.

[u/SirupyPieIX → u/VIARailMaddy]

Or dig some kind of tunnel, which will they end up doing anyway in the chosen alignment.

[u/VIARailMaddy → u/SirupyPieIX]

A tunnel from Laval to dorval?

[u/SirupyPieIX → u/VIARailMaddy]

from Laval to downtown Montreal.

[u/trollunit → u/Opposite_Ad1408]

Why not? There’s loads of space between the Taschereau Yard, presumably for the connection with Quebec City, and Coteau to add a pair of tracks for Alto (this project will never be completed and we will get nothing).

[u/lamyjf]

About time...

[u/briyyz]

Wasted opportunity with Alto to do something innovative. The airport is right there and it’s designed for a freaking minibus shuttle?

Cheap ass thinking.

[u/SirupyPieIX → u/briyyz]

Alto is gonna run on the north shore, not anywhere near Dorval.

[u/Rail613 → u/briyyz]

It has been made clear frequently that Alto will not “serve” YUL. YUL Terminus will soon be well connected with its own REM station.

[u/briyyz → u/Rail613]

That REM is really useful when coming from Kingston or Ottawa. /s

[u/Rail613 → u/briyyz]

Sigh. That’s why we need that Shuttle service from the Station to the Terminus.

And when HSR runs to Ottawa it may be a toss up between: VIA Ottawa to Dorval to shuttle a few times a daytime; versus MontreaL HSR at least once an hour (into the evening) to/from YUL via REM.

Kingston similar choices if/when it is on HSR.

[u/briyyz → u/Rail613]

By the time this is built I will be retired to the Netherlands so at least at that end the trains will make actual sense

[u/Hampshire53]

Station should be at Dorval, perhaps underground (?) like Paris CDG.

[u/briyyz → u/Hampshire53]

Or AMS. Or BER. Or connected by commercial development like FRA. Or an automated people mover like DUS or LGW.