Pointe-Saint-Charles Commuter Train Maintenance Centre

under construction

Opportunity Ridership of the Agence métropolitaine de transport’s (AMT) commuter train network has more than doubled over the last 20 years—from 6.9 million passengers a year I 1996 to 17.8 million in 2014. In order to meet this growing demand, AMT’s rolling stock fleet has expanded to more than 300 rail units including electric, diesel and dual-mode trains that operate on both the CN and CP networks. Historically AMT relied on CN and CP rail to provide train parking and maintenance but as their fleet expanded it became increasingly necessary to construct self-sufficient maintenance centres. With a CP train maintenance centre underway in Lachine AMT wanted to build a new train maintenance centre at the former Canadian National shops, a site with rail roots dating back to the 19th century, to service its growing stock of CN trains. Challenges The train maintenance centre was located in a primarily residential neighbourhood with municipal noise standards. Innovations A firm was hired to conduct an acoustic study to ensure that the maintenance centre’s activities would not exceed municipal noise standards in effect. The study’s conclusions led the AMT to implement tangible measures to reduce noise pollution from the beginning of the centre’s construction including: A 300 metre long noise-abatement berm consisting of an acoustic wall and a landscaped berm with bike and pedestrian access at its summit offering a view of downtown; and Truck access to the work site and maintenance centre via Marc-Catin Street, limiting traffic in residential zones. Results The 16-hectare site features ultra-modern buildings and include: A parking area for 21 trains in an exterior garage; An inspection shop for two full 10-car trains and one locomotive; A major repair shop for five multi-level cars, three locomotives and two sets of MR90 electric power cars; A wheel profiling shop; and An automated train wash. Located less than two kilometers from Montréal’s Central Station, the new commuter train maintenance centre services trains running on CN’s network from the Deux-Montagnes (electric), Mascouche (electric/diesel), and Mont-Saint-Hilaire (diesel) lines. The exterior cladding of the main building features most of the bricks recovered from the former main building.  Selected and approved by the comité consultatif d’urbanisme (urban planning advisory committee) of the South-West borough, the architectural concept of the project echoes the industrial lines of the former CN shops. Once in operation the centre sustains more than 170 permanent jobs and serve as a hub for several rail industry suppliers. A partnership agreement to promote the training of local labour in railway industry trades was signed with the Regroupment économique et social du Sud-Ouest, a community economic development corporation.  It is responsible for developing a training program adapted to the needs of the AMT in collaborating with teaching institutions.

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