The métro, transport adapté, night buses and shuttles: the STM is pulling out all the stops so you can pull an ‘All-Nighter’ !

Montréal, February 23,  2012  –  As a partner of the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is once again taking part in the Nuit blanche ‘All-Nighter’ happening on the night of February 25 – 26 and, as such, wishes to inform customers that they can count on widely expanded transit services for the event. Indeed, the métro will run throughout the night, along with special paratransit service, regular night-time service and, as in past years, a shuttle service between the various sites offering cultural presentations and other activities.

THE MÉTRO WILL ALSO PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER
The STM reminds the public that the métro runs 365 days a year, 20 hours a day, for a total of 7300 hours a year. The roughly four hours a night when trains are not providing passenger service are absolutely crucial for carrying out maintenance on the system to keep it in good working order. And there is no shortage of work during that time: 300 kilometres of track and third rails, 55 000 sections of concrete runway, 200 switching gear mechanisms, 120 000 third rail insulators, as well a variety of equipment used for lighting, communications, supplying power, and signalling, are all subject to night-time maintenance.

So having the métro run all night really is an exceptional measure, a gift the STM is happy to offer all Montrealers who will take part in the Nuit blanche, in exchange for a valid transit fare.

TRANSPORT ADAPTÉ NIGHT SERVICE
This special service is provided to paratransit customers presenting a valid transit fare for travel to the following transfer points for the various circuits:

• for the Old Montréal and Quays of the Old Port circuit: corner of Saint-Laurent and de la Commune in Old Montréal
• for the Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile-End circuit: Plateau Mont-Royal’s Maison de la culture
• for the Quartier des spectacles and Downtown circuit: Complexe Desjardins, corner of Jeanne-Mance and René-Lévesque

Once they arrive at either of these points, clients will be able to take the free shuttles (regular buses with access ramps) to travel from one activity site to another on their chosen circuit. The use of regular buses means that clients must be self-sufficient or accompanied.

Clients are responsible for ensuring that the sites they plan to visit, on whichever circuit, are accessible.

Note that it will be possible to travel from one circuit to another using the accessible shuttles. All information on the routes, circuits and activities can be found on the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival site. Clients are invited to visit www.montrealenlumiere.com to plan their trips more efficiently.

REGULAR NIGHT-TIME BUS SERVICE
Keep in mind that the STM offers an expanded network of night-time bus service that, combined with the métro, offers complete transit services to holders of a valid fare on the night of February 25 – 26. The all night bus network, upgraded in June 2011, runs seven nights a week. To find out more about the improved service, customers can check the STM’s web site at http://www.stm.info/English/info/a-nuit.htm

Transit users can also check the winter Planibus for bus timetables. They can also obtain schedule information from the STM website at www.stm.info, with their telephone by either calling the AUTOBUS line at 514 288-6287, accessing the mobile site at m.stm.info, calling 52786 for SMS messaging, or using the STM’s app for iPhones and Android.

UNLIMITED EVENING FARE – FOR ONLY $4
Nuit blanche also provides occasional transit users with an opportunity to try the Unlimited evening fare. It only costs $4 and gives holders unlimited use of the bus and métro networks, between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day.

With unit fares costing $3, the Unlimited evening fare is a real bargain for users, as they can board public transit vehicles as often as they want, throughout the STM bus and métro system (except for the 747 bus line to the airport). To activate the fare card, the STM reminds customers that it must be used once before midnight. To find out more, go to http://www.stm.info/English/tarification/a-soireeillimite.htm

THE STM SHUTTLES, A MUST FOR THE FESTIVAL
For the eighth consecutive year, the STM is working with Montréal en Lumière by having five shuttle routes criss-cross the Quartier des Spectacles, the Mile-end and Plateau, Old Montréal and Downtown areas. Some 55 bus stops spread out along these routes will make it easy for festival-goers to discover the numerous activities happening during the All-Nighter.

The STM is proud to take an active part in Montréal’s All-Nighter and works hard, each year, to help in its success. It also introduces many innovations to surprise festival-goers and transit users alike. No doubt, the STM is a key partner to all major events happening in Montréal and is determined to establish a closer connection with its customers by making their transportation easier at all times.

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