Info Strike

Essential services are those deemed necessary to protect public health and safety and must be maintained during a labour dispute (strike). Although going on strike is a union prerogative, the STM and the union in question have held discussions on the services to be maintained. This agreement was then reviewed and approved by the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT). 

The STM must adhere to the essential services schedule and the terms and conditions approved by the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT).   

If the métro service has ended for the day, you can check on our Trip Planner and untick the “Métro” option to see if there are any buses available for your route.   

If a bus is not available, consider other transportation options such as Bixi, walking, Communauto, taxi, Uber, carpooling, or asking friends or family for help.

No, no impact is expected. 

The end of service scedules indicated in our general announcements (for example, 9:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.) correspond to the start of the gradual closure of the métro network. From this time onward, stations close progressively as the last train passes.

The information displays in stations and the detailed schedules on the website show the actual departure times of the last train at each station. Depending on the station, some last trains may run a few minutes after the announced time, and in some cases, up to about 30 minutes later, particularly in Longueuil.

At the end of service, the last trains converge to Berri-UQAM station, wait a few moments to allow connections, and then depart for their respective terminals. This operating procedure allows passengers already on the network to complete their journey.

The trains will already be distributed throughout the network at the start of each time slot. The service opens at full coverage, as usual.

To achieve this, trains will run empty (without passengers) when the métro opens. It is therefore normal to have to wait on the platform at the start of service and to see empty trains running without stopping.

No. The stations are completely closed between periods of service.  

It’s a safety issue: electrified track, avoiding crowd management, moving trains, work in progress, etc. 

Yes. Special shuttles will be available, but only within the hours of service authorized by the Tribunal administratif du travail. 

Before opening: trains run without passengers to quickly position themselves throughout the network as to be ready to welcome customers as soon as service begins.  

After closing: trains must return to garages. It is impossible to park them all at once, so some trains continue to run without passengers. 

As a safety measure and to inform customers that this is a special train that will not be stopping.

Yes, the displayed status of the equipment is updated in real time and reflects its actual availability.

However, it is important to note that the service status of escalators and elevators will not read as unavailable while the métro is closed, to ensure a smooth resumption of our operations. 

For safety reasons, turnstiles are only opened when platform conditions are deemed safe.  

We want to prevent the risks associated with the movement of trains as they position themselves on the network. We also want to prevent the risk of overflow on the platform because of an excessive number of customers.  

Opening the turnstiles about 10 minutes before the service begins allows for a good balance:   

• Avoids long waits on the platforms  
• Allows sufficient time to access the platforms without rushing or running to board a train 

This choice is intended to ensure a safe, seamless and customer-focused start to service.   

The 747 is subject to restricted bus schedules.

The fare booth at the airport will adhere to restricted bus schedules.  

Automatic fare vending machines will be disabled during restricted bus hours. They will be re-activated 30 minutes before the end of the restricted hours to allow the purchase of fares. 

Scheduled hours will be accurate during essential service hours.  

We recommend, however, that you consult the Schedules and Maps section of our website before and during your trip for the most up-to-date information possible. It is also important to allow more time than usual to avoid unexpected issues.  

As a reminder, static customer information tools (example: schedules at each stop) will not be representative of the service offered during the strike. 

No. Shared taxibus are not affected by the strike.

Navettes Or by taxi will also continue to operate during the strike.

In situations that require quick adjustments (such as a strike situation), the STM has better control over the data posted on its website, allowing it to achieve better reliability of customer information.

The STM's route planner remains a good tool for planning your trips. However, be sure to confirm that the proposed route falls within essential service hours before leaving.

Only STM services are affected by this strike.

For more details on the services offered by other public transit organizations in the metropolitan area:

Réseau express métropolitain
Réseau de transport de Longueuil
Société de transport de Laval
exo

The ARTM is not planning on issuing refunds for validated monthly or weekly passes.   

Other fare types can be used at a later date or may be eligible for a refund, in line with the ARTM’s exchange and refund policy.   

The exchange and refund policy is determined by the ARTM, which decides on pricing issues for the STM. If you have purchased a monthly pass for the coming month, it is refundable as long as it has not yet begun its first day of validity.

No refunds or financial compensation will be provided by the ARTM for monthly or weekly passes that have already been activated. 

For unlimited fares (monthly, weekly, unlimited evening, unlimited weekend, 3 days, 24 hours) there is no issue as you can complete an unlimited number of trips during the validity period of your fare.   

For 1-, 2-, 10-trip fares or for group fares, the 120-minute correspondence period remains in effect despite the strike. To complete your trip, your last eligible transfer must be validated within 120 minutes of your first fare validation. 

We understand that the strike can have a significant impact on our customers. Rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to minimize the impact on our customers.   

The ARTM will not offer monetary compensation for clients who will incur alternative travel costs or who are unable to travel to their workplace. Customers are encouraged to plan ahead, prioritize active transportation and work from home wherever possible.   

The STM is committed to providing customers with daily updates on service status during the strike. If you are a regular public transit user, the monthly pass remains an economical option, even during reduced service.