Can Canada's major cities handle winter weather with their new light-rail systems? It’s a question that’s leaving commuters frustrated and experts divided. Thousands of riders in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa faced major disruptions on Thursday after a heavy overnight snowfall caused partial or complete shutdowns of their brand-new LRT lines. But here's where it gets controversial: were these systems truly designed to withstand the harsh Canadian winter, or did cost-cutting measures leave them vulnerable?
The scenes were all too familiar for David St-Pierre, a Brossard resident who decided to take a chance on Montreal’s Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) despite the snow. After a 50-minute wait at the Brossard station, he was among the many commuters left wondering if these systems are up to the task. 'I kind of rolled the dice,' he admitted, echoing the frustration of riders across three cities.
And this is the part most people miss: While these LRT systems were touted as modern solutions to urban transit, their performance in winter conditions has raised serious concerns. Steve Munro, a Toronto transit advocate, points out that travel times on the Finch Line are often slower than the buses they replaced. 'It’s quite a scratch-your-head-and-wonder moment,' he said. Lavagnon Ika, a professor of project management at the University of Ottawa, bluntly stated, 'I don’t think they’ve factored in winter as much as they should.'
But why? Ahmed El-Geneidy, a professor at McGill University’s school of urban planning, suggests it’s a trade-off. 'You get one interruption every year or two with heavy snow, but you save significantly compared to building underground subway lines,' he explained. However, this interpretation isn’t without its critics. Some argue that cities like Edmonton and Calgary have managed to operate above-ground LRT systems effectively in snowy conditions, raising questions about design and preparation.
Montreal’s REM, launched two years ago, has faced numerous weather-related issues, despite improvements over time. A newer line, partially underground, has fared better, but Thursday’s snowfall exposed ongoing vulnerabilities. Toronto’s Finch Line and Ottawa’s Line 2 also struggled, with the Finch Line still not operational by Thursday evening. This line has been ridiculed for its slow speeds, technical glitches, and inefficiencies compared to the bus system it replaced.
Here’s the controversial part: Could these issues have been avoided with better planning? Toronto’s Finch Line, for instance, uses the same problematic ice-melting technology that failed in Ottawa years ago. Stuart Green, a spokesperson for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), acknowledged ongoing struggles with switches, vehicles, and yard access. Meanwhile, Metrolinx, the agency managing the project, has yet to provide a timeline for resolving these issues.
For commuters like Katherine Bignell-Jones in Toronto and Jeanne Panneton in Montreal, the impact is personal. Bignell-Jones called the Finch Line 'a glorified streetcar' and noted only three out of 13 rides ran smoothly. Panneton described her Thursday commute as 'packed like sardines,' taking twice as long as usual. David St-Pierre, who relies on the REM to drop his daughter at daycare, expressed his growing lack of faith in the system. 'It’s nerve-wracking not knowing if it’ll work,' he said.
So, what’s next? REM officials blame 'severe weather conditions' for the disruptions and promise new equipment and procedures in the coming weeks. But as St-Pierre optimistically put it, 'My hope is they’ll figure out we have winter here.'
Here’s the question we’re left with: Did these cities prioritize cost savings over winter readiness, or is this simply a growing pain for new transit systems? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think these LRT systems can be winter-proofed, or is this a recurring problem we’ll just have to accept?
