Let’s have a guess. I’m waiting a train 🚂

Posted schedule says it comes in exactly 12 minutes.

Screens are not working so I don’t know on which platform.

#Montréal #exo

@EdwinG Your train will arrive at Platform 9 3/4.

@jfmezei @EdwinG don't forget to validate your ticket, on the single validator that's conveniently located on the opposite platform

@dhd6 @EdwinG Yeah like at Dorval train station. Only validator is on tunnel south of the eastbound track. So if you enter on airport side and wish to go west, there is no valaiadator and you are expected to go down into tunnel, walks to other side of tracks validate and backtrack.

I asked a control agent on train once and told me "yes, and now that I know you know, you can't use that excuse on me ever" :-)

@jfmezei @EdwinG ouf, just like de la Concorde...

They seem to be learning from their mistakes, very slowly, because the recent Mirabel station has one platform with multiple validators at the only entrance.

Of course some trains just randomly don't stop at it (and the only reason is that they just happen to pass at the same time an opposite direction train is on the platform)

Such a spectactularly bad system, I don't think ARTM planners ever ride it (or have ever ridden, e.g., GO trains)

@dhd6 @EdwinG Mirabel is interesting. EXO started service tro Blainville and later extedned it back t St-Jérome, but the tracks were there, used by Québec and Gatineau to get to Gatineau.

2009 No siding.
2012 Siding built, no station
2020 and it wasn.t till 2020 that the Mirabel station was built. Don't remember when EXO extended service to St-J.érome and if Mirabel added laterl

There is really no way for train in oppopsing direction to make a stop there. the siding needs to be moved.

@jfmezei @dhd6
Saint-Jérôme service opened in 2007.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_line?wprov=sfti1#AMT_Service

Tracks beyond Blainville station are owned and operated by the RTM/exo, signed as AMT.

Turns out, exo paid out of pocket for track improvements between Park and Saint-Jérôme 😲

@EdwinG @dhd6 So if EXO gained control over Blainville-St-Jérome in 2007, it means that the additions of the sidings was planned by EXO and so was positioning of the Mirabel station next to siding instead of south of it.

Siding should have been extended to cross the road, allowing for platforms on either side of Mirabel station.

@jfmezei @EdwinG since Mirabel has rezoned for full-on TOD around that station it would be nice if it could have the same level of service as Blainville which is surrounded by low density suburbia...