STM indefinitely suspends Metro service to 3 Blue Line stations for safety reasons

Ongoing work at Saint-Michel station has revealed significant degradation of main beams above the walkway, following an assessment by engineering teams, the STM says.  (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada - image credit)
Ongoing work at Saint-Michel station has revealed significant degradation of main beams above the walkway, following an assessment by engineering teams, the STM says. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada - image credit)

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Montreal's public transit authority says three Metro stations are closed for an indefinite period as a preventive safety measure.

As of Thursday evening, no trains are stopping at the Fabre, d'Iberville and Saint-Michel stations, the three easternmost stops on the Blue Line, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says in a news release.

Ongoing work at Saint-Michel station has revealed significant degradation of main beams above the walkway, following an assessment by engineering teams, the STM says.

"Given the location of track equipment needed for train turnarounds, Fabre and d'Iberville stations must also be closed," it says.

"Further evaluations will be carried out to determine upcoming structural work, which will likely take several days or even weeks."

As a mitigation measure, a shuttle bus service (809) between Saint-Michel and Jean-Talon stations is starting Thursday evening.

The shuttle will stop at each Metro station along this section of the Blue Line and will be available in both directions.

STM employees are on location and will be there for the coming days to assist customers.

To find bus travel options, the STM urges customers to use the route calculator which is available on its website or mobile apps. Users should uncheck the Metro option, the STM says.

The STM is planning to hold a news conference early Friday morning to provide more information to the public.