𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚎 🚇
@taras-grescoe.com
Author of Straphanger, Shanghai Grand, Devil’s Picnic | Words NYT NatGeo Smithsonian WSJ | Talks: http://taras-grescoe.com/contact
https://www.highspeed.blog
https://linktr.ee/tarasgrescoe
IG: https://www.instagram.com/i.ride.trains/
https://www.highspeed.blog
https://linktr.ee/tarasgrescoe
IG: https://www.instagram.com/i.ride.trains/
WE WANT TRAINS!
The public is sending a message: Amtrak is setting ridership records, carrying 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25, while ticket revenue is $2.764 billion.
www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
The public is sending a message: Amtrak is setting ridership records, carrying 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25, while ticket revenue is $2.764 billion.
www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
November 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
WE WANT TRAINS!
The public is sending a message: Amtrak is setting ridership records, carrying 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25, while ticket revenue is $2.764 billion.
www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
The public is sending a message: Amtrak is setting ridership records, carrying 34.5 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25, while ticket revenue is $2.764 billion.
www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
November 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I agree with everything @sgoodyear.bsky.social and @brooklynspoke.bsky.social write in their new book.
(And that's precisely the problem.)
I make a close read of Life After Cars, by @thewaroncars.bsky.social team...
🧵
(And that's precisely the problem.)
I make a close read of Life After Cars, by @thewaroncars.bsky.social team...
🧵
November 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I agree with everything @sgoodyear.bsky.social and @brooklynspoke.bsky.social write in their new book.
(And that's precisely the problem.)
I make a close read of Life After Cars, by @thewaroncars.bsky.social team...
🧵
(And that's precisely the problem.)
I make a close read of Life After Cars, by @thewaroncars.bsky.social team...
🧵
Here's my HIGH SPEED newsletter on the first leg of the REM, on why this is such an important project for Montreal and indeed North America:
www.highspeed.blog/the-end-of-t...
www.highspeed.blog/the-end-of-t...
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Here's my HIGH SPEED newsletter on the first leg of the REM, on why this is such an important project for Montreal and indeed North America:
www.highspeed.blog/the-end-of-t...
www.highspeed.blog/the-end-of-t...
Nice detail in Edouard-Montpetit REM station: natural rock walls. The platforms are 73 metres below the street—height of a 20 storey building. The rock is gabbro, a very hard igneous rock. 100,000 kg of explosives were used to build the station.
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Nice detail in Edouard-Montpetit REM station: natural rock walls. The platforms are 73 metres below the street—height of a 20 storey building. The rock is gabbro, a very hard igneous rock. 100,000 kg of explosives were used to build the station.
You can get from downtown Montreal to this view in about 20 minutes. Crossing the Rivière-des-Prairies on a southbound REM.
November 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
You can get from downtown Montreal to this view in about 20 minutes. Crossing the Rivière-des-Prairies on a southbound REM.
Here we are entering the Tunnel Mont-Royal (southbound). At 5 km, the 3rd longest in Canada. Built by Canadian Northern in WWI, taken over by CN. Discovery of hundred year old explosives delayed construction a bit…
November 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Here we are entering the Tunnel Mont-Royal (southbound). At 5 km, the 3rd longest in Canada. Built by Canadian Northern in WWI, taken over by CN. Discovery of hundred year old explosives delayed construction a bit…
Thanks to the REM, this view, southbound over the Rivière-des-Prairies, is now only 20 minutes from downtown #Montréal. As of this weekend, 14 new stations open, served by driverless electric trains with frequencies of as little as 3 minutes. It’s free to ride today!
November 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Thanks to the REM, this view, southbound over the Rivière-des-Prairies, is now only 20 minutes from downtown #Montréal. As of this weekend, 14 new stations open, served by driverless electric trains with frequencies of as little as 3 minutes. It’s free to ride today!
All aboard the Kafka Subway!
I’ve had dreams like this. Sculptor Michel de Broin took doors from MR-63 métro cars and turned them into this interactive installation at Arsenal Contemporary gallery in #Montréal.
Très Inception!
www.arsenalcontemporary.com
I’ve had dreams like this. Sculptor Michel de Broin took doors from MR-63 métro cars and turned them into this interactive installation at Arsenal Contemporary gallery in #Montréal.
Très Inception!
www.arsenalcontemporary.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:33 PM
All aboard the Kafka Subway!
I’ve had dreams like this. Sculptor Michel de Broin took doors from MR-63 métro cars and turned them into this interactive installation at Arsenal Contemporary gallery in #Montréal.
Très Inception!
www.arsenalcontemporary.com
I’ve had dreams like this. Sculptor Michel de Broin took doors from MR-63 métro cars and turned them into this interactive installation at Arsenal Contemporary gallery in #Montréal.
Très Inception!
www.arsenalcontemporary.com
Nice detail in #Montréal’s Edouard-Montpetit REM station: natural rock walls. The platforms are 73 metres below the street—height of a 20 storey building. The rock is gabbro, a very hard igneous rock. 100,000 kg of explosives were used to build the station.
November 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Nice detail in #Montréal’s Edouard-Montpetit REM station: natural rock walls. The platforms are 73 metres below the street—height of a 20 storey building. The rock is gabbro, a very hard igneous rock. 100,000 kg of explosives were used to build the station.
Trump take air travel.
So even MJT have to take train.
"Far-right Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was on Amtrak Crescent traveling from DCto her home state, and she was enchanted. “The sweetest people run the train,” she posted.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
So even MJT have to take train.
"Far-right Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was on Amtrak Crescent traveling from DCto her home state, and she was enchanted. “The sweetest people run the train,” she posted.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
November 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Trump take air travel.
So even MJT have to take train.
"Far-right Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was on Amtrak Crescent traveling from DCto her home state, and she was enchanted. “The sweetest people run the train,” she posted.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
So even MJT have to take train.
"Far-right Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was on Amtrak Crescent traveling from DCto her home state, and she was enchanted. “The sweetest people run the train,” she posted.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Top speed of #Montreal’s REM is 110 km/h, though it won’t exceed 100 km/h on the line that opened today.
November 15, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Top speed of #Montreal’s REM is 110 km/h, though it won’t exceed 100 km/h on the line that opened today.
No problem connecting from métro at McGill and Edouard-Montpetit. (Unlike at Bonaventure/Central Station). Métro and REM entrances side-by-side.
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
No problem connecting from métro at McGill and Edouard-Montpetit. (Unlike at Bonaventure/Central Station). Métro and REM entrances side-by-side.
Five minute headways this morning. I can definitely live with that!
November 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Five minute headways this morning. I can definitely live with that!
According to the operations manager, the latest snowfall (20 cm) didn’t hold up operations. He claims they’ve overcome their teething problems—before the points (switching on tracks) were freezing, but they have a new gas-powered system to heat them when it’s cold/icy.
November 15, 2025 at 3:13 PM
According to the operations manager, the latest snowfall (20 cm) didn’t hold up operations. He claims they’ve overcome their teething problems—before the points (switching on tracks) were freezing, but they have a new gas-powered system to heat them when it’s cold/icy.
Interior is open, with large windows. So much less claustrophobia-inducing then the metro. Hard to get a good shot of the exterior when you’re on board!
November 15, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Interior is open, with large windows. So much less claustrophobia-inducing then the metro. Hard to get a good shot of the exterior when you’re on board!
You can get from downtown Montreal to this view in about 20 minutes. Now crossing the Rivière-des-Prairies on a southbound REM.
November 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
You can get from downtown Montreal to this view in about 20 minutes. Now crossing the Rivière-des-Prairies on a southbound REM.
You can get from downtown Montreal to this view in about 20 minutes. Now crossing the Rivière-des-Prairies on a southbound REM.
November 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
You can get from downtown Montreal to this view in about 20 minutes. Now crossing the Rivière-des-Prairies on a southbound REM.
It gets downright picturesque between Pierrefonds and Île-Bigras. I’m going to enjoy bringing my bike and exploring this part of the city.
November 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It gets downright picturesque between Pierrefonds and Île-Bigras. I’m going to enjoy bringing my bike and exploring this part of the city.
Here we are entering the Tunnel Mont-Royal (southbound). At 5 km, the 3rd longest in Canada. Built by Canadian Northern in WWI, taken over by CN. Discovery of hundred year old explosives delayed construction a bit…
November 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Here we are entering the Tunnel Mont-Royal (southbound). At 5 km, the 3rd longest in Canada. Built by Canadian Northern in WWI, taken over by CN. Discovery of hundred year old explosives delayed construction a bit…
Here’s the front-end view of the new REM line to Deux-Montagnes in #Montréal. Between Côte-de-
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
November 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Here’s the front-end view of the new REM line to Deux-Montagnes in #Montréal. Between Côte-de-
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
Here’s the front-end view of the new REM line to Deux-Montagnes in #Montréal. Between Côte-de-
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
November 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Here’s the front-end view of the new REM line to Deux-Montagnes in #Montréal. Between Côte-de-
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
Liesse and Montpellier. A very smooth ride so far…
You take an elevator or stairs down from street level to a bank of 5 elevators. The station is 72 m underground, deepest in Canada. The elevator ride down takes just 20 seconds—but it’s fast. My ears popped…
November 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
You take an elevator or stairs down from street level to a bank of 5 elevators. The station is 72 m underground, deepest in Canada. The elevator ride down takes just 20 seconds—but it’s fast. My ears popped…