The late 1960s and early 1970s were a game-changing time for public transit in Canada. It wasn’t just about laying down tracks; cities like Montreal were making bold moves that would set the tone for urban transit for years to come. This era was all about pushing boundaries, whether through the sleek design of Montreal’s metro stations or the high-speed ambitions of the TurboTrain.

In this blog, we’re going to explore some of the standout moments from this transformative time, starting with the opening of Montreal’s metro.

 

1966: Montreal’s Metro Opens

On October 14, 1966, Montreal unveiled its first metro system, just in time for Expo 67. The construction of the metro was a product of political determination and the anticipation of the upcoming World’s Fair. In fact, the Expo’s locations, including the newly created Île Notre-Dame, were built using over 25 million tons of dirt and rock excavated during the metro’s construction.

From the very beginning, Montreal’s metro wasn’t just about getting people from point A to point B, it was about making a statement. The city made sure each station was a work of art, with unique architecture and contributions from some of Québec’s most celebrated artists. This focus on art wasn’t just for show, it helped make Montreal’s metro stand out from other North American subway systems and encouraged people to hop on the metro at a time when cars were becoming the go-to choice.

While Montreal embraced art, other cities like Calgary and Vancouver initially took a more uniform approach to their transit systems. But they eventually caught on, adding public art in later expansions.

 

1971: The Henri-Bourassa Metro Fire

Fast forward to December 9, 1971, and the Montreal metro faced one of its toughest challenges. A tragic accident at the Henri-Bourassa station exposed serious vulnerabilities. A collision between two trains sparked a fire that raged for 19 hours, leading to the heartbreaking loss of a driver and injuries to many others.

This incident wasn’t just a wake-up call, it was a full-blown alarm. Firefighters struggled to battle the flames because there was no easy access to water in the tunnels. In the end, they had to flood the tunnel with 1.2 million gallons of water to put out the fire. The damage was staggering. Four trains, 36 subway cars, and a garage were destroyed, with nearly seven million dollars in losses. An investigation later revealed that a stuck throttle was to blame, preventing the brakes from working.

 

1974: Metro Safety Gets a Major Upgrade

Just a few years later, in 1974, another major fire in the Montreal metro system underscored the need for better safety measures. This time, the response was swift and comprehensive, leading to about $70 million worth of safety improvements. Fast forward to today, and the metro is much better equipped to handle emergencies, with over 1,050 water points strategically placed throughout the system.

 

The TurboTrain’s Golden Years

The the TurboTrain was Canada’s ambitious foray into high-speed rail travel. Launched in 1968, the TurboTrain was designed to whisk passengers between Montreal and Toronto in under four hours, thanks to its gas turbine engine.

This era also saw bold experimentation with high-speed rail through the TurboTrain, reflecting Canada’s ambition to revolutionize rail travel. In our next blog, we will learn the fate of Canada’s TurboTrain and explore how Canada continued to push the envelope in transit innovation during the following decade.