metro ligne verte

Service Restored: A Timeline of the Recent Green Line Disruption in Montreal

Published: January 24, 2026 Category: Montreal Transit / Local News Reading Time: 6 Minutes

Montreal’s public transit network, a vital lifeline for millions of daily commuters, experienced a significant hiccup on Friday, January 23, 2026. The Metro Ligne Verte (Green Line) suffered a sudden interruption, causing widespread disruption across the downtown core and into the city’s east end. While delays are not uncommon in urban transit systems, the abrupt nature of this outage drew immediate attention from local media and commuters alike.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the event, relying strictly on verified reports from trusted local news sources. We will explore the timeline of the disruption, the immediate impact on the daily lives of Montrealers, and what this incident reveals about the resilience of the city’s aging metro infrastructure.

The Incident: What Happened on the Green Line?

The disruption began early in the afternoon on January 23, 2026. According to reports from Noovo Info, the interruption was triggered by a medical emergency involving a passenger. While specific details regarding the nature of the emergency remain private due to confidentiality, the incident necessitated an immediate halt in service to ensure the safety and well-being of the individual involved.

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, and metro operators suspended service to allow for safe extraction and treatment. This decision, while necessary for public safety, created an immediate bottleneck in one of the city's busiest transportation arteries.

Timeline of Events

Based on verified reports from Le Journal de Montréal and La Presse, the sequence of events unfolded as follows:

1. Initial Interruption: Service was abruptly halted on the Green Line. Stations such as Berri-UQAM, Sherbrooke, and Papineau were heavily impacted.
2. Communication Rollout: STM (Société de transport de Montréal) officials utilized their communication channels to alert passengers of the service change, advising alternative routes where possible.
3. Resolution and Recovery: By late afternoon, the medical situation was resolved. Service began to slowly return to normal operations.
4. Full Resumption: By approximately 4:30 PM, La Presse confirmed that transport was returning to normal across the entire line.

Immediate Impact on Commuters

The interruption of the Metro Ligne Verte had ripple effects throughout the city’s transit network. Because the Green Line intersects with the Orange and Yellow lines at the critical Berri-UQAM hub, the disruption forced thousands of passengers to reroute.

Congestion and Alternatives

During the one-hour outage, commuters faced significant crowding on parallel bus routes, specifically along Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Saint-Denis Street. Ridesharing services reported a spike in demand in the downtown core.

For students and workers heading to the east end, the lack of metro access meant longer travel times. While the STM’s bus network is robust, the sudden influx of displaced passengers tested the limits of capacity during peak hours.

The Human Element

Beyond the logistics, the incident highlighted the human side of transit delays. While the specific medical emergency was the primary cause, the resulting disruption affected thousands of unrelated lives. This underscores the delicate balance transit authorities must maintain between operational efficiency and emergency response protocols.

Contextual Background: The Green Line’s Role in Montreal

To understand the significance of this disruption, one must look at the historical and cultural importance of the Green Line.

A Brief History

Opened in 1966, the Green Line was the first metro line to connect the downtown core to the east end. Initially running from Atwater to Honoré-Beaugrand, it played a pivotal role in the urban development of neighborhoods like Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Mercier-Est.

Unlike the other lines, which were expanded significantly over the decades, the Green Line has remained relatively static in recent years. However, it remains a critical artery for a diverse demographic of commuters, including students, essential workers, and residents of some of the city's most densely populated boroughs.

Infrastructure and Aging

The Green Line’s infrastructure, while maintained, is subject to the wear and tear of a system that is now over half a century old. While the STM invests heavily in modernization—such as the new MR-73 and upcoming MR-90 trains—incidents like medical emergencies or mechanical hiccups can still cause disproportionate delays due to the tight tolerances of the system.

While unverified reports often circulate regarding the mechanical reliability of the line, the official reports from January 23 attribute the delay solely to a medical incident, highlighting that not all disruptions are structural in nature.

Immediate Effects and Stakeholder Responses

The STM’s Response

The Société de transport de Montréal prioritized safety over speed. By halting the line to address the medical emergency, they adhered to standard safety protocols. The rapid return to service—confirmed by La Presse—suggests that the incident was managed efficiently once the immediate health crisis was stabilized.

Media Coverage and Public Perception

Local news outlets played a crucial role in managing public anxiety during the outage. * Le Journal de Montréal provided immediate coverage of the "interruption d'une heure," framing the event as a significant disruption to the daily routine of commuters. * La Presse focused on the resolution, emphasizing the "retour à la normale," which helped reassure passengers that the system was back in motion. * Noovo Info offered the initial context regarding the medical nature of the incident, providing clarity on why the service was halted.

This coordinated media response illustrates the ecosystem of information that Montrealers rely on to navigate the city.

Future Outlook: Resilience and Reliability

While the January 23 disruption was resolved relatively quickly, it raises questions about the resilience of the metro system in the face of unexpected events.

Managing Medical Emergencies

Medical emergencies on public transit are not rare events. As the population ages and ridership remains high, the frequency of such incidents is likely to remain constant or increase. The STM and emergency services may need to evaluate protocols for handling medical emergencies with minimal disruption to the wider network. This could involve improved on-board communication systems or specialized rapid-response units that can operate without halting entire lines.

Infrastructure Investment

The incident underscores the importance of continued investment in the Green Line. While the line is functional, its terminals and central stations are among the busiest in the network. Future projects, such as potential extensions or upgrades to signaling systems, will be essential to ensure that the line can handle the demands of a growing city.

The "Ligne Verte" in 2026

As Montreal moves further into 2026, the Green Line remains a focal point for urban planning. While the focus often shifts to the new Pink Line (Line 7) or the Blue Line extension, the Green Line remains the workhorse of the east end. Ensuring its reliability is paramount.

Conclusion

The interruption of service on the Metro Ligne Verte on January 23, 2026, was a stark reminder of the fragility of urban transit systems. Triggered by a medical emergency, the one-hour disruption affected thousands of Montrealers before returning to normal operations later in the day.

Thanks to the swift response of emergency services and the efficient management by the STM, the situation was resolved without further incident. As verified reports from Le Journal de Montréal, La Presse, and Noovo Info confirm, the system demonstrated its ability to recover quickly, prioritizing human safety above all else.

For Montrealers, the incident serves as a reminder of the interconnected nature of the city’s transit network and the importance of patience and preparedness. As the city continues to grow, the resilience of the Green Line—and the entire metro network—will remain a cornerstone of daily life in the metropolis.

This report is based on verified news coverage from January 23, 2026. For real-time updates on metro service, please consult the official STM website or mobile application.