The STM's new extra-service schedule is now in effect.
As of Monday, the Montreal transit agency is promising commuters that a metro train will come along every five minutes before 10:30 p.m., and even more frequently during rush hour on the Orange and Green lines, where commuters can expect a train every three minutes during peak hours.
"We want people to get a better experience when they're travelling with us," said STM chair Philippe Schnobb.
The Blue line will get the same treatment beginning in March.
"It's been a request by students at the Universite de Montreal, to have more who want to have more time to do their work at the library," said Schnobb.
The Blue line will also operate later, with the last train beginning its run at 12:45 a.m.
By year's end, the STM hopes to have 30 of the new Azur trains in operation on the metro.
The STM is also adding 100,000 more hours of bus service, especially in the SouthWest borough which is particularly affected by construction around the Turcot Interchange. Schnobb said the increase has already seen an increase in ridership of four or five per cent in that borough.
107 of those buses will have hybrid engines and air conditioning.
"We want more customers as well, but basically we say we need to improve our service to make the trips more efficient, and we want people to be more satisfied when they are travelling with us," said Schnobb.
Where fares have not increased with the added services, Schnobb said the cost of the improvements will be evaluated in May, with a possible fare hike in July.
The service additions were announced in November as part of the STM's budget for 2017.
