‘Quiet’ doesn’t mean complete silence, AMT says

Q I have a question about the quiet floors (or cars, in the case of the Candiac line) on commuter trains.

I enjoy them because I can have a quiet conversation with friends without having to compete with other, louder commuters. However, some patrons insist no talking at all is allowed on those floors and make a stink about it, everything from an exasperated “this is the quiet floor” to being told to go downstairs. Am I in the wrong in believing I can have a quiet conversation or do these people need to grow up and get a life?

David Hogarth, Beaconsfield

A You are allowed to talk, at least quietly, on the quiet floors, said Fanie St-Pierre, a spokesperson for the Agence métropolitaine de transport. In fact, she said the AMT does not enforce the rules on the quiet floors, and hopes people will govern themselves in the proper manner.

“The concept of the ‘zone de tranquilité’ was developed for customers who wish to rest while they are taking the train,” StPierre said. Among the guidelines the AMT gives to customers are to put electronic appliances and phones on silent mode, and for earphones or headphones to be quiet enough so as not to disturb others nearby. The guidelines say conversations and phone calls are permitted, but not in a loud voice.

Q On the Deux-Montagnes train line, the centre doors on my train have not worked for two weeks. Because of this, it takes 10 minutes to get off train at Central Station. The signs keep saying “waiting for Bombardier.” No apology from AMT, only excuses.

Daniel Piech, Pierrefonds

A In the last few weeks, all the doors on the Deux-Montagnes Line have been inspected and repaired when necessary, StPierre said. It took a while for the situation to get back to normal because crews can’t repair all the train cars at the same time. They have to take a train out of service in order to conduct the repairs. That’s why it can take several weeks for the doors on all the train cars to be repaired, she said.

Q When I drive home from the West Island along Highway 20 at night, I notice there are dozens of street lamps that haven’t worked for months, even in the construction areas. Over time, I expected to see some repaired, but I only see more burned out. Can cost really be a factor or is it no one notices? In contrast, when I drive in along Highway 40 almost every street lamp is working. How can the maintenance be so different along these two highways?

Gregg Blachford, Plateau Mont-Royal

A The street lights on Highway 20, between Ville-St-Pierre and the Turcot Interchange, are part of an island-wide program to inspect and replace overhead lights on highways, Martin Girard, a spokesperson for Transport Quebec, explained to Squeaky Wheels back in January. While the lights are being replaced, it’s possible there will be a few weeks where there won’t be any street lighting, Girard said.

The other roads targeted for replacement of street lights are:

Highway 15 between De La Vérendrye and Décarie

The Metropolitan between St-Laurent and the Laurentian Autoroute

Côte-de-Liesse Expressway between the Dorval Circle and Highway 40

Route 138 between the Mercier Bridge and the St-Pierre Interchange

Last Friday, Sarah Bensadoun gave an update on the situation, saying there is still a plan for the street lights to be replaced. She said it should be completed by June 21 at the latest.