Freezing Rain Compounds Montreal STM Strike

Published on Nov 14, 2025, 2:37 pm CST

8 min read

Key points

STM bus and metro service may shut down citywide November 15 and 16, 2025
Environment Canada projects up to 10 millimetres of freezing rain around Montreal
Paratransit, Exo commuter rail, and the REM will be the main fixed route transit options
Icy sidewalks and bridges will slow walking detours and taxi access, especially for trips to and from YUL
Canada remains a Level 1 destination under the U.S. State Department advisory system

Impact

Build Extra Transfer Time: Add at least 60 to 90 minutes of buffer for trips to and from Montréal Trudeau International Airport and intercity rail stations during the freezing rain window
Lean On Exo And REM: Use Exo commuter rail and the REM where possible, then connect by taxi or rideshare instead of relying on suspended STM buses and metro lines
Plan Accessible Routes: Travelers with mobility issues should identify step free routes in advance, avoid steep hills, and consider rescheduling nonessential trips
Monitor Strike And Weather: Check the STM strike page and Environment Canada alerts before departure in case the walkout is averted or the freezing rain forecast changes
Confirm Event And Game Logistics: If you are heading to downtown events or Bell Centre games, review organizers' transport guidance and leave earlier than usual

Travelers in Montreal face a rare double disruption this weekend, because a planned shutdown of Société de transport de Montréal (STM) bus and metro service is now set to overlap with a significant freezing rain event across southern Quebec. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement calling for up to 10 millimetres of ice accretion from Saturday evening into Sunday morning for Greater Montreal, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, and the Lower Richelieu, warning that roads, sidewalks, and bridges could become icy and slippery. With most STM service expected to stop and walking conditions deteriorating at the same time, visitors will need more transit planning and more time to reach Montréal Trudeau International Airport (YUL), downtown hotels, and event venues.

Montreal Transit Strike And Freezing Rain Setup

STM's official strike information page confirms that, if a new labor deal is not reached, there will be no metro or regular bus service on Saturday, November 15, or Sunday, November 16. Bus operations are scheduled to stop at 400 a.m. ET on November 15, with service not resuming until 400 a.m. ET on Monday, November 17, while metro stations are expected to remain locked until 5:30 a.m. ET on November 17. Only paratransit will continue running, as required under essential services rules set by Quebec's Administrative Labor Tribunal.

Local coverage from outlets including Cult MTL, MTL Blog, and Global News emphasizes that the shutdown is effectively citywide, and that zero STM bus or metro service is expected during most of the weekend if the strike proceeds. That leaves Exo commuter rail, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), taxis, rideshares, and private shuttles as the main fixed route and commercial alternatives. For many visitors staying downtown, particularly those who normally rely on orange and green line metro stations such as Berri UQAM, Peel, or Lionel Groulx, this means changing habits on very short notice.

The new twist is timing. Environment Canada's special weather statement for the region that includes Greater Montreal, Pointe Claire, and nearby suburbs calls for freezing rain or a rain and freezing rain mix Saturday night, with up to 10 millimetres of ice accretion possible on exposed surfaces. Federal forecasters warn that pavements, sidewalks, and elevated road surfaces will become icy and slippery, and that travel conditions could be locally difficult during the transition from snow to ice and then back to rain or snow. The icing window overlaps almost exactly with the STM strike period.

Latest Developments

The latest STM strike notice covers drivers, operators, and station agents, and follows an earlier maintenance workers' walkout that had already forced the agency to trim service in recent weeks. The new plan, if implemented, is more drastic, with all regular bus and metro service halted for roughly 48 hours and only essential paratransit movements preserved. STM and the union still have a window to negotiate before the strike starts, so there remains a chance of a last minute settlement, but travelers should prepare as if service will be unavailable.

Environment Canada's alerts have escalated over the past day, shifting from general discussion of a wintry mix to a specific special weather statement focused on freezing rain and ice accretion. Local outlets echo the warning that up to 10 millimetres of ice could form overnight Saturday into Sunday, particularly in the Laurentians and Lanaudière, with Greater Montreal still firmly in the risk zone. That amount of ice is enough to make untreated sidewalks treacherous, to slow traffic on bridges and highway ramps, and to trigger tree branch breakage in some neighborhoods.

For visitors, this combination is not a broad security issue so much as a mobility and timing problem. The U.S. State Department continues to rate Canada at Level 1, exercise normal precautions, with no new advisory language tied to the STM strike or this particular freezing rain episode. Daily life is expected to continue, but with less public transport capacity and more slippery surfaces, especially in the overnight and early morning hours.

Analysis

The heaviest operational impact will fall on travelers who normally chain STM buses and metro lines to reach Exo trains, the REM, and ultimately Montréal Trudeau. The airport sits to the west of downtown near major highway corridors, and on a normal weekend many travelers use the 747 airport bus or connect through Lionel Groulx or Berri UQAM to reach that service. With STM buses and metro offline, those links will not be available, so visitors will need to rely on Exo lines that serve the West Island, the REM once fully operational on their route, or direct taxi and rideshare trips to the terminal.

Freezing rain makes that rerouting harder. Icy sidewalks and station plazas will slow walking detours to remaining train stations, particularly in neighborhoods with hills and overpasses. Bridge decks, highway ramps, and the approaches to key links such as Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 40 are prone to glazing during ice events, which can lengthen taxi and rideshare journeys to and from the airport, major hotels, and downtown hubs like Gare Centrale. Travelers should expect slower traffic on major east west corridors and on river crossings serving the South Shore and North Shore suburbs, along with longer waits for taxis in front of big hotels when a burst of freezing rain moves through.

Background

STM operates Montreal's core bus and metro network, while Exo oversees most commuter rail service and the REM adds a new high frequency automated link across parts of the metro area. Under normal conditions, these systems complement each other, with many riders using STM buses or metro lines to reach Exo, REM, and intercity trains, then walking or taking short last mile connections to their final destinations. When STM shuts down, that backbone disappears, and the remaining rail lines are fed mainly by people who can walk safely to stations or who can afford taxis and rideshares.

For airport bound travelers staying downtown, the most resilient options during the strike and freezing rain overlap will be to ride Exo or the REM as close as possible to the YUL corridor, then complete the journey by taxi, rideshare, or prebooked shuttle, instead of counting on unsupported bus transfers. Those who prefer a door to door car option should book in advance, especially for early morning departures on Sunday when ice may still linger on local streets and demand spikes before road crews catch up. Building an additional 60 to 90 minutes into the door to door time for international flights is prudent, especially if your route crosses a bridge or follows one of the main autoroutes into the city.

Travelers with mobility issues are at particular risk in this scenario. Paratransit will continue to operate, but increased demand and icy curb cuts may lead to longer waits and carefully orchestrated boarding. Wheelchair users, people using walkers or canes, and families pushing strollers should, where possible, avoid long outdoor walks and steep hills during the peak of the freezing rain, and consider shifting nonessential trips to Friday, Monday, or later in the week. If you must travel, plan step free routes in advance, confirm elevator availability at remaining rail stations, and allow time for slower boarding and alighting on icy platforms.

Events, concerts, and hockey games at venues like the Bell Centre are still expected to run, but organizers are already warning fans to plan extra time, to use remaining rail services where possible, and to carpool or share taxis to reduce pressure on limited curb space. Hotels may also face more frequent requests for late checkouts and luggage holds as guests adjust departure times to match both the strike window and the freezing rain peak. Calling ahead to coordinate baggage storage, airport transfers, or alternative check in and check out times will reduce stress once the weather deteriorates.

Final Thoughts

The STM strike and freezing rain forecast together turn what started as a straightforward labor disruption into a broader mobility and timing challenge for anyone visiting Montreal this weekend. With most STM service likely offline and ice expected to coat sidewalks, bridges, and local streets, the safest play is to rely on Exo and the REM where possible, prebook taxis or rideshares for airport and intercity rail connections, and build generous buffers into every leg of the trip. Travelers who understand how the Montreal STM strike and freezing rain interact, and who adjust plans accordingly, should still be able to move around the city, just more slowly and with a tighter focus on timing, footwear, and backup options.