Montreal’s public transportation authority, the STM, has announced the temporary removal of 181 articulated buses due to cooling system failures. This precautionary measure aims to address the issue promptly and ensure passenger safety. The agency is currently inspecting and repairing the affected buses, but this may lead to increased crowding and service disruptions on certain routes, as stated in a recent press release.
The bus service in Montreal is already facing challenges due to strikes by maintenance workers scheduled from November 1 to November 28. To mitigate the impact of the articulated buses’ absence, the STM plans to substitute them with regular buses, although this may result in crowding issues. The agency reassured that additional buses will be deployed whenever possible to alleviate the situation for commuters.
The articulated buses affected by the cooling system problems are part of Nova Bus’s hybrid fleet, comprising 220 vehicles. STM is collaborating closely with Nova Bus to address and rectify the technical difficulties. Nathalie Clément, the executive director of Planning, Service Delivery, and Customer Experience at STM, emphasized the agency’s commitment to minimizing service disruptions and swiftly resolving the issue by obtaining necessary replacement parts.
