Hi!
Right, I'm seventeen right now, and I want to meet someone else in Montreal. We're planning on meeting halfway using the Metro.
I'm a little confused regarding exactly how the Montreal Metro system works. I've done some research online, I know where the nearest station is to be (the green line, Honore-beaugrand), I know it costs 2.75$ per trip and there are monthly passes.
I'm still a little lost and nervous actually. I've never used a Metro system before, will it be really crowded? I tend to get nervous in highly public places. Also, does the 2.75 dollars cover me for however long I want to stay on the train for? Could I take it all the way to the end of the green line for example?
Also, how do I know exactly when the train will arrive? Or does it not really matter? That's something I can just wing, so to speak... I don't really mind waiting. It's just that Montreal is such a huge city, it feels overwhelming. I didn't want to travel far in the city until I got my GPS unit. The current cash fare is $2.75 and you could ride the subway all day for that price from the end of one line to the other or transfering lines. Just don't go through the turnstiles to exit becaus you'll have to pay again. In addition to monthly passes, there are daily passes, weekly passes and passes for 3 days.
Depending on the time of day it will be very crowded, so I would suggest avoiding it between roughly 7 am and 9 am, and then roughly between 4:30 pm and 6 pm.Those are the rush hour times and the trains tend to be very crowded. It'll be a little crowded during the day anyway, but it isn't too bad.
Some stations have a clock and timing system to let you know how long the wait is for the next train. During the day , the wait time is approximately 7 to 10 minutes, or less depending on the line. The stations are announced (in French) when leaving one for the next and then on arrival at that station.
The system itself isn't really complicated. If you look at a map, the green and blue lines run east-west (sort of) while the orange line runs north-south (sort of) and the yellow line runs sort of south. The transfer stations (Berri-UQAM, Lionel-Groulx, Snowdon, Jean-Talon) can get a little confusing. Just read the signs to see what the line station is and you'll know what direction you're taking.
If you're meeting someone in the metro, better to agree on a station than to meet half-way. Also, agree on the front car or back car, and then the door nearest that end of the train. Glad to help. I take the metro frequently and never gave a thought to how confusing it can be. Report It
It really depends on what day and time of the week you're planning on meeting that person.
The Metro in Montreal is very safe and very clean and also very easy to understand and follow once you get the hang of it I guess.
The $2.75 fee should only cover your fare halfway by the way but it will take you until the end of wherever you want to go as long as you don't step outside the metro station where you're at and as long as you're not planning to go back to your original departure point.
Also, don't worry too much about train times or schedules; they are pretty frequent, you'll see! Every few minutes in fact!
I really wouldn't get nervous or apprehensive if I were you.
Everything will run smoothly, I guarantee it!
Take it easy & enjoy your meeting! Not to worry! The signage in all Metro stations is very clear, although in French. You're lucky that Honore-Beaugrand is at the end of one of the lines. Just look in the station for a green sign overhead with "HONORE-BEAUGRAND" on it. Follow it and you will be on the right platform. Then on the train every station name is announced very clearly (in French): "Prochaine station: Honore-Beaugrand".
You can turn around and ride back on a single fare, but only if you do not leave the station. To return just look for the green sign overhead with "Angrignon" written on it.
Trains run about every 3-5 minutes on weekdays, less in the evenings and on weekends. On Sundays they run about every 8-10 minutes.
Montreal is a fabulous place. Have fun! Hi...
The other answers have covered most of your questions, but let me add:
Honore-Beaugrand is the end of the line, or in your case the beginning, and though I've never actually been there, I have been to most of the other ends of lines, so I'm fairly confident that it's the same. Since it's the first station, the train will be waiting there, usually for a couple minutes (depending on the time of day/how frequently the metro comes at that time) and then you'll hear a horrible whiny sound when it's about to leave. I would doubt that it's crowded when you get on, but it'll probably fill up by Berri-UQAM.
If it's at all convenient, I'd suggest you meet your friend at Place-des-Arts station, because it's not a very busy one and you can go all around it without passing through the turnstiles (which as others have said would mean you'd have to pay another 2.75) Someone correct me if I'm wrong! Agree to meet, for example, by the Bleury exit. Then you can travel together from there.
Don't worry, it's safe. My nephew's been taking the Metro to school since he was 9 or 10. You have many maps of the metro in every station and at least one in every wagon.
It's around 12 to 25 minutes (depending time of the day and waiting time) from central Berri UQAM station to every end of line (including Honore-Beaugrand).
You can ask the people working in the metro for help. They aren't necessarly really smileys... (maybe that working for the transport companies, under ground all day aren't any help) but if you ask them they will try to help you find what you need to. Sometimes you can even ask to the people around you, if they are not too much in a hurry, generrally, they will answer kindly your quick questions of find out where you are and where you're going.
Rush hours can be crowded, but if you went to other places you'll find Quebec's more quiet and less agressive than some others (NY, Asia, some Europe). I've been much more lost or in danger in my car, with oneways, mad drivers or bad wheather :)
I've been in the metro since I'm 12, alone or with friends, sister and now my kids and it's really safe and a fun place to observe others. |
