The Saint-Jérôme line: A ride through railway history
Article publié le 20 mars 2025
The first train to run on the Saint-Jérôme Line in 1876.
Credit: Image from the book Le train du Nord…vers…Labelle by Gilbert Cholette
Also known as Line 12, the Saint-Jérôme Line is part of the Greater Montreal commuter rail network. It connects Laval, Montreal’s North Shore, and several neighbourhoods in the northern part of the island. Riders can also connect to the Montreal metro at four different stations. The line is operated by exo.
A northern railway pioneer
The Québec, Montréal, Ottawa & Occidental Railway was the first major railway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. When the Montréal–Saint-Jérôme line opened in 1876, it became a lifeline for settlers and a vital route for transporting firewood into the city.
Back then, a private home in Saint-Jérôme doubled as a station—until the first dedicated station was built in 1877.
Enter Canadian Pacific
Credit : Société du patrimoine Sopabic
In 1882, Canadian Pacific (CP) took over the Québec, Montréal, Ottawa & Occidental Railway (QMO&O) and, by 1909, pushed the line even deeper into the heart of the Laurentians. The tracks stretched northward, opening the door to picturesque towns like Sainte-Agathe, Saint-Jovite, Labelle, Nominingue, Mont-Tremblant, and all the way to Mont-Laurier.
P’tit Train du Nord, the line helped shape the Laurentians. For much of the 20th century, it carried both people and goods between Saint-Jérôme and Mont-Laurier— putting its ski resorts and mountain villages firmly on the map.
By 1897, with traffic booming, Canadian Pacific built a brand-new station in Saint-Jérôme. Bigger and grander, the station became more than a stop—it was a symbol. Its bold architecture still stands as a proud reminder of Saint-Jérôme’s role as the southern gateway to the Laurentians.
The train line: supporting suburban growth, one stop at a time
The Saint-Jérôme line ran steadily from 1882 until 1981, before hitting pause for 16 years. But traffic waits for no one—and in 1997, as roadwork brought highways to a crawl, the train made a partial comeback to help ease congestion. By 2000, the Saint-Jérôme line was back for good. With 10 stations stretching from Lucien-L’Allier in downtown Montréal to Blainville in the North Shore suburbs, the line became an essential piece of the region’s transit puzzle. It was a timely answer to booming ridership, driven by a growing population and a rising tide of urban-to-suburban migration.
From Blainville to Saint-Jérôme
New train car parked at Lucien-L’Allier station before upgrades in 2024
Credit: exo
In 2000, the line expanded again with the reopening of the Mirabel and Saint-Jérôme stations. Ownership of the tracks is now shared: the stretch between Saint-Jérôme and Blainville belongs to the Réseau de transport métropolitain (RTM), while Canadian Pacific (CP) retains control of the rest of the route.
Fast forward to 2024, and a new chapter is rolling in. Exo begins introducing new train cars. 6 of the 44 brand-new cars are already in service on Line 12. Sleek, state-of-the-art, and designed with the environment in mind, they promise greater reliability and a greener way to get around.
Plan your trips with our trip planner to see the many route options available to you.
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