Three rectifier stations on the existing Blue Line
Construction work on the Fabre and Jean-Brillant rectifier stations will begin soon. Learn more by visiting the tabs dedicated to each of these projects.
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- Construction projects summary
- Jean-Brillant site
- Fabre site
- Acadie site
- Learn more about the project
As part of the extension of the Blue Line toward the east end of Montreal, three new rectifier stations will be added to the existing Blue Line in the Fabre, Acadie and Jean-Brillant sectors.
These stations are essential for the proper functioning of the metro network, as they supply the electricity needed to power the trains.
What is a rectifier station?
A rectifier station is a small, above-ground building that is not accessible to the public. It houses the equipment required to provide electrical power to the metro. Several rectifier stations (RSs) are distributed throughout the network.
Among other things, these three new RSs on the Blue Line will:
- Increase the network’s capacity by allowing three extra cars per train
- Improve passenger comfort and accessibility with the introduction of AZUR trains on the Blue Line
- Support a new, more reliable and efficient train control system.
Jean Brillant rectifier station
Public Information Session
A virtual information session is scheduled for the coming weeks. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the infrastructure to be built in your area, the construction site layout, and the next steps. You can also submit your questions to our experts in advance using this form or on the day of the event.
Jean-Brillant Substation: Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
At Jean-Brillant, the rectifier station will be located on Rue Jean-Brillant, east of Avenue Victoria.
Upcoming work
Construction of the new RS is scheduled to begin in late summer 2026 and is expected to take about two years.
What to expect during the work?
- The worksite will be located north of Jean-Brillant Street, on a lot between that street and the Alfred-DesRochers Residential Care Center.
- Street parking spaces on Jean-Brillant Street, east of Victoria, will be removed for the duration of the work.
- Access to residences and local traffic will be maintained.
In august 2026, urban forestry work will take place to prepare for the worksite. Trees and plants that interfere with the construction sites will be protected, replanted, or cut down. Our team of forest engineers, landscape architects, urban planners, and sustainable development expert has carefully planned these interventions to preserve as many trees as possible.
The goal is to replant the trees wherever possible. Trees that can’t be replanted due to their size or condition will be recycled into wood chips, firewood or compost depending on the quality of the wood. The health and species of the trees will also help determine which ones need to be cut down, based on whether they are diseased, subject to borer infestations, or invasive, among other factors.
Once the work is complete, new trees will be planted and landscaping will be carried out around the new rectifier station.
Preparatory work completed
In the summer of 2025, the Commission des services électriques de Montréal (CSEM) began preparatory work on Rue Jean-Brillant and Avenue Victoria to relocate underground cables located in the area where the RS will be built. Hydro-Québec continued related work in the spring of 2026. This work was necessary to clear the way for excavation.
Good to know
- Access to residences and private parking will be maintained at all times.
- Signs will guide pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
- To reduce disturbances for nearby residents, mitigation measures will be put in place, including the installation of noise barriers around the construction site.
Fabre rectifier station
At Fabre, the rectifier station will be integrated into the station’s main building at the corner of Rue Jean-Talon and Rue Papineau. The structure of the rectifier station will be built on a vacant lot adjacent to the north facade of the entrance building.
Once completed, the construction of this infrastructure will change the shape of the existing station building and eliminate the recessed portion overlooking the alley.
What to expect during the work
This first phase will begin gradually in the week of August 10, 2026, and last about four (4) weeks.
During this period:
- Car lanes will be reduced on Papineau avenue between Everett and Jean-Talon streets. Only one lane in each direction will be open.
- A pedestrian walkway will be available along the Papineau side of the construction zone.
- The 45 bus stops located on Papineau Avenue, north of Jean-Talon Street, will be relocated south of that street.
- The alley of the residents on Papineau and Marquette streets will be accessible only via Everett Street.
During the construction of the new rectifier station, major renovations will also be carried out on the station’s main building.
The renovation of the main building will require a change in the construction site layout. This second phase will begin in September 2026 and last about 18 months.
During this period:
- The main station access point (Access A) will be closed to allow the work to proceed. You may use Entrance B, located at the corner of Jean-Talon and Fabre streets.
- Traffic lanes will gradually be added on Papineau avenue.
- The southbound 45 bus stop on Papineau Avenue will remain relocated. A 93 bus stop on Jean-Talon will also be relocated.
- Access to Jean-Talon Street via the alley will remain blocked. Our teams will clear snow from the alley throughout the duration of the work.
- Please be careful and be sure to use the crosswalks. Flaggers will bew posted at the site entrance and exit to ensure safety.
Good to know
- The alley serving residents on Rue Papineau and Rue Marquette will be accessible only via Rue Everett.
- Our teams will clear snow from the alley throughout the duration of the work.
- Work will be carried out at the station during construction, but Fabre station will remain accessible.
- Access to residences, parking lots and surrounding businesses will be maintained at all times.
- Bus service will be maintained.
Information Session - Fabre rectifier station
On July 15, 2026, an information session was organized for residents in the Fabre rectifier station to present the infrastructure project, the construction site layout, and the subsequent stages of its implementation.
View the presentation and watch the video recording. (Past sessions)
Join your local good neighbour committee!
Do you live near the future Fabre rectifier station and want to have your say in how the worksite will fit into your neighbourhood?
A good neighbour committee will be set up in the coming weeks as a space for dialogue between the project's team and the local community. We’re currently looking for people who live in the area to join the committee and represent local residents at a few meetings per year.
The committee’s purpose is to:
- Provide information and outline the different phases of the project.
- Start a dialogue between residents and project representatives that will continue throughout the work.
- Discuss how the impact of the work will be managed so that resident members can share this information with their local community.
- Understand the concerns residents have about the work and find solutions together.
- Allow local residents to make suggestions on specific topics chosen by the project office.
Write to us to apply or to find out more.
Coordinating the work to limit impacts
The STM is planning renovation work on the main entrance building at Fabre station. The work will focus on rebuilding the fixed staircases and repairing the floor slab of this access building.
To reduce impacts on customers while optimizing resources, this work will be carried out in conjunction with the construction of the Fabre rectifier station.
Acadie rectifier station
At Acadie, the station will be built on the site near the station’s secondary entrance.
Work has not yet begun, and more information will be provided soon.
Learn more
Before work begins, a public information session will be held for residents in each sector to help them learn more about the nature of the work, how the project will be carried out and the mitigation measures that will be put in place.
Good-neighbour committee will also be established to encourage respectful coexistence throughout the project.
Over the next few months, excavation work necessary for the construction of the future rectifier stations will begin.
To prepare for upcoming work, Soft dB / BCI was commissioned to conduct an inspection of the buildings located within a 50-meter radius of the surface excavation work to be carried out.
The inspections will provide an overview of the infrastructure surrounding the rectifier station construction sites. The findings of the inspections will also be used to establish the maximum vibration levels for each site. Although these inspections are a precautionary measure, they are essential in the unlikely event that the work causes any damage.
Each building inspection lasts approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Photos are taken of the building interior and exterior. The photos are mostly close-ups of the foundations, walls, ceilings, and floors and serve to document the building’s condition prior to the start of the excavation work.
The pre-construction inspection is a common precautionary measure for major construction sites. It protects you in the unlikely event that your property suffers any damage during the Blue line project work.
The Blue line project follows in the wake of the Déclaration du gouvernement du Québec et de la Ville de Montréal to revitalize Montréal East. Many projects are underway to give a new impetus to this sector. Increased mobility, economic development, and improved living environments are at the heart of this ambitious project. For more information, see Québec.ca/RevitalisationEstMontreal (in French only).