The AMT says it is improving the quality of its service ahead of the coming winter season. (CBC)The Metropolitan Transport Agency is promising commuters using its Dorion-Rigaud train line that its service will be better this winter.

Frequent technical problems last year due to the cold and old equipment left commuters stranded at stations in the freezing cold, often with little clue when the train would come.

But Metropolitain Transport Agency (AMT) president Joël Gauthier said the agency will put $159 million in additional funding from the province towards\ improving service and especially improving communication with the agency’s clients.

"We’ve learned lessons from last winter — we were not happy," said Gauthier. "We love our customers. I know we have a love and hate relationship together, but we are working very hard to have a better winter."

By the end of next year, each station will be equipped with a new digital screen allowing passengers to see the status of their train.

Speaker systems at the stations have also been upgraded — as has AMT’s website, Gauthier said. The website will be fully bilingual by Christmas, he added.

'Every morning I didn’t know what time I would get to work,'—Luigina Vileno, commuter

Also, starting in December, riders will be able to sign up to receive emails or SMS messages on their mobile phones warning about delays of more than 10 minutes.

Gauthier said AMT is installing 40 heated switches on its tracks to make sure they won’t freeze in the cold.

To keep waiting passengers warm, a 300 foot-long heated shelter is being tested out at the Vaudreuil station and Gauthier said officials plan to eventually have one installed at all train stations.

New trains coming

Next month, the AMT expects to start receiving the first of 160 new double-decker Bombardier trains. The Quebec-built trains will be more reliable — and even equipped with toilets, Gauthier said.AMT president Joël Gauthier says he hopes the agency won't have to offer riders discounts because of poor service this coming winter. (CBC)

But they won’t be available on the west island train lines until the spring. For now, they will be reserved for south shore lines which are already equipped with the proper infrastructure, Gauthier said.

In an effort to apologize for last winters' delays, riders were offered a discount on their train passes.

Gauthier said officials hope they won’t be in the same boat this season.

"What we want is to offer reliable services — that is what we’re working on," said Gauthier.

Riders encouraged

The announcement was welcomed by Beaconsfield resident Luigina Vileno, who said last winter’s problems were a real hassle and even created dangerous situations.

"Every morning I didn’t know what time I would get to work and every night I didn’t know how long I would be stuck waiting on the platform,” Vileno said. “Sometimes the cars were so full that we would be squished against the doors hoping that they wouldn’t open.”

But Vileno, who has used the Dorion-Rigaud line to get to work for the past 17 years, said there is still more the AMT can do to improve the quality of its service for riders — such as improving lighting on the station platforms.

"Right now it is so dark, we’re looking out [the train window] wondering what station we’re at," Vileno said.

Nearly 16,000 commuters use the Dorion-Rigaud train line each day.