Comparing the Toronto and Montreal Subway Systems

This adapts a post I did on September 23, 2013 while travelling and writing trip reports.

Cars:

Toronto has both older and newer silvery cars, small wheels. Montreal has newer looking blue cars, jumbo tires.

Ground:

Toronto cars are only a little below ground and sometimes above ground. Montreal cars tend to be a lot further underground and to my knowledge never go above ground.

Speed:

Toronto cars are a lot faster.

Area:

I believe Montreal covers a larger area, definitely with more stops. Toronto is entirely in Toronto while Montreal cars dip into Laval (3 stops) and Longeuil (1 stop). [Addition June 3, 2015: Toronto: some areas were different municipalities initially; Montreal: also one stop each for the enclaves of Westmount and Mont-Royal.]

Turnstiles:

Toronto has separate turnstiles for entering and exiting. Montreal uses the same turnstiles. Toronto turnstiles use tokens or card swiper, Montreal makes you tap a card.

Lines:

Same number of lines if you count Scarborough’s above ground Scarborough line; in Montreal line names are colour coded. [Addition June 3, 2015: Toronto’s subway system is now number coded.]

Hub:

Montreal has a definite hub that most lines go to. Toronto has no such hub.

Exits:

Toronto has more exits from the rail area, though both allow multiple corridors when you get upstairs.