Lucien L'Allier Exo commuter train station closing for months of renovations starting in April

One of Montreal's main downtown commuter train stations, Lucien L'Allier, will close for repairs on April 1 for six to 12 months to rebuild its four platforms.

The agency overseeing the city's commuter train network, Exo, says it will also add a canopy to protect users from bad weather, as well as install emergency exits.

The platforms are "at the end of their working life," Exo explained in a news release.

It will not be possible to board or disembark at the station for a period of six months on the 11 line between Vaudreuil and Hudson, and 12 months for lines 12 from St-Jérôme and 14 from Candiac.

Lines 11 and 14 will stop at Vendôme station, where users will be to connect to the orange-line Metro station there.

Trains on line 12-St-Jérôme will stop at Parc station, which is also next to a Metro station on the STM's blue line.

"Some trains on line 12-St-Jérôme will continue their journey to Montreal West station to ensure continued access to students and workers in this sector. Please note, however, that no connection to the Metro is possible from this station," Exo said in a news release.

Exo said no major repairs have been conducted at the Lucien-L'Allier train station in the past 50 years. The last time being ahead of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

"This major work will ensure the sustainability of this important public transportation infrastructure in the city centre. Exo has chosen the scenario which limits the impacts as much as possible for local residents and users, while ensuring sound management of public funds. At the end of the repairs, our customers will be able to benefit from a modern, safer and more comfortable station," said Sylvain Yelle, the general manager of Exo.