Pulsar, the operator of Montreal's Réseau express métropolitain (REM), dismissed its Chief Executive Officer Loïc Cordelle on May 29, 2026.
The decision came amid persistent service disruptions and a recent communications blunder.
>>> SAIC Suspends Tenured Professor Over Case Study Mentioning Palestine
The consortium, owned by Alstom and AtkinsRéalis, confirmed the leadership change as the light rail network transitioned from development to operations.
The network recently expanded to 64 kilometers after the Anse-à-l'Orme branch launched on May 18, 2026.
The management shuffle followed public backlash over a 90-minute service slowdown between Brossard and Deux-Montagnes on June 3, 2026.
Pulsar initially attributed the technical glitch to heavy morning dew disrupting train localization systems.
Spokesperson Jean-Nicolas Aubé later apologized, stating the dew explanation was unfounded. The operator clarified that a preventative track-greasing operation, typically done at night, caused the delays.
>>> Florida Jail Guards Deprive Detainees of Food and Fresh Water
Transit users expressed frustration over conflicting explanations and a lack of transparency. One commuter criticized the vague technical jargon used during service halts.
Pulsar apologized for the communication issues and noted that reliability has reached 99 percent despite winter difficulties.
Between mid-November and mid-January, the network experienced 17 service stoppages lasting over 20 minutes.
Jérôme Berthonneau, formerly senior director of operations, has assumed the role of CEO.
>>> The End of 60 Minutes as We Know It Has Sickened Millions of Viewers
Pulsar also announced summer maintenance schedule adjustments from June 6 to August 16, 2026, to prepare for the future Montreal-Trudeau Airport branch opening in late 2027.
