Aug 22, 2013, 11:24 pm
Last edit by: beltway
Operated by Montréal's transit agency (Société de transport de Montréal, or STM), the 747 Express Bus runs between Trudeau Airport (YUL) and two alternative destinations:
Fares/Passes
Holders of the following STM passes may ride the 747 bus free of charge:
There is an additional option that applies only to travel to the airport. See the next section.
How/Where to Purchase Passes
Passes may be purchased
Service Schedules
The 747 bus operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Depending on traffic conditions, the long route takes from 45 to 60 minutes end to end.
Buses run every 5-16 minutes from 7:30am to midnight, with reduced service overnight and on holidays. Arrival schedules for individual stops may be found on the STM website:
Tips for a Successful Trip
The 747 bus departs YUL from door 28 directly in front of the international arrivals area. From the STM vending machines mentioned above, walk straight outside to the curb.
The westbound departure point is platform 15 in Gare d'Autocars.
Note that the east- and westbound routes are not symmetrical. Some stops exist in only one direction, so your pickup location for returning to the airport will not necessarily be across the street from where you exited the bus from the airport.
All buses and stops are accessible.
Further Information
For additional details, see the 747 bus homepage on the STM website.
- Long route: to Gare d'Autocars. This route serves downtown, Chinatown, and the Latin Quarter, with numerous stops along Boulevard René-Lévesque between Rue Guy and Rue Berri. In addition, Vieux Montréal lies a short walk to the south of several stops.
- Short route: a single stop at Lionel-Groulx métro station.
Fares/Passes
Holders of the following STM passes may ride the 747 bus free of charge:
- 24 hours zone A (i.e., the $11 option noted above)*
- 3-day zone A*
- weekly zone A
- monthly zone A*
- 4-month zone A
- 24-hr, 3-day, or monthly bus-only
- unlimited weekend
There is an additional option that applies only to travel to the airport. See the next section.
How/Where to Purchase Passes
Passes may be purchased
- on board the bus. Note: Exact change (coins only) is required.
- from vending machines in the YUL international arrivals area (outside of security). Machines accept debit cards, VISA, MasterCard, and cash. There is an ATM nearby.
- in all métro stations.
- at the Gare d'Autocars de Montréal ticket counter.
- A ticket purchased through a parking pay station is valid only going to the airport, and only for a two-hour period after purchase.
- The pay stations accept payment (including Canadian-issued credit cards) for 747 bus tickets 24/7.
Service Schedules
The 747 bus operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Depending on traffic conditions, the long route takes from 45 to 60 minutes end to end.
Buses run every 5-16 minutes from 7:30am to midnight, with reduced service overnight and on holidays. Arrival schedules for individual stops may be found on the STM website:
- From the airport to downtown (eastbound)
- From downtown to the airport (westbound)
Tips for a Successful Trip
The 747 bus departs YUL from door 28 directly in front of the international arrivals area. From the STM vending machines mentioned above, walk straight outside to the curb.
The westbound departure point is platform 15 in Gare d'Autocars.
Note that the east- and westbound routes are not symmetrical. Some stops exist in only one direction, so your pickup location for returning to the airport will not necessarily be across the street from where you exited the bus from the airport.
All buses and stops are accessible.
Further Information
For additional details, see the 747 bus homepage on the STM website.
YUL-747 express bus
Jun 4, 2010 | 10:12 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 1,393
Well, I was in Montréal for the Memorial Day Weekend. I spent 20 minutes in line at the airport to buy the ticket (Sat., May 29th, approx. 10AM) and the buses were running full. Fortunately I didn't have to stand on the ride, there was also traffic into the city that morning, it took about 45 minutes to get to René Lévesque and Peel (I was at the Marriott Château Champlain). The return ride on Monday (May 31st, around 11AM) was standing room only by the time we got to Lucien-L'Allier, also this bus was a regular one without luggage racks, people were falling over the place.
Sep 3, 2010 | 2:22 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,678
Bring 7$ in coins, then you don't have to queue for the ticket! You can get it from the machine on the bus.
However, my ticket didn't work properly. It was accepted for 24 hours on buses, but at the metro stations it only worked sometimes, most of the time it wouldn't. I had to walk up to the counter several times and explain what kind of ticket it was to be left through. Sometimes I was treated rudely, like if I was trying to pull of a scam or something. The people there asked their supervisors, once they even called someone and I had to wait a few minutes before they left me in. A nuisance.
However, my ticket didn't work properly. It was accepted for 24 hours on buses, but at the metro stations it only worked sometimes, most of the time it wouldn't. I had to walk up to the counter several times and explain what kind of ticket it was to be left through. Sometimes I was treated rudely, like if I was trying to pull of a scam or something. The people there asked their supervisors, once they even called someone and I had to wait a few minutes before they left me in. A nuisance.
Sep 20, 2010 | 1:25 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, DL, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, GHA
Posts: 7,584
More frequencies have recently been added to this service as it prove so successful. There is also (finally!) a ticket vending machine at the airport which accepts cards, so you can now buy your $7 ticket there. Regular day, weekly and monthly passes are also accepted, however $2.75 single fares are not.
Nov 30, 2010 | 11:02 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: UA 1K, AA PLT, SPG PLT
Posts: 1,612
More frequencies have recently been added to this service as it prove so successful. There is also (finally!) a ticket vending machine at the airport which accepts cards, so you can now buy your $7 ticket there. Regular day, weekly and monthly passes are also accepted, however $2.75 single fares are not.
1. Can you buy a 3-day pass at the airport?
B. If you buy a pass earlier in the day for the return trip to the airport, can you use the subway for ~24 hours prior to taking the 747 Bus?
Finally, credit/debit cards are accepted at the machine at the airport?
Thanks again for the info! Coming there this weekend and am already looking forward to the bus - we took a cab a few years ago when we visited...
-jeremy
Dec 1, 2010 | 8:23 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
Cheers
May 31, 2011 | 5:02 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Programs: FT badges are idiotic
Posts: 7,950
Fare increase
For anyone planning to pay on board (coins only), note that the fare is now $8. See the "Planibus" at http://www.stm.info/english/bus/Planibus/747.pdf
Jun 13, 2011 | 6:20 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Biloxi, MS (GPT)
Programs: AA Gold, DL FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,278
More frequencies have recently been added to this service as it prove so successful. There is also (finally!) a ticket vending machine at the airport which accepts cards, so you can now buy your $7 ticket there. Regular day, weekly and monthly passes are also accepted, however $2.75 single fares are not.
Jun 14, 2011 | 8:28 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Biloxi, MS (GPT)
Programs: AA Gold, DL FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,278
Jun 17, 2011 | 5:15 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
Yes, that's what I'd do. You come out pretty much even on the 3rd ride in the 24 hours, and if you're staying for a couple of days you might as well.
The only bus you could use your Opus on upon arrival is the 204/211 combo to get downtown. Depending on your arrival time this may not add all that much time to your trip (the 211 uses the same route as the 747 to get downtown), but depending on where you're going it will probably take a Metro ride as well.
Jun 19, 2011 | 8:09 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Biloxi, MS (GPT)
Programs: AA Gold, DL FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,278
Yes, that's what I'd do. You come out pretty much even on the 3rd ride in the 24 hours, and if you're staying for a couple of days you might as well.
The only bus you could use your Opus on upon arrival is the 204/211 combo to get downtown. Depending on your arrival time this may not add all that much time to your trip (the 211 uses the same route as the 747 to get downtown), but depending on where you're going it will probably take a Metro ride as well.
The only bus you could use your Opus on upon arrival is the 204/211 combo to get downtown. Depending on your arrival time this may not add all that much time to your trip (the 211 uses the same route as the 747 to get downtown), but depending on where you're going it will probably take a Metro ride as well.
Jun 19, 2011 | 8:56 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: YQR
Programs: no status
Posts: 1,162
I will use this thread to ask my question: will stay at Sheraton Centre and was wondering if there would be any advantage of taking a cab vs. the shuttle - is there a big time difference to cab and/or long walk from stop #4?
I think that on the way back I may prefer cab to save a few minutes.
I think that on the way back I may prefer cab to save a few minutes.
Jun 20, 2011 | 12:07 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Biloxi, MS (GPT)
Programs: AA Gold, DL FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,278
I will use this thread to ask my question: will stay at Sheraton Centre and was wondering if there would be any advantage of taking a cab vs. the shuttle - is there a big time difference to cab and/or long walk from stop #4?
I think that on the way back I may prefer cab to save a few minutes.
I think that on the way back I may prefer cab to save a few minutes.
Jun 20, 2011 | 10:39 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: YQR
Programs: no status
Posts: 1,162
I would defer to truly local expertise for a "final answer", but based on my experience last year on the 747 and looking at the route map and the location of the Sheraton Centre, the bus appears to be a no-brainer ("yes"), as it will put you within a block of the hotel. The only risk I could see would be on the way back to YUL, where if you travel during rush hour there might be a risk of not being able to get a seat on the bus that many stops into the route.