Aug 22, 2013, 11:24 pm
Last edit by: beltway
Operated by Montral's transit agency (Socit de transport de Montral, 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 Ren-Lvesque between Rue Guy and Rue Berri. In addition, Vieux Montral lies a short walk to the south of several stops.
- Short route: a single stop at Lionel-Groulx mtro 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 mtro stations.
- at the Gare d'Autocars de Montral 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
Jul 24, 2014 | 9:48 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, DL, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, GHA
Posts: 7,584
Interesting update lordsutch. The European credit cards we tried last year were EMV-enabled and still got rejected. Perhaps the STM has finally fixed this?
I don't think the vending machines actually sell OPUS cards. You will have to buy it at one of the ticket booths. Once you have the physical card, however, you can then recharge it at the machines.
I don't think the vending machines actually sell OPUS cards. You will have to buy it at one of the ticket booths. Once you have the physical card, however, you can then recharge it at the machines.
Jul 24, 2014 | 10:48 am
#77
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
This is akin to charging $10 for using the bathroom (except for locals), and then saying "Mais, Monsieur, you can defecate here as often as you want within 24 hours!".
Venice does something like that. I hear they have cheaper rates for the outhouse if booked online well in advance.
Venice does something like that. I hear they have cheaper rates for the outhouse if booked online well in advance.
Jul 24, 2014 | 1:35 pm
#78
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 640
The 747 bus is a very good deal at 10$ regardless of the price increase, especially if you are staying in the downtown area. It will be slower once you enter the downtown core with the stops but a cab ride from the airport will take almost the exact same route to get to downtown but cost you close to 40$.
Jul 24, 2014 | 4:47 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,399
We bought a 3-day metro pass from the machine in the international arrivals area for $18 each. We were able to use it for the 747 bus and 3 days of metro usage. We didn't use the metro as much as I originally thought, since so many of the places we visited were in easy walking distance.
I thought the 747 bus was fine and it had a stop one block from our hotel. We thought about getting a taxi from the airport for the 3 of us, but then figured we would get 3 days of metro usage as a bonus for about the same cost.
I thought the 747 bus was fine and it had a stop one block from our hotel. We thought about getting a taxi from the airport for the 3 of us, but then figured we would get 3 days of metro usage as a bonus for about the same cost.
Aug 6, 2014 | 8:57 am
#80
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, DL, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, GHA
Posts: 7,584
So it seems that international cards are now accepted. ^
Aug 7, 2014 | 1:20 am
#81
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Greyhound Vermillion Mithril
Posts: 693
I took it last week and it really was very easy to miss your stop. I located myself only a stop before mine, having caught Sheraton in the corner of my eyes. I don't understand why they can't at least show the number of the next stop inside the bus.
Sep 2, 2016 | 4:26 am
#82
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,748
recent experiences on 747
Unfortunately, this bus has now become the victim of its own success.
It is so popular that on Sept 1 at 8 pm, there were 150 passengers waiting in line to board. The driver created a scene when he announced he only had room for passengers w/o luggage! Practically, that meant airport staff boarded while FTs waited.
Going to the airport, it is also crowded. I took the bus from Jeanne Mance and there were no seats nor any room on the luggage rack. It took one hour in construction and that is a long time to stand.
Any chance the city will add more buses?
It is so popular that on Sept 1 at 8 pm, there were 150 passengers waiting in line to board. The driver created a scene when he announced he only had room for passengers w/o luggage! Practically, that meant airport staff boarded while FTs waited.
Going to the airport, it is also crowded. I took the bus from Jeanne Mance and there were no seats nor any room on the luggage rack. It took one hour in construction and that is a long time to stand.
Any chance the city will add more buses?
Sep 2, 2016 | 9:41 am
#83
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
Unfortunately, this bus has now become the victim of its own success.
It is so popular that on Sept 1 at 8 pm, there were 150 passengers waiting in line to board. The driver created a scene when he announced he only had room for passengers w/o luggage! Practically, that meant airport staff boarded while FTs waited.
Going to the airport, it is also crowded. I took the bus from Jeanne Mance and there were no seats nor any room on the luggage rack. It took one hour in construction and that is a long time to stand.
Any chance the city will add more buses?
It is so popular that on Sept 1 at 8 pm, there were 150 passengers waiting in line to board. The driver created a scene when he announced he only had room for passengers w/o luggage! Practically, that meant airport staff boarded while FTs waited.
Going to the airport, it is also crowded. I took the bus from Jeanne Mance and there were no seats nor any room on the luggage rack. It took one hour in construction and that is a long time to stand.
Any chance the city will add more buses?
There is good news however! The STM (note that the City of Montral doesn't have a say in transit operations) just added about a dozen inter-city type busses to supplement the fleet of urban 747 busses. These new units seat about 40 passengers and carry the luggage in holds under the floor. They're slowly coming on line as a driver group is trained on the new equipment. This should alleviate some of the issues at peak periods. The busses are even equipped with Wifi and restrooms.
As for the construction... Well that's just part of life in Montral. She be a cruel mistress at times
Sep 5, 2016 | 4:08 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, DL, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, GHA
Posts: 7,584
Last week I waited for 50min at a downtown bus stop for a 747 to take me to the airport. Two scheduled departures were simply no-shows, and the automated phone line kept saying that the next departure from my stop was in 1 minute.
There were no road closures or accidents on that stretch, traffic flowed normally.
I eventually had to hail a cab to make my flight.
There were no road closures or accidents on that stretch, traffic flowed normally.
I eventually had to hail a cab to make my flight.
Sep 16, 2016 | 4:36 am
#85
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,748
new 747 buses and STM governance
City of Montral doesn't have a say in transit operationsAs for STM governance, 7 of the 10 board members are councillors - and - most of the budget comes from the province/city:
http://www.stm.info/en/about/corpora.../board-members
i.e. you will have a hard time convincing this transit user that Ville de Montreal does not have a say in transit operations! (that is like saying Toronto does not have any say in the operations of the TTC i.e. if you believe that, I am some swamp land in FL you can buy...........
BTW, I was overcharged on the STM & contacted Ville de Montreal (its on the Mayor's WEB site!) a couple of weeks ago...............seems like they are operating on the same response times as Air Canada? i.e. still have not heard back!
Sep 18, 2016 | 8:19 pm
#86
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, DL, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, GHA
Posts: 7,584
I have filled in their contact form regarding the 2 no-show 747 buses (see above) and received a reply within a week, complete with a form to submit my expense claim for the taxi.
Sep 19, 2016 | 8:56 pm
#87
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,009
Late August and early September is always a busy time for the 747 due to that period being the busiest time at YUL. For example, this past Tuesday was the busiest day of the year in terms of passenger arrivals and departures.
There is good news however! The STM (note that the City of Montral doesn't have a say in transit operations) just added about a dozen inter-city type busses to supplement the fleet of urban 747 busses. These new units seat about 40 passengers and carry the luggage in holds under the floor. They're slowly coming on line as a driver group is trained on the new equipment. This should alleviate some of the issues at peak periods. The busses are even equipped with Wifi and restrooms.
As for the construction... Well that's just part of life in Montral. She be a cruel mistress at times
There is good news however! The STM (note that the City of Montral doesn't have a say in transit operations) just added about a dozen inter-city type busses to supplement the fleet of urban 747 busses. These new units seat about 40 passengers and carry the luggage in holds under the floor. They're slowly coming on line as a driver group is trained on the new equipment. This should alleviate some of the issues at peak periods. The busses are even equipped with Wifi and restrooms.
As for the construction... Well that's just part of life in Montral. She be a cruel mistress at times
Jan 16, 2017 | 5:02 pm
#89
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: F9 Gold, peon and loving it everywhere else
Posts: 4,018
I'm impressed with the 747 bus. On my last trip to YUL about a month ago, it was 0 degrees F when I landed. There was one bus waiting at the curb and loading when I walked outside, and another right behind it. The driver made announcements in both French and English, and we made good time getting from the airport to Lionel-Groulx thanks to the new HOV lane on the autoroute and then taking some side streets for the last few minutes of the journey.
Jan 17, 2017 | 12:54 pm
#90
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955
The 747 is decent. It's convenient for me since I work near Lionel-Groulx and I'm a monthly Opus card holder, so it's free to use.
However, it was never intended as anything more than a stopgap measure until the (near-mythical) express train was built. It's not a transit option worthy of a major international hub. And it's representative of how Montreal has trouble getting anything built without running into decades of delays, squabbling, cost overruns, and mafia involvement.
Post-747 better than pre-747. But still not good enough. We need a proper rail link.
However, it was never intended as anything more than a stopgap measure until the (near-mythical) express train was built. It's not a transit option worthy of a major international hub. And it's representative of how Montreal has trouble getting anything built without running into decades of delays, squabbling, cost overruns, and mafia involvement.
Post-747 better than pre-747. But still not good enough. We need a proper rail link.