Following the success of the summer escapade, exo, in collaboration with Tourisme Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Tourisme Montérégie, is extending the pilot project by offering fall escapades in the region for public transit users.

On the weekends of October 12 and 19, shuttles departing from the Vaudreuil train station will take participants to discover one of the region's must-see sites, Mont Rigaud, where hiking and fall color tours are planned.

On the program: a visit to the Sucrerie de la Montagne, an old-fashioned village classified as a Quebec heritage site and a distinctive Canadian experience, access to the Sentiers de L'escapade for a hike, and a chairlift ride to Mont Rigaud to admire the flamboyant autumn colors.

“This tourist itinerary project aligns perfectly with our destination's development orientations by offering visitors sustainable mobility solutions. It's interesting to note that the majority of survey respondents who participated in the summer escapades plan to return to the region to explore further. We're delighted that this project will appeal to Montrealers, who are sure to be charmed by the beauty of Mont Rigaud and its flamboyant fall colors!” says Joanne Brunet, General Manager of Développement Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

The project proposes several itineraries with stops at various tourist sites, allowing participants to book a day of activities according to their preferences.

To reach the Vaudreuil train station, they can opt for train (line 11-Vaudreuil/Hudson), bus (line 40 - Express Vaudreuil - Terminus Côte-Vertu), bike (bike stands and racks available) or any other means. From there, shuttles will take them to selected tourist sites for memorable experiences in the heart of nature.

Tickets are available online, and cost $5 for those aged 12 and over, and free for those aged 11 and under. Participants are responsible for the cost of group transportation to the train station and on-site paid activities.

Positive results for the summer getaway

The first part of this pilot project took place on the weekends of June 29 and July 6. According to data collected from participants, 95% of them enjoyed the experience and expressed a strong interest in repeating it and discovering another Montérégie region.

100% of respondents also said they were very satisfied with their public transit experience, confirming participants' enthusiasm for sustainable mobility.

“Our summer experience has shown that these tourist getaways are an opportunity for exo to offer a diversified range of services to users. In fact, the majority of survey respondents said they were from the Island of Montreal, and 65% of them said they had no car at home. In other words, the proposal meets the needs of a population other than the workers living in the suburbs who only use our services on weekdays,” said Marie Hélène Cloutier, Executive Director of Mobility, Customers and Partners at exo.

“We're delighted to take part in this project, which promotes sustainable mobility and the region's tourism businesses. This initiative will give them greater visibility while making them more accessible to a new clientele,” concludes Mario Leblanc, General Manager of Tourisme Montérégie. 

Information on the project, proposed itineraries and reservations can be obtained on the Tourisme Vaudreuil-Soulanges website.