Trip, schedule, Opus: the Chrono app has come a long way

Since 2013, Chrono has been evolving to meet the needs of metropolitan area residents who use public transit, active transit or Communauto. See how Chrono has evolved!  

To develop the Chrono app and improve the mobility services offer, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) has been supported by its transit organization partners – exo, Réseau de Transport de Longueuil (RTL), Société de Transport de Laval (STL), Société de Transport de Montréal (STM), and soon the REM – and by its partners in sustainable mobility such as BIXI and Communauto. This collaborative project, driven by the constant efforts of the development team, has equipped Montreal area residents with an app that meets their needs and is easy to use.  

See the major milestones in the history of Chrono: 

2013

• The Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) launches AMT Chrono as an app for planning trips on the commuter train network.  

2017 

• The ARTM becomes the new owner of the app. It upgrades the app to include bus and metro data, in addition to commuter train information, for anyone planning a trip.  

2019 

• A new mode of transportation is added to the app: BIXI. Residents can now locate BIXI stations, check availability and reserve a bike directly in Chrono. 
• Real-time bus tracking is added to the app, a feature that was already in place for commuter trains. The actual position of buses and trains in the vicinity can be tracked through real-time data, making it possible to consult adjusted schedules. 
• A feature for planning trips entirely on bike is also added to the app.  

2020 

• A feature is introduced for checking traffic levels in several modes of transportation, including buses and commuter trains. 

2021  

• Bus fare – contactless, a temporary and experimental digital pass, is developed and launched during the COVID-19 pandemic as a feature in the app. 
• Read Your OPUS Card is introduced in the app. This tab lets you check the status of fares loaded on your OPUS or non-reloadable smart card via NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Reading your OPUS card brings up useful information about your transit fares, such as the number of remaining trips on a multi-trip fare, a fare’s start or end time, and more.  

2022  

• A new mode of transportation is added: river shuttles. 
• Directly in the app, transit users can also locate up to five nearby points of sale for transit fares.  

2023  

• At the beginning of the year, a new mode of transportation is added: Communauto car-sharing. Currently, you can reserve a Communauto vehicle at a station, and soon, a Communauto Flex vehicle as well.  

The app continues to evolve and has some nice surprises in store. During the first half of 2024, a new feature will let you reload an OPUS card directly in the app with a smart phone. You can check the contents of your card (reloadable or non-reloadable), and recharge your OPUS card by purchasing the tickets you need.