Are subway speeds that slow on the subway compared to the metro? Seemed similar to me in the central area - with Toronto gaining an advantage in the suburbs, with the less frequent stations.
In many ways, they are quite similar, both with some small advantages and disadvantages. I wouldn't particularly put one ahead of the other. Similar length, similar number of stations, similar station distance in central area, relatively similar frequencies much of the time
Pros
Toronto: In-station bus transfers, more frequent service, especially off-peak, later service, credit/debit, A/C, continuing expansion, elevators in most stations (should be all in a couple of years)
Montreal: Design, excellent transfer stations Lionel-Groulx and Snowdon, ambience, maintenance, smoother ride with ATC for last 50 years, less noise
Cons
Toronto: Maintenance, narrow platforms in 1950s stations and oddly the busiest Line 2 1960s stations, unheated stations - some outdoors, lack of information screens at most major bus stops
Montreal: less frequent off-peak service, cold snowy bus stops across the street from a station rather than in station, unsufferable packed trains in heatwave, no stations opened in Montreal (or anywhere on the island) since the 1980s, poor fare payment options (even the Opus card requires frequent reloads of tickets (for each system) and doesn't carry simply carry an auto-reloadable cash balance), long transfers at Jean-Talon and Berri (yellow line) interchange stations, lack of elevators
