MONTREAL -

A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit that could total $12 million against the Agence métropolitaine de transport.

Pincourt resident Yves Boyer, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, says trains on the Deux-Montagnes and Dorion-Rigaud lines were plagued by delays and cancellations for a period in early 2009.

He says the trains were consistently late during the months of January and February 2009.

He wants half of the cost of the train pass for each month, and $100 per month to compensate for his trouble.

Normand Painchaud, the lawyer representing Boyer, says it's not just about the money – his client wants the train to become more efficient.

"Class actions exist to modify behaviour," Painchaud said last year, after filing the lawsuit. "They've given good words and shown good intentions, [but] without real effect."

Up to 46,000 commuters are eligible to join the class action suit.

In February 2009, the AMT announced it would be giving commuters on the Dorion-Rigaud and Deux-Montagnes line a 50 per cent discount for their March transit passes.

Those wishing to know more about the lawsuit can click here.


-with files from La Presse Canadienne