For $3.8 million, Metro could purchase the express train from Expo 67 and have ready-made beginnings for Winnipeg's eventual rapid transit system.

It's just a suggestion, but Metro Councillor Lorne Leech, presenting the idea in a report to streets and transit committee Wednesday, even had a route for the express mapped out.

"It could be installed partially on railway right-of-way, elevated on Portage Ave., or along the Red or Assiniboine riverbanks, as it is now in Montreal," he said.

Mr. Leech said the six trains of eight cars each, will be on sale for one-half the inital cost. "The cars were installed in Montreal by Canadian Car for $135,000 each and a deal was made whereby the company would take them back for half price — unless Expo could sell them when the fair was over."

He said the cars hold 230 people each and "go like hell." They are fully automatic except for someone to open and close doors.

Metro has already announced plans for underground shopping malls in the city and transit officials say the next step is high speed transit between the malls.

Mr. Leech, just returned from a transit conference in Montreal, also had a suggestion for curing Metro's in-the-red transit system.

Montreal's transit system is handled by a separate commission, with fare decisions made separately from political decisions.

Metro transit is expected to be over $2 million down this year. But when executive director James McInnes suggested raising fares to 20 cents a ride, councillors decided to table the matter until October.

Mr. Leech was one of the three councillors in favor of a fare hike.