Vendôme metro station

Vendôme metro station is a key station on the Orange Line of the Montreal Metro network. Located in the Westmount and Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce boroughs, it serves as a major intermodal hub connecting the subway with extensive bus services and the new Réseau express métropolitain (REM). The station is distinguished by its exceptional depth and its role as a critical transit node for western Montreal.

History

The station opened on April 28, 1981, as part of the western extension of the Orange Line from Place-Saint-Henri to Snowdon. Its construction was complex due to the deep geological conditions and the need to integrate with existing surface infrastructure. The station's name derives from the adjacent Vendôme Square, itself named in 1895 to commemorate the Franco-Prussian War and the Siege of Paris. For decades, it functioned as a deep-level metro station until a major redevelopment began in 2018 to integrate it with the new REM light rail system, a project led by the CDPQ Infra subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

Station layout

Vendôme is one of the deepest stations in the Montreal Metro system, with its metro platforms located 28.7 metres below street level, accessible by long fixed staircases and high-speed elevators. The original design featured a simple side platform configuration. The major redevelopment added a vast new underground concourse level that directly connects the metro platforms to the elevated REM station. This new hall houses fare control areas and provides access to the Gare Vendôme intermodal building, which includes the AMT's former Deux-Montagnes commuter rail station. Architectural finishes utilize modern materials like glass, steel, and polished concrete, contrasting with the original station's more utilitarian aesthetic.

Services and connections

As a primary intermodal hub, Vendôme provides seamless transfers between the Orange Line and the REM's Central Station branch. It is also a major bus exchange point operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), with key routes including the 105 Sherbrooke, 124 Victoria, 138 Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, and 144 Avonmore. Night service is provided by routes 356 and 368. The station offers connections to the Exo commuter network via the integrated Gare Vendôme and features several Bixi bicycle-sharing stations at its entrances.

Nearby points of interest

The station's exits provide direct access to the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Glen site superhospital, a major healthcare and research institution. It is also close to Vendôme Square and the commercial stretches of Sherbrooke Street and Saint Catherine Street. The surrounding residential neighborhoods of Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce are within walking distance, as are several educational institutions including Dawson College and Loyola High School. The Montreal West railway station is located a short distance to the southwest.

In popular culture

The station's distinctive depth and architectural presence have made it a recognizable location. It has been featured in the National Film Board documentary Métro and has appeared in several Québécois television series and films that utilize the Montreal Metro as a filming location. The station's name and its association with the historic Vendôme Square occasionally appear in local literary works and media referencing the urban landscape of western Montreal.

Category:Montreal Metro stations Category:Réseau express métropolitain stations Category:Railway stations in Montreal Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Montreal Category:1981 establishments in Quebec