REM stations – If you have driven along Highway 10 in Brossard lately, you would have been hard pressed to miss the progress being made on the first REM’s stations. It is not only a significant stage in the project’s evolution, but also a very impressive sight.
Having a close look at REM stations
Last Thursday October 24th, the media was invited on a tour through a section of the South Shore line. They were able to see firsthand the advancement reached in the construction of the stations – as well as the garage near the Rive-Sud station where the trains will be maintained or parked while not in use, and where the system’s control center will be located. The other two stations on the South Shore line, Du Quartier and Panama, are also progressing – with two kilometers of the track already laid down. Once that is complete (in approximately thirteen months), they will begin testing the system for a period of at least one year. The line running over the Champlain Bridge from Central Station to Brossard is expected to be in service by the end of 2021, as long as crews do not face any unforeseen problems.
Progress made on the Du Quartier and Rive-Sud stations offer a great preview of the architectural signature for all the other stations to come. They were designed by several architectural companies including Lemay, Perkins and Will, Bisson Fortin and Provencher_Roy, with each station featuring the use of wood and glass. Modern and durable materials were chosen to optimize the natural light inside and give the stations a ‘warm and inviting’ feeling.
DESIGN IN MOVEMENT: The three basic concepts include the idea of movement, symbolized by vertical and horizontal lines, giving the stations rhythm and depth. They are reminders of the REM’s movement and the scenery rolling past the windows.
TRANSPARENT STATIONS: The REM stations have been designed with numerous windows in order to ‘showcase the surrounding environment and have them better blend into area neighbourhoods’. They will allow for plenty of natural light, making it easier for passengers to get around inside the stations and improve security.
WOOD FROM QUEBEC: ‘Identity’, a concept set by the architects, will be expressed through the use of wood – entirely sourced from Quebec. It will be used on the ceiling and outside structures (vertical and horizontal slats) providing warmth, in order to maintain a balance with the modern and expansive use of glass.
UNDERGROUND, GROUND LEVEL OR ELEVATED STATIONS: Designed to adapt to the different landscapes and go beyond the main concepts of ‘movement, transparency and identity’ – each of the stations will have their own special features in order to better harmonize with their neighbouring environment. These areas include: UNDERGROUND STATIONS mainly downtown along the metro network and at Montreal Trudeau airport. GROUND LEVEL STATIONS on the South Shore in the middle of Highway 10 and along part of the Deux-Montagnes line. ELEVATED STATIONS mainly on the West Island along Highway 40 – all designed to best reflect the neighbouring area. All this work and the infrastructure is expected to last more than 100 years, longer than anyone reading this probably will, but they will be the first users of the REM system – and become part of great moment in Montreal’s history.
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