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Getting Around Montreal for McGill Students: Metro and OPUS
McGill's downtown campus sits beside two green-line metro stations, McGill and Peel. If you're a full-time McGill student under 65, you can get a reduced-fare OPUS card that cuts the monthly all-modes Zone A pass from $110 to $66. Order it in Minerva for $15 once you have your McGill ID card, and order a new one each year.
Sources checked September 29, 2026. View sources
Metro, REM and the stations near campus
McGill says its downtown campus is next to McGill and Peel stations. Both are on the STM's green line, Line 1. The REM light rail also has a McGill station, at 1789 McGill College Avenue, connected to the green-line McGill metro station.
The REM currently runs 23 stations linking Brossard, Deux-Montagnes and Anse-à-l'Orme. Its airport branch isn't open yet; testing began in August 2026 and the REM says opening is still planned by the end of 2027. Until then, use the 747 bus from the airport.
| Trip | How to get there | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown campus | McGill or Peel metro, green line | The REM's McGill station connects to McGill metro |
| Solin Hall to campus | Metro, about four stops | McGill's chart lists a 4-minute walk to the metro plus an 8-minute ride |
| Macdonald Campus | McGill's intercampus shuttle or public transit | See the Downtown vs Macdonald guide for the current shuttle rules and transit route |
| Montreal-Trudeau airport | STM 747 bus | The REM airport branch is planned by the end of 2027 |
Who qualifies for the student reduced fare
The student reduced fare isn't limited to teenagers or people under 25. The STM accepts students aged 6 to 64 who are enrolled full time at a school recognized by Quebec's education ministries. McGill says all full-time McGill students qualify, whatever their age, as long as they're under 65 on October 31 of the academic year.
For students 18 and over, the discount is 40% and applies to monthly and four-month passes only. There's no reduced single ticket for adult students.
McGill checks full-time status based on when you order. The card expires on October 31, so you'll order a new one every year. The STM suggests renewing between August 1 and October 31 so you don't lose a month.
| When you order through Minerva | You must be full time in |
|---|---|
| August 1 to December 19 | Both the fall and winter terms |
| December 20 to April 30 | The winter term |
| May 1 to July 31 | The summer term |
How to order your reduced-fare OPUS card
New students can order about 24 hours after getting their first McGill ID card. The card costs $15, paid by credit card on the STM site, and the STM mails it to your Quebec address. Allow seven business days.
When you order, you agree to let McGill share details with the STM. These include your name, date of birth, McGill ID number and ID photo, address, phone number and, if you have one, your Quebec Permanent Code. If you can't order online or can't pay by credit card, book an appointment at the STM Photo Studio, 1755 Berri Street at Berri-UQAM station. Replacements for lost cards also go through the Photo Studio.
- Get your McGill ID card first.
- Check that Minerva has a valid Quebec mailing address and phone number.
- In Minerva's Student Menu, choose Order your Reduced-Fare OPUS Card and accept the terms.
- Pay the $15 on the STM site; allow pop-ups, because it opens in a new window.
- Load a monthly or four-month pass once the card arrives.
2026 fares and the airport bus
The ARTM fare grid below took effect on July 1, 2026.
From the airport, the 747 bus costs $11.25 and gives you 24 hours of travel on the bus, metro, exo trains and REM in Zone A. On board, pay in exact change with coins only. A monthly pass, regular or reduced, also works on the 747.
| Fare, Zone A | Regular | Student 18+, photo OPUS |
|---|---|---|
| Single trip | $3.75 | Not available |
| Monthly, all modes | $110.00 | $66.00 |
| Four months, all modes | Not offered | $251.00 |
| 747 airport bus, 24 hours | $11.25 | $11.25, or ride on your monthly pass |
Bikes, BIXI and parking
McGill says almost every campus building has a bike rack nearby. For 2026, McGill community members got 10% off a seasonal BIXI bike-share membership; the BIXI season ran March 30 to November 15, 2026.
Driving is the hard option. Downtown student parking is limited, and to qualify you must live at least 2 km from the metro station closest to your home or have a child under 5 in daycare. A term permit at the McIntyre Garage costs $636.50 for four months, plus a $40 deposit for the RFID tag.
Keep exploring
Sources and updates
This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.
- McGill: getting around Montreal
- STM metro network
- REM McGill station
- REM network in service
- REM airport branch dynamic testing update (August 12, 2026)
- McGill first-year residence comparison chart 2026-2027 (PDF)
- McGill Student Housing FAQ: transit and the intercampus shuttle
- STM reduced fare OPUS card for students
- ARTM student reduced fares
- McGill Transport: public transit
- McGill Student Records: reduced-fare OPUS card
- McGill reduced-fare OPUS card FAQ
- ARTM fare grid in effect July 1, 2026
- STM monthly all-modes pass
- STM 747 YUL Aéroport-Centre-Ville fare
- McGill Sustainability: biking at McGill
- McGill 10% discount on 2026 BIXI seasonal memberships
- McGill downtown student parking