Volontaires station

Volontaires
Paris Métro
Paris Métro station
MF 67 at Volontaires
General information
Location15th arrondissement of Paris
Île-de-France
France
Coordinates48°50′29″N 2°18′27″E / 48.841343°N 2.307504°E / 48.841343; 2.307504
Owned byRATP
Operated byRATP
Line(s)Paris Métro Paris Métro Line 12
Platforms2 (2 side platforms)
Tracks2
Construction
Accessibleno
Other information
Station code16-03
Fare zone1
History
Opened5 November 1910 (1910-11-05)
Passengers
1,734,848 (2021)
Services
Preceding station Paris Métro Paris Métro Following station
Vaugirard
towards Mairie d'Issy
 Line 12 Pasteur
towards Mairie d'Aubervilliers
Location
Volontaires is located in Paris
Volontaires
Volontaires
Location within Paris

Volontaires (French pronunciation: [vɔlɔ̃tɛːʁ]) is a station on line 12 of the Paris Métro located in the 15th arrondissement. The station is named after the nearby rue des Volontaires. In 1822, locals transformed an existing dead end into an alley that led to rue de Vaugirard, hence, its initial name of Ruelle Volontaire, with the "s" added later to pay homage to the soldiers of the French Revolution.

History

The station in 2012, prior to renovation

The station opened on 5 November 1910 as part of the original section of the Nord-Sud Company's line A between Porte de Versailles and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. On 27 March 1931, line A became line 12 when It was taken over by the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris (CMP), incorporating it into the Paris Métro.

Works at the station in 2016

From the 1950s, like most stations along the line, the platforms were modernised with the installation of red metal casings and golden advertising frames on the walls until 2015, when it was removed as part of the "Un métro + beau" programme by the RATP.[1] It consisted of modernising the platforms by improving lighting, signages, as well as returning the characteristic beveled white tiles of the Paris métro to the station, thereby restoring the platforms to its original "Nord-Sud" decoration, while the station remained open.[2][3] The new tiles were installed by May 2018, with all work completed by March 2019 after several delays and technical difficulties.[4][5]

In 2019, the station was used by 2,362,771 passengers, making it the 219th busiest of the Métro network out of 302 stations.[6]

In 2020, the station was used by 1,111,705 passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the 232nd busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.[7]

In 2021, the station was used by 1,734,848 passengers, making it the 203rd busiest of the Métro network out of 304 stations.[8]

On 7 April 2022, the RATP and in partnership with the Blomet Paradiso association, unveiled a new cultural panel along the corridors of the station. It details the rich artistic history of the district, often attributable to the Bal Blomet, a historic cabaret of the Roaring Twenties in Montparnasse that Joséphine Baker, Simone de Beauvoir, and Ernest Hemingway frequented.[9]

Passenger services

Access

The station has a single access at rue de Vaugirard. Unusually, it consists of an entrance and an exit both located within the same building at the corner of rue de Vaugirard and rue des Volontaires, a rare occurrence on the network. The entrance is along rue de Vaugirard whereas the exit is along rue des Volontaires.

Station layout

Street Level
B1 Mezzanine
Platform level Side platform, doors will open on the right
Southbound ← Paris Métro Paris Métro Line 12 toward Mairie d'Issy (Vaugirard)
Northbound Paris Métro Paris Métro Line 12 toward Mairie d'Aubervilliers (Pasteur) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right

Platforms

The station has a standard configuration with 2 tracks surrounded by 2 side platforms. The lower portion of the side walls are vertical instead of elliptical, as are the other stations constructed by the Nord-Sud company (today on lines 12 and 13). It is distinguished by the presence of niches along the entire length of the side walls, hence, are devoid of advertisements.

Other connections

The station is also served by lines 39, 70, and 89 of the RATP bus network, and at night, by lines N13 and N62 of the Noctilien bus network.

  • The station after the renovation
    The station after the renovation
  • Entrance of the station. The exit is on the other side.
    Entrance of the station. The exit is on the other side.
  • Exit
    Exit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volontaires (Paris Metro).

References

  1. ^ "SYMBIOZ - Le Renouveau du Métro". www.symbioz.net (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ^ Leca, Anne-Marie (4 May 2015). "Rénovation de la station Volontaires, c'est parti !". valgirardin.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Métro : la station Louvre Rivoli prépare sa renaissance". Le Parisien (in French). 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  4. ^ Petruniw, Fabien (11 December 2017). "Volontaires" (PDF). RATP (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Réalisations BRIAND / RATP - Station VOLONTAIRES". Briand SAS (in French). Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Trafic annuel entrant par station du réseau ferré 2019". dataratp2.opendatasoft.com (in French). Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Trafic annuel entrant par station du réseau ferré 2020". data.ratp.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Trafic annuel entrant par station du réseau ferré 2021". data.ratp.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  9. ^ "La RATP dévoile un tout nouveau panneau culturel à la station Volontaires". RATP (in French). 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  • Roland, Gérard (2003). Stations de métro. D’Abbesses à Wagram. Éditions Bonneton.