A heat wave has descended on France in recent days, pushing temperatures up to over 30°C. In these conditions, public transport journeys can be unpleasant, especially at rush hour, when the carriages are packed. If, on top of this, these metro, RER or streetcar trains are not air-conditioned, the journey can seem interminable.
To get to your various appointments and across the capital, you don't always have a choice of routes. But when you can, you might as well choose the most pleasant means of transport.
For this period, we've listed the various metro, RER, streetcar and bus lines that are air-conditioned. If you're prepared to make a few detours, here are the lines to choose from this summer.
RATP distinguishes between three types of ventilation: refrigerated ventilation (air conditioning), forced mechanical ventilation (outside air is drawn in and diffused inside) and natural ventilation (windows open and draughts).
Air-conditioning in all transport systems?
Why aren't all public transport lines air-conditioned? On its website, RATP explains that this option has major ecological consequences, and that numerous physical and material constraints prevent the installation of air-conditioning systems.
" Air conditioning for rolling stock running underground is not the chosen solution because it has a high environmental impact, consuming a lot of energy that reappears in the form of heat, all of which is inevitably forced back into the tunnels and onto the platforms. What ' s more, it's not suited to the regular opening of doors," reads a blog post dated 2018.
However, this state of affairs could change in the coming years. In an interview with Le Parisien, Grégoire de Lasteyrie, Mayor of Palaiseau (DVD) and Vice-Chairman ofÎle-de-France Mobilités, explains: " For years, for ideological reasons, the widespread introduction of 'air conditioning' in Ile-de-France transport systems was not on the agenda. Since 2016, for President Valérie Pécresse and myself, things have become clear: air conditioning is not an option! Because without air conditioning on public transport, people will prefer to take their cars. And it's better to have one air-conditioned bus than 10 individual cars with the air conditioning on full blast."
To breathe and get some fresh air during these hot months, you can also opt for outdoor means of transport: electric scooters, bicycles, rollerblades...
