Announced as the first section of the metro to be built around Paris, line 15 south is likely to make many people happy when it is inaugurated in around 18 months' time. With a length of 37 km and crossing 22 communes, the southern section of this future automatic metro line is set to bring about a major change in the Paris region, making journeys easier for users of the region's public transport systems. But that's not all. The new line 15 should also relieve the strain on certain lines currently experiencing difficulties, such as the RER B. This was emphasized by Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region, on April 3, at a symbolic event organized in the presence of the press: the final welding of the rails of line 15 south in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
According to Valérie Pécresse, the future line of the Grand Paris Express (GPE), designed as a " metro-express ", should reduce the number of passengers on the RER B by " between 10 and 20% ", and will enable users to travel from suburb to suburb. And " this is just the beginning ", added the President of the Île-de-France region. In fact, three other new automatic lines will soon see the light of day in the Paris region: lines 16, 17 and 18.
But back to line 15. While the southern section will link Sèvres to Noisy-Champ in just 37 minutes by the end of 2025, the western and eastern sections are scheduled to enter service in 2031. All in all, Line 15 will form a 75 km ring road around Paris!
Before reaching this final stage, the press was invited to witness the very last welding of the rails of line 15 south at Clamart station. A symbolic gesture to which Valérie Pécresse contributed. It's also a complex and highly technical gesture, requiring a great deal of expertise on the part of the Compagnons.
After 4,100 welds and 4,200 tonnes of rails laid, the civil engineering work is now complete. But there is still work to be done before the inauguration of this southern section of the line, scheduled for the end of 2025. As of April 3, only 10% of the fittings and equipment had been completed at Clamart station. What's next? Automatic rolling stock, scheduled for June, and of course the continuation of equipment fitting, with the installation of heating and ventilation equipment, the deployment of cables and piping, the installation of elevators and escalators, and the laying of final coverings. In short, 121 of the 299 escalators on Line 15 South have been installed, and 28 of the 157 elevators!
Eventually, the Clamart station, located at the junction of the towns of Issy-les-Moulineaux, Vanves and Malakoff, will be able to accommodate up to 50,000 passengers a day.
We leave Clamart station, in the Hauts-de-Seine department, for the future Arcueil-Cachan station in the Val-de-Marne department, just over 5km away. A special feature of this station is that it will run under the tracks of the existing RER B.
At this future GPE station, work on the layout and equipment is much more advanced, at 55%. This is precisely what we were able to discover during our visit on Wednesday morning. The facade is clearly visible, as is the wall cladding and the wood in several places on the ceiling, while half the staircases have been installed. " A major milestone ", says Maryse Rozier-Chabert, deputy project manager for the section of Line 15 South(Société des grands projets). However, according to the expert, "there's still a year's work to do ".
We then head for level -3 of this Arcueil-Cachan station, to reach the famous platforms located 25 meters underground. Here, too, work is well underway, with the doors now in place. We can also see the installations for the famous illuminated displays. These are designed to provide passengers with practical information on waiting times and where to position themselves on the platform to board the least crowded train. Line 15 signage, pointing the way to Pont de Sèvres, is also in place.
In the near future, artist Vincent Mauger and architect Jean-Pierre Vaysse are set to take over the station, creating a unique relief design for both the interior and exterior walls.
By the end of 2025, the future Arcueil - Cachan station of the Grand Paris Express, located at the corner of avenues Carnot and Léon Eyrolles in Cachan, is expected to welcome up to 95,000 passengers a day.
So, just a little more patience before enjoying this new line 15 of the Grand Paris Express. If all goes according to plan, Line 15 South should be in service by the end of 2025. On this section, all stations will open, with the exception of the Saint-Maur-Créteil station, scheduled for 2026. The eastern and western sections are scheduled to open in 2031.
In the meantime, public transport users in the Paris region will soon be able to discover the extension of line 14.
Grand Paris Express: we visited the site of the Aéroport d'Orly station
Eagerly awaited by many Parisians and public transport users, the extension of line 14 is scheduled to enter service in June 2024. 8 new stations will be added, including Aéroport d'Orly, the new terminus to the south of the line. We were able to discover the progress of the work on this station, as well as the future passenger route, during a site visit organized on Tuesday March 5. We tell you all about it. [Read more]
Considered the "backbone" of the Grand Paris Express, line 14 will soon be extended to the north and south. In June 2024, the extension of line 14 will link Orly airport to Saint-Denis Pleyel in 40 minutes. Here's everything you need to know about the extension of line 14 in Paris and the Île-de-France region: opening date, communes served, new stations and stations, and future connections. [Read more]
Official website
www.societedesgrandsprojets.fr
Grand Paris Express: we visited the site of the Aéroport d'Orly station
Line 14 extension: service to begin in June 2024
