Are you tired of wasting time walking through the corridors of Châtelet? Well, it's not over yet... The moving walkways at Châtelet station in Paris are still out of service, and it's going to last. Located in the 1st arrondissement, these three facilities, which connect the metro lines to the RER, have been out of service since early October. If you thought you'd soon be able to enjoy these 160 meters of comfort again when crossing the connecting corridors, we have some bad news: the breakdown will last much longer than expected. What was supposed to be a simple maintenance operation has turned into a major project lasting several months, with the escalators not due to be back in service before summer 2025.
The RATP shut down the moving walkways in early October as a safety measure after detecting anomalies in mechanical parts. Initially announced for the end of November, the resumption of service was quickly postponed to the end of December on the information boards. But now, the expert assessments carried out in November have turned everything upside down.
Analyses have revealed a manufacturing defect in the pallets, the metal steps on which passengers place their feet. This anomaly could weaken the entire structure of the equipment. This is no small repair job: the RATP and the manufacturer will have to completely replace 2,400 parts on the three moving walkways, or 800 steps per machine. This is a colossal undertaking that requires all these new parts to be manufactured before work can even begin.
What is particularly frustrating is that the sidewalks had already undergone maintenance work last August. At the time, the work was carried out on the handrails. The problems with the steps were only noticed afterwards, prompting the transport authority to take the radical decision to close the station completely for safety reasons.
The RATP estimates that it will take at least six months to get the line back into full service, taking into account manufacturing lead times and the work involved in replacing parts. This means that the earliest possible reopening date is June 2025, almost six months after the initial shutdown.
Michel Babut, vice president of FNAUT Île-de-France, points out that such long malfunctions affecting three side-by-side moving walkways are extremely rare. For years, the user association has been calling for a reduction in excessive delays in the event of renovation work or breakdowns on metro escalators and moving walkways.
In the meantime, there is no other solution than to stretch your legs by walking through the 160-meter-long tunnel that connects the RER to the metro lines. The connecting corridor remains accessible to travelers, but for those with suitcases, strollers, or difficulty walking, it's quite a daily trek. Châtelet-Les Halles station, one of the busiest in the network during rush hour, sees thousands of users pass through every day, who now have to be patient.
In short, if you're looking for an alternative route to avoid this endless corridor, consider the above-ground connections between the different stations in the neighborhood, even if it lengthens your journey a little. Hang in there, we'll have to hold out until summer!
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