Grand Paris Express: the upcoming station will reveal a monumental 291-step staircase.

Its opening is officially planned for fall 2027, but it’s already making waves. And for good reason: the Saint-Maur – Créteil station, served by the future Line 15 South of the Grand Paris Express, will be the deepest in France and will span nine underground levels. Elevators and escalators will enable travelers to reach the future platforms located about 52 meters below ground. For the most intrepid riders, a monumental staircase awaits with 291 steps to climb!

Lauded as the "showpiece of the station" Saint-Maur – Créteil, this monumental staircase began taking shape in November 2024 and is set to offer future commuters a one-of-a-kind experience. "In total, 12 landings, 14 flights of stairs and more than 1,500 balusters are required to bring this masterpiece to life", according to the Grand Paris Express site.

Beyond its functional role, this colossal staircase will host an artwork created jointly by the station’s architect Cyril Trétout and Susanna Fritscher. For the occasion, the Austrian artist has envisioned a nebula of ultra-thin cables tracing through space an abstract ribbon-like form.

• To be read
• Grand Paris Express: here is the start date for putting the first stretch of Line 18 into service.
• Grand Paris Express: the new timetable for lines 15, 16, 17 and 18, following the announced delays
• Line 15 South: behind the scenes of the Grand Paris Express trials

To see the result—and that imposing staircase that’s sure to be dashed off across social media by travelers—head there in autumn 2027, when the first segment of the line 15 opens. The other two segments, from Pont de Sèvres to Saint-Denis – Pleyel, and from Saint-Denis – Pleyel to Champigny Centre, are set to be inaugurated in 2031.

As the Société des Grands Projets, the body responsible for designing and building the Grand Paris Express, the gare Saint-Maur – Créteil station will allow passengers to reach, among other destinations, Orly Airport in just 26 minutes, compared with 44 minutes today.

Grand Paris Express: a revised timetable for lines 15, 16, 17 and 18 after the announced delays
The Grand Paris Express schedule is still evolving. Line 18 is now slated to open in December 2026, while the first segments of lines 16 and 17 are expected to begin service in 2028. Here are the projected milestones for the four new metro lines. [Read more]