Line 6 of the metro: why do trains pause for a few moments at Kléber station?

Published by Caroline de Sortiraparis · Photos by My de Sortiraparis · Updated on March 26, 2026 at 04:47 p.m.
If you regularly ride Paris’s Line 6 metro, you’ve almost certainly noticed the wait time at Kléber station. But do you know why? Here’s the explanation for why trains pause for a few moments at this famous station.

It's one of the lines most frequented by Parisians, but also by the many tourists who flock to the city. And for good reason—the line 6 serves, in particular, the Bir-Hakeim station, just steps from the Eiffel Tower. The Line 6 of the metro is also known for its elevated stretch, reputed to be the longest in the network. To give you a quick sense of it, Line 6 runs 13.136 km, of which 6.1 km are above ground!

The Line 6, with 28 stations, 13 of them outdoors, also serves strategic stops such as Nation, Montparnasse-Bienvenüe, not to mention Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. Commuters often board or alight at this terminus. But have you noticed that trains tend to pause for a few moments at the Kléber station? In fact, this wait can stretch to several minutes, nudging some hurried travelers to hop off to catch the arrival just before it and its departure.

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So, do you know why trains pause for a moment at the Kléber station? The RATP sheds light. In fact, the Kléber station is the true terminus—technically speaking—of line 6 on the western section. Regulars have surely noticed the four tracks at the platform. The Kléber station is therefore used "for a prolonged stop of the trains before or after their passage at the terminus of Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, depending on the necessary regulation and drivers’ rest times", explains the RATP, which adds that "the commercial terminus of Charles de Gaulle–Étoile proves to be too constrained to play this role".

Machine à laver RATP - IMG 9578Machine à laver RATP - IMG 9578Machine à laver RATP - IMG 9578Machine à laver RATP - IMG 9578 Did you know? 10 fascinating and quirky anecdotes about the Paris Métro
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Practical information

Official website
www.ratp.fr

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