22 Autumn 2017 | Metro Report International PARIS Progress ‘Project of a generation’: Grand Paris Express Philippe Yvin, Chairman of the Management Board at Société du Grand Paris, updated Murray Hughes on progress with Europe’s most ambitious metro project, the orbital Grand Paris Express, as work gets underway on all sections of Line 15 South. ew urban transport projects have been chosen to ensure good connec- development and encompassing a social can claim to have the trans- tions with suburban rail, metro and tram dimension, the project entails the crea- formative effect anticipated lines. The result will be an interlinked tion of a new transport network with for the Grand Paris Express network of public transport arteries. 68 stations forming ‘the real backbone orbital metro. Described by Chairman GPE lies at the heart of the ambitious of the Grand Paris project’. The Grand Fof the Management Board of Société Grand Paris project, which represents Paris métropole will become ‘an attrac- du Grand Paris Philippe Yvin as ‘the much more than a transport improve- tive wealth-generating area that can project of a generation’, it will have a ment scheme. It is a massive programme compete with other big cities on the profound impact on urban development aimed at revitalising the entire region world stage in the years to come’. across an area of 140 km2. For compari- surrounding the French capital through Referring to the origins of the project son, central Paris covers about 105 km2. a combination of capital investment and in 2009, Yvin said that Christian Blanc, At 200 route-km, Grand Paris Express the creation of high-quality transport Secretary of State in Nicholas Sarkozy’s will double the size of the existing Paris links. Over the long term the Grand government, saw the proposed orbital metro, thanks to construction of four Paris project is expected to boost the metro primarily as an economic devel- new lines and extensions to the existing area’s GDP by about €100bn, not least opment tool. This contrasted with the lines 11 and 14. Largely in tunnel, except through construction of around 70 000 views of the elected mayors in the towns for sections of lines 17 and 18, the routes dwellings a year for a period of 25 years. surrounding Paris, whose objective was Asked if GPE was a transport pro- simply to construct an orbital transport ject, an economic development project link between key centres (MR 3.12 p23). or an answer to social needs, Yvin af- In this way rival schemes emerged, firmed that it was ‘all three at the same one supported by the national gov- time’. Supporting economic and urban ernment and the other by the Ile-de- France region. There followed a lively On August 12-16 contractors worked round national debate which led in January the clock to install a prefabricated concrete 2011 to the formal announcement of raft forming the roof of the future Grand Paris interchange station at Fort d’Issy-Vanves- the Grand Paris Express project. Clamart. Weighing 7 000 tonnes and covering According to Yvin, this ‘married the 2 2 000 m , the slab was slid into position in two ambitions’, one intended to foster a few hours ready for installation of tracks carrying SNCF’s Transilien Line N suburban economic development and the other services between Paris Montparnasse and aimed at facilitating the daily life of Photos: Gérard Rollando Versailles Chantiers. people across the Paris region. GPE would open up access to suburbs cur- rently lacking public transport and the 68 stations would serve as ‘vital nodes where housing and other developments would flourish’. Metro Report International | Autumn 2017 23 Progress PARIS Table I. Grand Paris Express metro lines Line 14 Northern extension Route Saint-Lazare – Mairie de Saint-Ouen – Saint-Denis Pleyel1 PHILIPPE YVIN CHAIRMAN, MANAGEMENT BOARD Length 5∙8 km + 1∙7 km, all in tunnel, 5 stations 2 SOCIÉTÉ DU GRAND PARIS Cost €1∙38bn DUP October 2012 ‘‘ Opening 2020 ‘We expect the first TBM to be Line 14 Southern extension Route Olympiades – Orly Length 14 km in tunnel, 7 stations, of which 5 interchanges completed by the end of the year’ Population served 260 000 Traffic 300 000 journeys a day Photo: Genaro Bardy / Société du Grand Paris DUP July 2016 Cost €2∙14bn When asked how much the project from there to Saint-Denis Pleyel. Opening 2024 had changed since its conception, Yvin Rapid progress is also being made Line 15 South highlighted the terms of the 2011 agree- with Line 15 South linking Pont de Route Pont de Sèvres – Noisy-Champs ment between the state and the Ile-de- Sèvres with Noisy-Champs. Yvin noted Length 33 km in tunnel, 16 stations, of which 13 interchanges Population served 1 090 000 France, which had helped to ensure that that the final civil engineering contracts Traffic 300 000 journeys a day the project was ‘very stable and support- for the 33 km line had been let on July Cost €5·7bn ed by a strong consensus’. This applied at 3, taking the total value of contracts for DUP December 2014 the political level, at the social level and Line 15 South to €3·7bn. By September Opening 2022 Line 15 East in terms of economic development. there were due to be 45 active worksites Route Saint-Denis Pleyel – Champigny Centre along the whole route, he said, with 14 Whole project approved Length 23 km in tunnel; 12 stations, of which 11 interchanges out of the 16 stations under construction. Population served 675 000 So far, 2017 has been a landmark year Traffic 300 000 journeys a day Olympic ambition Cost €3·5bn for GPE. The declaration of public util- DUP February 2017 ity for the final part of the programme Next on the agenda was the south- Opening First phase 2025, second phase 2030 was granted on March 28. Covering ern extension of Line 14 towards Orly Line 15 West construction of Line 18, it followed airport, Yvin continued. After that Route Pont de Sèvres – Saint-Denis Pleyel Length 20 km in tunnel; 9 stations, of which 8 interchanges DUPs for Line 17 North on February would come Line 16, now known as the Population served 800 000 14 and Line 15 East on February 13. Olympic line. Yvin explained that under Traffic 600 000 journeys a day The first DUP had been for Line 15 the Paris bid to host the 2024 Olym- Cost €3·0bn DUP November 2016 South, which was granted in December pic Games, many of the venues would Opening Pont de Sèvres – Nanterre La Folie 2025; 2014. be located along this route to the east Nanterre La Folie – Saint-Denis Pleyel 2027 In an assessment of progress to date, of the Paris conurbation, ‘so this line is Line 161 Yvin said that the northern extension of very significant’. Route Saint-Denis Pleyel – Noisy-Champs (7·1 km shared section Line 14 would be the first part of the with Line 17 Saint-Denis Pleyel – Le Bourget RER) The northern terminus of Line 16 Length 21·8 km in tunnel, 7 stations, of which 5 interchanges project to be finished. Although not will be located at Saint-Denis Pleyel, Population served 800 000 complying with the original schedule, where four Grand Paris Express lines Cost €3·49bn3 DUP December 2015 the Line 14 project was ‘making good will converge. This will generate around Opening 2023 progress’, with completion ‘probably in 250 000 passengers a day, and Yvin ex- Line 17 South1 two to three years’. pects the station construction contract Route Saint-Denis Pleyel – Le Bourget RER Yvin considered the line to be ‘very to be let next year. Length 27 km in tunnel, 9 stations (7·1 km shared section with important’ because the multiple objec- Other lines were still at the stage of Line 16 Saint-Denis Pleyel – Le Bourget RER) tives of the extension included relieving technical studies, Yvin affirmed. Nev- Line 17 North Route Le Bourget RER – Le Mesnil-Amelot parts of the existing metro and RER ertheless, a general contractor had been Length 14 km in tunnel, 5·5 km elevated, 5 stations networks, especially metro Line 13, appointed in each case, and work should Population served 245 000 where overcrowding is a serious prob- start on all remaining lines between Traffic 16 000 to 18 000 journeys a day Cost €1·7bn lem. The extension is being constructed mid-2018 and mid-2019. This means DUP February 2017 in two stages, the first taking the line that work will be in progress on the en- Opening Le Bourget RER – Roissy CDG Airport 2024; from Saint-Lazare as far as Mairie de tire project by 2020. Roissy CDG Airport – Le Mesnil-Amelot 2030 Saint-Ouen, and the second continuing Line 18 On time and on budget Route Orly Airport – Versailles Chantiers Length 35 km, of which 14 elevated, Was the project running to time and 10 stations, of which 3 interchanges to budget? ‘Everything is looking good Population served 335 000 at the moment’, came the reply, but Traffic 100 000 journeys a day Cost €2·7bn Yvin cautioned against over-optimism, DUP March 2017 pointing out that technical issues may Opening Orly – CEA Saint-Aubin 2024; arise once the tunnelling programme CEA Saint-Aubin – Versailles-Chantiers 2030 Line 11 extension commences. Route Mairie des Lilas – Rosny-Bois-Perrier (Phase 1) Under an agreement announced by the Rosny-Bois-Perrier – Noisy-Champs (Phase 2) then Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault Length 6 km + 10 km, 6+3 stations 4 on March 6 2013, the government had Traffic 85 000 journeys a day Cost €1·3bn4 reaffirmed its commitment to complete DUP May 2014 the entire project (panel, p25).