From Mini Metro To Grand Express

The Multi Purpose Metro

One of the aims of M14 (PURPLE) was to offer some relief for the very busy RER Line A (RED) between Gare de Lyon and Chatelet Les Halles, a mega and very scary interchange. Although the map oys diagrammatic it is clear that its non-stop run between the two is exceptional when compared with the "traditional" close stops of Paris' version of the underground.

Another aim was to serve the development area centred on the Biblioljeque Fr Mitterand and Olympiades.

Originally designated Z A C de Tolbiac (development zone) this area has grown in importance.

The northern extension was, in part, designed to offer relief to the busy M13 (PALE BLUE) ...

Indeed, at one stage, the idea was for M14 to take iver one of the two branches of M13, But, as it happened, bigger schemes changed M14's aspirations.

But before the Biggie, (and at last) came the extension to Orly Airport. For ages this important destination was badly served by public transport. The choice was OrlyBus from Denfert Rochereau ...

...which required an RER B (MID BLUE) or Metro connection from central Paris.

It only takes 30 minutes AFTER you have found your way to the bus  terminus!

Then there is the delightfully quirky OrlyVal (LIGHT BROWN) automatic shuttle train ...

... which also connects with RER B st Antony ...

... offering an equally convolutes ride from centralParis.

The next offering was tram T7 (BROWN).

... which is slow and connects with a slow M7 (PINK).

So, clearly the M14 will be quicker overall and much mor convenient.

But those bigger asporations appeat at Orly as they do with the recently opened one stop northern extension. 

M14 now necomes part of the  Grand Paris Express network, parts of which are under under construction and other parts are awaiting the financial and planning go-ahesd.

The southern section of M5 is nearing completion.

(click on the above map for an enlargement)

A decade after declaring this line essential for the public, and following eight years of getting ready and two years after finishing work on this part, a metro has finally run on two kilometres of Metro Line 15 South. This is a big step forward for the Grand Paris Express, one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe.

The current Calendar for M15 is as follows.

2024-2025 : mise en service de Pont de Sèvres à Nanterre ;

Courant 2025 : lancement des travaux de la partie de Nanterre à Saint-Denis Pleyel via La Défense de la section nord ;

Horizon 2025 : mise en service de la partie de Saint-Denis Pleyel à Rosny-Bois-Perrier ;

Horizon 2027 : mise en service de la partie de Nanterre à Saint-Denis Pleyel via La Défense de la section nord ;

Horizon 2030 : mise en service de la partie de Rosny-Bois-Perrier à Champigny Centre de la section nord.

Metro 14 interacts with 15 at  Villejuif Gustave Roussy on its way to Orly ...

... and at its new northern terminus at Saint Denis Pleyel. 

Eventually, the latter will also serve M16 and M17 whilst Otly will have a terminus on M8.

It is a bit like Mr Khan's Superloop network, M14 doesn't loop! fbb guesses that it joins the new "Express" network because of its faster speeds and more limted stops!

For he record, here is a geographical diagram if the full circular Metro 15 route.

(Click on the map for an enlargement) The trains have arrived and are on test runs on the southern section.

And a look inside the M15 trains - with commentary.

It's no longer Paris Metro as we knew it!

Those were the days!

 Next Variety blog : Saturday 6th July 

Metro Rebranded AGAIN!

Extensions to Paris Metro 14

Way back, fbb was in Paris on business with his boss and he was given the afternoon off "to see the sights". Boss was intrigued that his assitant should be more interested in a ride on the new line 14.

5 October 1998

New Line 14 inaugurates between Madeleine and Bibliothèque F. Mitterrand.T

This was the first totally new Metro line since line 11 in 1935 and it was the very first fully automatic driverless Metro. Others have followed. MP89 stock was operated.

One of the pleasures was being able to ride in the front carriage,  which fbb did by sitting in the back to Bibliotheque on his outward run and thus being ready at the front for the whole line back to Madeleine.

Obviously the driverless technology was impressive, but the stations were very different from traditional Metto stops.

Everything was bigger and brighter. The platform doors were, for fbb, a fascination.

16 December 2003

Northern extension from Madeleine to Saint-Lazare opens.

26 June 2007

First southern extension from Bibliothèque François Mitterrand to Olympiades opens.

The entrances are much bigger than the traditional staircase from the street on the older lines. They have escalators.

3 March 2014

First of eighteen MP05 trains goes into revenue service.

To fbb's untrained eye MP05 look quite like the MP89!

12 October 2020

First of thirty five MP14 trains goes into revenue service.

We have already met the MP14 on the extension to line 11 - but they had drivers' cabs. The line 14 versions, once again, have seats at the front or back with a full view of the line ahead.

Only TWO seats give a clear view of the line!

14 December 2020

Second northern extension from Saint-Lazare to Mairie de Saint-Ouen opens.

28 January 2021

Porte de Clichy station opens to passengers.

13 April 2023

Last of MP89 and MP05 trains run on the line, being transferred to line 4.

Line 4 is now fully automatic and driverless.

24 June 2024

Third northern extension from Mairie de Saint-Ouen to Saint-Denis–Pleyel opens.

Just one extra stop; but a stop destined to offer connections with the new orbital Metro lines.

24 June 2024

Second southern extensions from Olympiades to Aéroport d’Orly opens.

This is the big one for line 14, taking the Metro to Orly Airport, an extension which had been part of a major campaign almost since the original line 14 opened.

The usual razzamatazz greeted the opening ...

And the above was just for the one stop northern extension! 

Below we see the "do" for the southern bit ...

... with escalator grandstand!

For Orly we also have a short video of the new station there.

See what your author means when he says it is nothing like a traditional Paris Metro!

But what about that rebranding? The original bit of line 14 opened after being promoted and planned as METEOR - Metro Est Ouest Rapide; but became just plain Metro 14 upon opening.

It is still Metro 14 after the recent extensions BUT ...

... see tomorrow's blog.

And, for reference, here is the full line on the traditional Metro map, now hardly able to contain this and other future extensions.

Saint Denis to Madeleine

Madeleine to Gare de Lyon

Gare de Lyon to Orly

Just squeezed it in! fbb has ridden to Orly using tram T7 connecting from Metro 7 and then leaving via OrlyVal.

He now needs to go to Paris again!

 Next Metro Prolongement blog : Friday 5 July 

Saturday Variety

Yet More Electrics To Pollute The Planet

OK, fbb does bore on a bit; but we do need to remind ourselves that, currently, electric vehicles continue to cause pollution at power station level and it costs and arm and part of a leg to recycle batteries - when they aren't bursting into flames, that is.

First Bus ais bringing a load to Leeds.

And National Express aid trialling a battery electric  coach as well.

The blurb makes them sound magnificent.

And their magnificence will initially be used between Stansted and Stratford, London; hardly a good test of battery charge longevity. The A9 timetable is every 30 minutes with a 40 minute running time.

And More Technology

Of course it will NOT be driverless - all such vehicles must, legally, carry a driver; and it it's anything like the Didcot service, the driver will have to "intervene" in difficult traffic situations when the technology cannot cope.

Thankfully the technology of a human brain is always the best! Even if fbb's is fading slowly but surely with the advancement of years!

Give A Train A Silly Name ...

As in Limo, Pendolino, Aventris, Adelante and now .... tada ...

..., it's Spanish for "ready".

So it is just what you would expect on a train service in France.

Already S N C F have ...

... where "oui" means "yes" but combined the name reads "we go" which is, as you may recognise, English for, erm, "we go"!!

But it gets dafter. The company behind "ilisto" is called "Kevin Speed" which does not sound particularly French. Speed is, obviously, English, but Kevin?

Kevin (with an acute accent on the "e") was a very popular name in France in the 1990s. It has faded from popularity as quickly as it appeared. Depending on what you read and wear, the name has unfortunate connotations in La Belle France.

"Kevin" equals "saddo" in fbb speak. Negatively a "Kevin" in France is regarded as a sort of badly dressed, car-tinkering, socially maladroit (look it up!) person. Other sources suggest that "Kevin" is the archetypical ordinary 30 year old "bloke". Maybe he is a bit of both.

The company has a whole family of its target customer base.

And further ...

If the French is "trop difficile" the Kevin Speed web site can be viewed in English - but it is not such fin!

So what is Kev planning. Frequent high speed trains will run from Paris to Lille ...

... from Paris to Strasbourg ...

... and from Paris to Lyon ...

... in direct competition with SNCF.

There is a senior team of four ...

And the promises are impressive.

Note that fares start at 3 euro per 100km but Kevin doesn't tell us where they finish!

And don't expect to buy a ticket at your local station!

Will it ever happen?

Only time will, tell.

Back At Ground Level

Above is fbb's latest piece of model railway scenery with a Mrs fbb clothes peg still in temporary use!

But what is it?

Here's a clue:-

All will be revealed in a few days. Exciting, eh?

And Some Weird Prices 

Back in the day you would expect to pay more for a BIG wagon that you would for a small one.

The BIG wagon would cost twice as much as the small one.

But look at this advert; two wagons side by side.

The small wagon is just £1.45 cheaper than the big long yellow wagon.

Is someone having a laugh; a costly laugh?

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 10th March