Paris Métro Line 15

Line 15
Overview
System	Paris Métro
Termini	Noisy - Champs Champigny Centre
Connecting lines
Stations	36
Operation
Opened	2020-2030
Operator(s)	RATP
Conduction system	Automated
Technical
Line length	75 km (47 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Paris Métro Line 15 is one of four lines of the Grand Paris Express. It is planned to open in phases from 2020 through 2030. It aims at creating a loop connecting Noisy - Champs (Paris Metro) to Champigny, notably passing through Champigny-sur-Marne, Créteil, Villejuif, La Défense, Saint-Denis and Rosny-sous-Bois.

Conceived as a subterranean rail line equivalent in capacity to the Parisian métro, it will constitute a new relief line servicing the departments of Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis. It will enable direct transportation between the suburbs, bypassing Paris and thus avoiding transloading.

History

The configuration of line 15 is very similar to that of the Arc Express, proposed by the RATP in 2006. It was later included in the red line project of the Grand Paris public transportation network, introduced by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. In March 2013, the "New Grand Paris" project was announced by the Prime Minister at the time, Jean-Marc Ayrault. At this time, the line acquired its current line 15 naming.

Since August 2013, the New Grand Paris steering committee has met each trimester. The first public inquiry, focused on the southern section from Pont-de-Sèvres to Noisy - Champs, was held from October to mid-November, 2013.

Proposed timeline

In 2013, the government led by Ayrault proposed the following implementation timeline for the line 15 project:

• During 2014: Public inquiry on the eastern section from Saint-Denis Pleyel to Champigny Centre.
• Early-2015: Groundbreaking of the southern section spanning Pont-de-Sèvres to Noisy - Champs.
• During 2020: Groundbreaking of the segments from Pont-de-Sèvres to Nanterre and from Saint-Denis Pleyel to Rosny-Bois-Perrier of the northern section.
• 2022: Southern section from Pont-de-Sèvres to Noisy - Champs put into service.
• Early-2025: Segments from Pont-de-Sèvres to Nanterre and from Saint-Denis Pleyel to Rosny-Bois-Perrier of the northern section put into service.
• During 2025: Groundbreaking of the segment from Nanterre to Saint-Denis Pleyel via La Défense-Grande-Arche of the northern section.
• Early-2030: Segment from Nanterre to Saint-Denis Pleyel via La Défense-Grande-Arche of the northern section put into service.
• End of 2030: Northern section from Rosny to Champigny put into service.

Specifications

The specifications of the trains travelling line 15 and their operation are as follows:

• Train width: 2.80 metres (9 ft 2 in) minimum
• Train length: 108 metres (354 ft), made up of 6 cars with full-open interior gangways
• Train capacity: 960 passengers (at 4 passengers per m²)
• Bearings: iron
• Electric traction current: 1500 volt direct current via pantograph and contact wires
• Operation: Fully automated
• Maximum speed: 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph)
• Operating speed: 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph)
• Theoretical morning rush hour throughput: 34 560 passengers per hour
• Average interval: 3 to 4 minutes
• Minimum interval: 2 minutes