Something new in the Paris metro. Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) has just announced the order for 103 metro trains from Alstom, the day after the board of directors which validated this decision. Amount of the operation: nearly 1.1 billion euros. “This new order aims to enable Alstom to secure its supply chains while adapting to the progress of the necessary infrastructure work,” specifies the organizing authority for public transport in the Ile-de-France region.
In total, 8 metro lines – 3, 3bis, 7, 7bis, 8, 10, 12 and 13 – will be able to benefit from these new trains within a few years, which will replace the MF67, MF77 or even MF88, specifies IDFM, which underlines that “their arrival, planned for 2025 on line 10, is part of a general policy of accelerating the modernization of the metro network, desired by the organizing authority”. In total, 10 billion euros must be invested by 2035 to implement this policy, according to IDFM.
Good news for public transport users in the Ile-de-France region, some of whom suffer from the obsolescence of certain rolling stock. The MF19, deemed more “modern, comfortable, capable, accessible and reliable” could well change their daily lives. “Available in several lengths, equipped with video protection, air conditioning and multiple USB ports”, it will also be equipped with “an electro-magnetic braking system” which will “drastically reduce pollutants linked to mechanical braking”.
In addition, IDFM promises that this “boa” model – in which it will be possible to go from one end of the train to the other without getting out – “facilitates the distribution of passengers and comfort on board”, just like the the installation of “comfortable seats”, the installation of “reversible air conditioning”, the presence of “a natural lighting atmosphere” and “screens for real-time passenger information”.
However, if IDFM launched this order in agreement with the operator RATP, the fact remains that the authority is putting pressure on the latter so that the orders are placed as quickly as possible. And adds a layer by demanding that “delivery and commissioning schedules” be respected.
