First line of Grand Paris Express to enter revenue service by 2020
Line 15 and Grand Paris Express (click to enlarge)
The supervisory board of the Société du Grand Paris, under the chairmanship of André Santini, approved unanimously the investment operation for the first section of automated metro Line 15 of Grand Paris Express, from Pont de Sèvres to Noisy-Champs, for an amount of 5.295 billion euros, implementing the roadmap set out by the French Prime Minister on 6 March 2013, when the Nouveau Grand Paris was announced.
A public enquiry will be launched by the end of 2013, works are to start in 2015 and the start of operations is expected by 2020.
In addition to the tunnel and stations, the investment operation includes several facilities whose use will go beyond the section between Pont de Sèvres and Noisy-Champs:
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The Operation Control Centre at Champigny-sur-Marne, which will eventually manage lines 15, 16 and 17
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Workshops in the same location and in Vitry-sur-Seine, covering maintenance needs of trains and infrastructure for the operation of other parts of the Nouveau Grand Paris network
“The supervisory board’s unanimous adoption of the decision is essential as this section will be one of the busiest in the future network. It will have a positive impact as soon as it is commissioned, as it will ease the existing network, particularly the RER A. Line 15 South will also improve access to dense inner suburbs, which will facilitate the daily mobility of inhabitants of Ile de France (the greater Paris region). This decision is also a strong signal for the dynamic development of the territories,” said André Santini, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Etienne Guyot, SGP’s CEO, added that “by allowing this investment, the project has taken a major step forward. We will therefore move on to the next phases of its implementation. In the days and weeks to come, main contracts may be signed out, and they will be followed by consultations with business and start of works. The impact of the construction of this section in terms of jobs creation will be absolutely essential.”
The fully automated Line 15 South will have a length of 33 km and 16 new stations. The infrastructure will allow using trains with 1.000-passenger capacity, allowing the movement of 300.000 passengers per day. Line 15 South will begin operations in 2020.
Video of the Line 15 route