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A major milestone for the future Greater Paris Metro Network

RATP Dev has announced the opening of Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, a significant milestone in the development of the Paris metro network, which will expand with four additional lines by 2031.

Serving as the last station to be opened on Line 14 of the Paris metro and the first station connecting to the future Line 15 South set to open by 2026, Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station is positioned as a key mobility hub for the Île-de-France region.

This important achievement highlights the collective efforts of the ORA Consortium, responsible for operating and maintaining Line 15 South, led by RATP Dev alongside its partners Alstom and ComfortDelGro.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of Île-de-France Mobilités, the Public Transport Authority in the region, RATP Group and Société des Grands Projets (SGP).

Hiba Farès, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RATP Dev, said since being awarded the Line 15 project in July 2023 by Île-de-France Mobilités, the teams have been fully mobilised on delivering this transformative mobility project for the millions of residents of the Île-de-France region.

“The inauguration of the Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station is the first milestone, and a moment of pride for the 65 women and men now operating the first station of Line 15, connecting to Paris’ backbone Line 14,” she said.

“The team will grow to 300 people, all committed to providing the full expertise of RATP Group in high-capacity automated metro systems and infrastructure management.”

Line 15: transforming regional mobility

Once fully operational, Line 15 will form a 75-kilometer loop around Paris, connecting 45 municipalities and serving over 1.5 million passengers daily. The first segment, Line 15 South, will span 33 kilometers and will feature 16 stations.

When Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station opens, nearly 20,000 daily passengers will pass through, playing a crucial role in this transformation.

The station is managed by the ORA Consortium, responsible for the operation and maintenance of Line 15 South on behalf of Île-de-France Mobilités. The consortium oversees the supervision of automated metro operations, station management, centralized control systems, and maintenance of station equipment and rolling stock, all while ensuring an unparalleled passenger experience.

Cheng Siak Kian, Managing Director & Group CEO of ComfortDelGro, added that the opening of the Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station marks a significant milestone for the expansion of the Greater Paris Metro.

“As part of the ORA Consortium operating Line 15 on behalf of Île-de-France Mobilités, we are excited to bring our operational excellence and track record in superior passenger experience to this project,” he said.

“Together with our partners, we look forward to delivering safe, efficient and reliable journeys to the Parisians and residents of Île-de-France region by 2026.”

Villejuif-Gustave Roussy Station: A masterpiece of innovation and engineering

This inauguration of Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station marks the end of Line 14’s southern extension, completed just ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games. Designed by renowned architect Dominique Perrault and overseen by Société des Grands Projets, the station is an architectural and engineering masterpiece, featuring:

A circular structure: 62 meters in diameter and 51 meters deep;

Engineering precision: 5,600 cubic meters of diaphragm walls, each 64 cm thick, installed in 7-meter-wide sections;

Nine underground levels, with Line 14 operating at 36.7 meters below ground (level -7) and Line 15 South at 48.8 meters below ground (level -9);

Extensive space: 15,600 square meters, 60% of which is allocated to technical facilities;

Comprehensive mobility solutions: 32 escalators, 16 elevators, and two monumental staircases, each 40 meters long;

Massive excavation: 300,000 cubic meters of earth removed during construction.

This station, poised to be a central part of the Greater Paris transport network, highlights the seamless integration of innovative design, engineering excellence, and mobility solutions.