The Paris Metro Line 14 has been successfully modernised and extended thanks to a collaboration between Siemens Mobility and RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens).
This significant project has resulted in enhanced efficiency, reliability, and increased capacity for passengers across Paris. It also marks the first migration of an automated driverless (GoA4 – Grade of Automation) metro line to the latest generation GoA4 system, ‘Trainguard MT CBTC’.
Connecting Paris like never before
Line 14 was built in 1998 and was the first metro line to be built in Paris in half a century. It was also the first fully automated driverless line in Paris – which at the time was already equipped with a Siemens Mobility signalling solution.
In 2018, Siemens Mobility was awarded contracts to overhaul the line’s automation, replacing the 26-year-old ‘METEOR’ system with the advanced Trainguard MT CBTC GoA4 system. This upgrade included building a new Operations Centralised Control Station (OCC), equipping 72 new trains, and extending the automation by 14 kilometres to connect Orly Airport to central Paris, effectively doubling the line’s length to 28 kilometres.
With a headway of 85 seconds along the entire 28-kilometre route, Line 14 is now one of the most reliable and high-performing lines in the Paris Metro network, transporting 40,000 passengers every hour, in every direction. It will eventually accommodate over one million users daily.
The expansion accommodates the growing demand for public transportation in the Paris metropolitan area, providing a faster and more reliable service for commuters. The line now links Orly Airport to central Paris in just 20 minutes and connects Saint-Denis Pleyel’s northern business districts to Orly Airport in 40 minutes.
With its improved capacity, reliability, and efficiency, Line 14 serves as the backbone of Paris’s public transportation system, connecting to the future lines 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Grand Paris Express network.
Seamless integration with CBTC technology
One of the key highlights of this project is the seamless integration of the new CBTC system while maintaining passenger services.
Over six years, more than 250 Siemens Mobility engineers contributed, dedicating over 500,000 hours of engineering. The project faced several challenges, including the need to complete it in time for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
The upgrade was meticulously planned and executed to ensure minimal disruption to passenger services. Siemens Mobility engineers worked during off-peak hours and overnight to install and test the new CBTC system. This approach allowed the line to remain operational during the day, ensuring that passengers could continue to use the metro without significant interruptions.
Vincent Fontanel, Rail Infrastructure Business Unit director at Siemens Mobility France, said the successful integration of the new system on an existing line while maintaining passenger services is a testament to Siemens Mobility’s expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality solutions.
“The extension and modernisation of line 14 is a truly unique project. It is the first time in the world that an automated driverless (GoA4) metro line has migrated to a new, more advanced CBTC system,” he said.
The CBTC technology enables high-frequency, driverless train operations that optimise train spacing and speed, reducing wait times, increasing passenger capacity, enhancing safety through real-time monitoring and control of train movements, and reducing human error to ensure reliable service.
Additionally, the project incorporates energy-efficient technologies and sustainable practices, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote green transportation.
Siemens Mobility’s GoA4 CBTC system means that the trains are fully automated and operate without any staff on board.
This system, which is the highest level of train automation, transfers all train controls, including starting, stopping, and handling emergencies, to the train control system.
Siemens Mobility will also implement the GoA4 CBTC system to equip future lines of the Grand Paris Express, a new 200-kilometre automatic metro network currently under construction in the Île-de-France region.
This will further enhance connectivity and efficiency in the Paris metro system while delivering an advanced, large-scale rail solution that meets the demands of a modern urban transit system.
A collaborative success for urban mobility
The collaboration between Siemens Mobility and RATP has resulted in the modernisation and extension of Line 14, which improves the daily commute for millions of passengers and contributes to the overall efficiency and sustainability of Paris’ public transportation system.
The partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration and how advanced technology can transform urban mobility for everyone.
