The primary metro practice for line 18 has been delivered, beginning checks forward of the deliberate opening between Massy-Palaiseau and Christ de Saclay stations.
Credit score: Alstom
On Tuesday 17 June 2025, Société des grands projets, Île-de-France Mobilités, and Alstom unveiled the primary metro practice for Paris metro line 18, lately delivered to the Palaiseau operations centre. The arrival of this first trainset in Could, delivered on schedule, indicators the start of the road’s important testing part. This follows static and dynamic checks beforehand carried out at Alstom’s Valenciennes facility and the nationwide rail testing centre.
Particulars on Paris metro
The primary part of line 18, between Massy – Palaiseau and Christ de Saclay stations, is ready to open within the final quarter of 2026. By the tip of that yr, all 15 trainsets ordered and financed by Île-de-France Mobilités at a price of €199 million will probably be delivered. Ten trainsets will probably be required to run the preliminary part, with 5 extra wanted to function the second part to Orly Airport, as a result of launch in late 2027.
Alstom will coordinate the checks from the brand new centralised command put up on the Palaiseau operations centre, accomplished in spring 2025. In June, static checks started within the designated purple zone—electrified tracks inside the depot, paving the way in which for dynamic checks on the 8.5 km part. These checks will guarantee compatibility with all infrastructure, together with platform facades, passenger data methods, and ground-to-train communications.
Every trainset, made up of three carriages, is 47 metres lengthy, 2.5 metres large and may carry as much as 350 passengers. Designed by Alstom’s workforce in collaboration with Île-de-France Mobilités, Société des grands projets, and Egis Rail, the interiors prioritise consumer consolation and security. Options embody giant home windows for pure gentle, under-seat and cab lighting, ergonomically designed seating, wider doorways, low flooring, area for wheelchair customers, clever air con, USB ports, and real-time passenger data. The design received a GOOD DESIGN Award for innovation.
The practice’s exterior was chosen by public vote in 2021 by way of a web-based session organised by Île-de-France Mobilités. The chosen look features a signature lighting characteristic surrounding a big panoramic “diamond” windscreen, which boosts visibility and creates further inside area on the entrance of the practice.
Line 18 will probably be a totally automated, 100% electrical metro line stretching 33 km, with 10 new stations, three of that are on an overhead part. It is going to connect with a number of transport modes, together with metro line 14, RER B and C, tram traces T7 and T12, and practice traces N and U. This connectivity helps the journey wants of native communities, college students, and professionals, significantly in areas akin to Massy, Saclay, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Versailles.
Able to working at speeds as much as 100 km/h, with a mean of 65 km/h, line 18 will run trains each 90 seconds at peak instances because of superior automated management methods. Vitality effectivity is enhanced by a 1,500 V third rail system with reverse assortment, enabling regenerative braking and decreasing visible affect, particularly on overhead sections.
This marks a serious milestone within the improvement of line 18, reinforcing its position as a key mission in the way forward for Paris’s Grand Paris Categorical community.
Associated matters
Automated Practice Operation/Autonomous Practice Management (ATO/ATC), Infrastructure Developments, Passenger Expertise/Satisfaction, Passenger Info Programs (PIS), Rolling Inventory Elements (Inside/Exterior), Rolling Inventory Orders/Developments, Security, Signalling, Management & Communications, Station Developments, Sustainability/Decarbonisation
