Paris RER line E extended

Work to increase capacity on the Paris rail network continues in readiness for the Olympic Games this summer. 

 

After a press event on 3 May, the 8km EUR 3.8bn western extension of RER line E from Haussmann-St-Lazare to Nanterre-La Folie opened for passenger service on 6 May but at first with just a 15-minute service 10.00-16.00 on weekdays and 10.00-20.00 at weekends between Nanterre and Magenta. This overlaps with the regular line E service from Haussman-St-Lazare via Magenta and Noissy-le-Sec to Tournan and Chelles Gournay in the eastern suburbs. 

 

The work has taken seven years and includes three new stations: Neuilly-Porte Maillot (interchange with RER C, metro 1 and tramway T3b), La Défense (interchange with RER A, metro 1 and tramway T2) and Nanterre-la-Folie. St-Lazare to Nanterre-la-Follie takes just 12 minutes. 

 

Since November the line E has been operated by 34 RER New Generation double-deck trains (Z58000 class) from a batch of 130 costing EUR 1.8bn. It is hoped to reduce overcrowding on RER line A by transferring 15% of the latter's passengers to line E, which should carry 620 000 passengers/day. RER line B should also transfer 10% of its passengers. 

 

A through service of 16 trains/hour is expected by the end of the year together with extension in 2026 further west from Nanterre-la-Folie to Mantes-la-Jolie over 47km of upgraded line.